The Basics of Starting a Career in Cyber Security

If you are considering a career in tech, the cyber security market is one to consider joining. With technology rapidly evolving, cyber threats continue to loom over industries across the board, creating a high demand for cyber professionals.

Why a Cyber Security Career Might Be the Right Path for You

When it comes to cyber security, there are unlimited options of career paths, with every organisation and industry requiring its own specific set of cyber security professionals. Every firm, big and small, private, or public needs to be protected from cyber criminals, especially with the increasing digitization of processes and business practices. If you want a career that will enable you to seamlessly move from one industry to another, it is worth looking into cyber security and what it entails.

Another reason to consider a cyber security career is the variety of roles within the space. Many cyber positions involve an overlap of the same responsibilities and can be broad or more specialised, depending on what the organisation requires. Typical job titles within the field include security analysts, engineers or architects, but there are also some more specific roles such as penetration testers or vulnerability assessors. As the cyber domain continues to expand, it is likely that new job titles will emerge in the near future.

It is worth noting that although there is high demand for cybersecurity professionals, there is a skills gap in the industry, making it extremely difficult to find the right employees. Due to this, salaries within the sector are highly competitive: organisations are constantly attempting to entice the best employees for their IT teams.

How Much Can You Earn in Cyber Security?

Salaries in the cyber security space vary depending on the title or seniority level of the job. Other factors will also come into play, such as education, location and years of experience. In London, entry-level salaries usually start at around £25,000 but quickly increase once one gets a bit more experience in the sector. Many senior positions offer salaries circa £100,000 and we often see Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) being paid up to £200,000 per year. A cyber security career path can therefore be very lucrative, especially if you continuously hone your skills and adapt to this ever evolving and changing market.

Has COVID-19 Impacted Salaries Within the Cyber Security Sector?

The demand for skilled cyber professionals has always outstripped supply, but the COVID-19 pandemic has added extra pressure on businesses to find skilled employees to tackle the influx of cyber crimes that have occurred due to transition from office to remote working. To fill the cyber security skills shortage and to meet current and future cyber security requirements, we have noticed in the sector that organizations are starting to increase more and more their human resources budgets. Offering higher salaries and investing in training are ways in which companies can protect their IT systems now and post COVID-19