The global cyber security market is expected to reach $214.9 billion in 2024. The Indian cyber security market was $6.06 billion in 2023. A large products and services market creates a correspondingly large market for talent to power this industry. The supply of qualified cyber security professionals, however, hasn’t caught up with demand: the cyber security talent shortage worldwide has reached 4 million people, and is 790,000 in India.
Such a talent deficit indicates exciting and rewarding opportunities are available for cyber security professionals, but career planning requires understanding what roles exist in the industry and knowing where good opportunities are available.
Top 10 Roles/Jobs in Cyber Security
There are a wide variety of roles in the cyber security industry – so wide that a map of roles has been created. Studying the map will give you a bird’s-eye view of the industry and is useful for those exploring domains within the industry, but those interested in specific functions can examine our list of top 10 roles (in alphabetical order) in cyber security:
1. Application Security Engineer
An Application Security Engineer verifies that software can repulse cyber attacks. The Application Security Engineer requires coding knowledge and works with development teams to ensure that security is part of the DNA of the software that is being developed, rather than a layer that is added after the software is developed.
2. CIO/CISO
The Chief Information Officer/Chief Information Security Officer is responsible for defining organisational strategies that create and secure the information infrastructure of the enterprise with the goal of maximising stakeholder value. Their responsibilities include defining best practices for information handling by the IT team as well as the larger organisation, ensuring regulatory compliance and maximising return on IT investment.
3. Cyber Security Analyst
A Cyber Security Analyst examines an organisation’s security logs and other records to proactively identify and mitigate cyber threats. Such an analyst requires a sound understanding of malware, the Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) used by threat actors, and the way information is generated, stored, and transmitted by the enterprise.
4. Cyber Security Manager
The Cyber Security Manager is responsible for managing the organisation’s cyber security based on the strategic security objectives defined by the organisation. The role includes communicating with other stakeholders, enforcing the enterprise’s security standards, ensuring regulatory compliance, staffing the IT team with qualified cyber security personnel, and maintaining cyber security expenditure within the organisation’s budget.
5. Information Security Analyst
An Information Security Analyst examines cyber security both within and outside the organisation, anticipates cyber attacks, verifies if the organisation’s cyber defence infrastructure is capable of stopping cyber attacks, and recommends and implements cyber risk mitigation measures. The Information Security Analyst should be able to simultaneously managed both functional and strategic responsibilities.
6. Malware Analyst
A Malware Analyst reverse engineers malware samples to understand how the malware works and to develop cyber defences. A Malware Analyst has deep technical expertise in operating systems, static and dynamic analysis of malware, and obfuscation techniques used by threat actors.
7. Network Security Engineer
A Network Security Engineer ensures that the enterprise network is stable, efficient, and secure. The Network Security Engineer should be able to design and audit networks to maximise availability, prevent network intrusions, and maintain the integrity of information transmitted through the network.
8. Penetration Tester
A Penetration Tester simulates attacks on enterprise IT assets using white hat hacking techniques to verify if the organisation’s cyber defences are effective against real-world cyber threats. A Penetration Tester requires extensive knowledge of multiple operating systems, pentesting tools, and hacking techniques; they should also be able to gather evidence and write reports that enumerate their findings.
9. Security Architect
A Security Architect analyses the enterprise’s strategic objectives and compliance requirements, understands the current and future IT infrastructure requirements, and designs and deploys security architecture to safeguard the organisation’s information assets while enabling growth and productivity.
10. Security Consultant
A Security Consultant evaluates the organisation’s IT ecosystem and advises the organisation on the cyber security strategy, standards, technologies, and policies that must be implemented to secure enterprise information infrastructure. A Security Consultant may function as an independent contractor who works with multiple organisations on specific projects.
Top 10 Cities for Jobs in Cyber Security
Cyber attacks are an international problem and, therefore, opportunities exist worldwide but these opportunities are not equally distributed across all locations. Greater opportunities tend to be available in some cities that have a well-established technology industry or are critical hubs for international commerce.
A discussion on the 15 Best Cities for Cyber Security Jobs is available. We list the top 10 cities to provide a snapshot of the international careers that may be accessed by a cyber security professional:
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Berlin, Germany
- Sydney, Australia
- Toronto, Canada
- Zurich, Switzerland
- London, United Kingdom
- San Francisco, United States of America
- Seattle, United States of America
- New York, United States of America
Salaries for cyber security professionals can vary across these cities from an average of $119,685 for a cyber security specialist in Amsterdam to a median pay of $130,000 in Seattle.
The cyber security industry offers challenging and remunerative careers for professionals that have the knowledge and experience to counter escalating cyber attacks. K7 Academy provides cyber security training with 75% hands-on learning, enabling aspiring cyber security specialists to analyse malware in a real-world threat lab environment and gain job-aligned certifications. Contact Us for more information on how we can help you begin or progress in your cyber security career.