Top Tech Jobs 2015 – Cybersecurity

Silicon Republic is looking to the future, establishing which jobs will be most in demand in Ireland in 2015. In the first part of this series we look at cybersecurity, one of the timeliest areas of tech.

The entire security industry is a constant battleground, with a never-ending supply of threats creating a field devised entirely to defend.

It’s not just single entities hacking into mainframes and data centres, either; new issues such as alleged state-sponsored hacking through malware like Regin shows just how difficult it is for companies to protect themselves.

As reported recently, around half the organisations in Ireland have neither the skills, budget nor ability to detect a sophisticated cyberattack. High-profile data breaches in global businesses in recent years – such as those at retailers Kmart and Rewe – show the intent behind getting through the defences of financially prosperous companies.

Companies need to react to threats

Ernst & Young’s Get Ahead of Cybercrime report found 47pc of Irish organisations are unlikely to be able to detect a sophisticated cyberattack.

Although 82pc of Irish respondents reported that security spending will increase somewhat over the next 12 months, more than 50pc of Irish respondents still cite budget as the main obstacle to their cybersecurity programme.

The global cybersecurity industry is expected to be worth US$155bn in just five years’ time, with many employment opportunities. However, security threats evolve very fast so, just like many areas of IT, it is difficult to predict what’s happening too far in advance.

What we do know is that Ireland is the perfect place for job-seekers in the cybersecurity sphere. The home of multiple tech giants, Dublin alone is becoming an earthly base for a myriad of cloud-based services and projects. The growth in software companies outside of Ireland’s capital as a spillover of this reads opportunity, opportunity, opportunity.

Ever-evolving industry

As Stephen Killilea of Hays recruitment noted in a recent column, the commercial cybersecurity world has recently been faced with new challenges, such as BYOD (bring your own device) to the workplace and the continuing trend of business entities migrating their databases to the cloud.

“Here at Hays, we are seeing the continued growth in the IT security sector with, on average, two security-related jobs registered each month,” Killilea said.

“Globally, the cybersecurity industry is predicted to be valued at US$155bn by 2019 and there is an exceptional opportunity for Ireland to remain at the centre of a huge industry.

“A focus on training the next generation of cybersecurity experts will not only enhance Ireland’s economic growth but it will protect our national interests. There is an outstanding opportunity for anyone looking to expand or start their career by learning the skill set for cybersecurity as the opportunities it will present will be innumerable.”

Demand for security professionals shows no real sign of abating any time soon, in fact it’s difficult to know how the internet of things can evolve without the added risk of warfare.

Positions in cybersecurity include network security operations engineers, information security engineers, information security analysts and information security architects to name but a few.

Good security means good salary

As far as salaries go, careers in IT security offer significant rewards. Hays Ireland’s Salary and Recruiting Trends 2015 report shows that information security analysts can earn on average €40,000 per year, information security engineers €60,000, and information security architects €90,000.

However, it’s not as simple as having that title on your CV. The evolving threats around the world mean professionals in this industry are forced into a constant cycle of updating and relearning the current environment.

Certifications such as CIPP, CISSP and CISA are always integral to candidates’ skills, but keeping up to date with current processes is perhaps more key than in any other area of the tech industry. And it’s not just dedicated security companies looking for talent in the area. As tech businesses in Ireland continue to grow, so too do internal needs to stay on top of their own security.

We’re seeing a growing number of employers looking to get on top of their security management internally. Now is the time for cyberattack, cyberdefence and, therefore, employment in cybersecurity.