The increasing number of cyber threats has prompted companies to take cybersecurity more seriously. The proof? Even the board room is worried. Around 88% of company boards now view it as a business risk.
Companies are now investing heavily in cybersecurity, making it a priority for both employees and founders alike. This, in turn, has changed the future of work in the field of cybersecurity. Now, there are three distinct paths that individuals can choose to build their careers and businesses.
Whether you want to work as a cybersecurity expert, become a successful founder, or start your own venture, the opportunities are endless.
This blog explores the different futures you can build as an employee/founder, and how you can take advantage of the growing demand for cybersecurity expertise.
Why are companies investing in cybersecurity?
Total accountability for client data protection is the new trend in cybersecurity. With increased regulations, such as GDPR and HIPAA, businesses of all sizes are obligated to protect themselves against data breaches and ensure that sensitive information remains protected.
The sophistication of cyber threats is also on the rise, pushing companies to invest in protective measures. With increasingly advanced persistent threats (APTs) and the growing use of cloud computing, everyone is at a higher risk of being targeted by cyber criminals.
Besides, as businesses integrate with connected devices and the Internet of Things (IoT), their data is exposed to more potential threats than ever before. As per reports, the first half of 2021 alone saw more than 1.5 billion IoT breaches, which is alarming, to say the least.
What does “investment” mean in cybersecurity?
Investing in cybersecurity involves allocating company resources (money, time, manpower) to improve the security of their digital assets and infrastructure. The goal here is simple – to potentially zero the risk of cyber attacks and data breaches, which are notorious for causing millions in financial losses, and reputational damage.
This investment can be further dissected in many areas
- To transform your organizational processes and practices, such as revising and updating security policies and procedures. It also involves implementing new technologies and best practices that help organizations better protect their assets and data.
- To invest in industry-standard cybersecurity tools and software, including top-tier hardware, software and other technologies, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, encryption, etc., to ensure better protection against cyber attacks.
- To invest in talent, primarily by hiring and training new cybersecurity professionals, alongside up-skilling current employees to better understand security risks and discover new mitigation routes.
With the right cybersecurity talent onboard, preventing cyber attacks becomes easier to tackle – from detecting systems and apps vulnerabilities, monitoring network traffic, and deploying the right countermeasures, to implementing security policies, procedures, and controls to ensure proper data/network protection.
However, the skyrocketing demand is yet to be fulfilled as the global cybersecurity skill shortage has increased by 26.2% in 2022. It’s also due to insufficient investment in cybersecurity education and training, the reason why organizations struggle to find the right fit to secure their systems and data.
Career routes as Employee or a Founder in Cybersecurity
The multibillion cybersecurity industry offers a promising future, both for employees and founders with the right talent.
Employees: three careers you can build as an employee
End-user organization
With knowledge of cybersecurity best practices and regulations, network security, firewalls, and encryption, and experience in risk management and incident response, a career in an end-user company can look promising.
Job responsibilities and perks
- Monitoring and safeguarding company systems and networks
- Implementing security protocols to secure data
- Increased job security and stability due to high demand
- Attractive salaries and benefits packages
Full-time consultancy
Consultants provide advice, recommendations, and solutions to secure company assets from online threats and they have the flexibility to work on their own time and choose their own projects. One must know how to perform risk assessments, penetration testing, identify security vulnerabilities and implement solutions to start a career in consultancy.
Job responsibilities and perks
- Developing and implementing security policies and procedures
- Providing training to employees on cybersecurity best practices
- Good job stability and salary, and opportunities for growth
Problem-solver
Want to detect threats and create solutions as part of a cybersecurity product brand? You must have strong knowledge of security systems, protocols, technologies, regulations and industry standards. Being skilled at hacking techniques and strategies is always a plus.
Job responsibilities and perks
- Investigate security breaches/provide recommendations for remediation
- Collaborate with other security folks/departments to develop security procedures
- High demand for professionals in this field; attractive compensation packages
Founder: Three potential options for a founder
Ethical hacking
Ethical hackers (aka white hat hackers) identify and evaluate security risks and vulnerabilities in an organization’s computer systems through penetration testing, followed by developing and implementing security policies and procedures. You must learn various programming languages (Python, Java, and C++), along with network security protocols (TCP/IP and DNS) to excel at ethical hacking.
P.S: Ethical hackers are among the highest paid cybersecurity professionals.
Cybersecurity trainer
These subject matter experts deliver cybersecurity training to individuals and organizations through workshops, webinars, and other training sessions. With the ability to make complex technical security topics easy to understand, coaching can be a fun career path.
Apart from lucrative pay and opportunities to work with various clients and industries, you can also make a positive impact by raising cybersecurity awareness as a trainer.
Virtual CISO
Last but not least, a virtual CISO role offers a more paying, flexible and convenient way to work, as it can be done remotely. They’re responsible for creating, implementing, and monitoring an organization’s cybersecurity strategy. They also act as the main point of contact for cyber-related incidents, and work closely with other security professionals to provide a comprehensive security program.
With over 4,100 publicly disclosed major data breaches in 2022 alone, having the right cybersecurity skills is every organization’s best bet to dodge vulnerabilities.
On the flip side, these alarming numbers have also created numerous opportunities for both employees and founders in security. The demand for “the right fit” among companies has led to high salaries and career advancement opportunities. For founders, the growing demand for cybersecurity solutions presents a lucrative opportunity to develop innovative and in-demand products and services.
Struggling to find the right talent? Our experienced consultants at Stack are ready to join forces and provide you with top-notch security support – Contact us now.