Are you looking for a cybersecurity job? Then, how many cybersecurity jobs are there you may apply for? Let’s find out and learn more in this post.
Overview on How Many Cybersecurity Jobs Are There?
According to HackerRank, there are over 3 million cybersecurity jobs worldwide, among which more than 1.5 million are in the United States. Also, the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the United States is over 500,000.
The most important factor driving the increase of cybersecurity job opportunities in the growing number of cyberattacks.
In 2016, a total of 1,095 data breaches were made public, with a total cost of $1.1 billion. In 2017, the total cost of all data breaches in the United States was estimated at $8 billion. And in 2018, it reached an unprecedented amount – $9 billion.
In 2019 the number of cybersecurity job opportunities will continue to grow from 50% to 70% thanks to the emergence of new types of attacks, including ransomware.
There are two main reasons for this rapid growth.
1. The number of cyberattacks is growing rapidly.
According to data from Symantec, the number of detected cyber attacks in 2017 grew by 54% compared to 2016. The number of detected ransomware attacks increased by almost 200%. Also, the number of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks increased by almost 70%.
2. Cybersecurity professionals are already in high demand.
The demand for cybersecurity professionals will grow by 28% over the next 5 years compared to 11% for IT specialists as a whole.
According to Cybersecurity Ventures, there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions in the U.S. by 2021.
How Many Cybersecurity Jobs Are There in 2019?
Let’s find out the answer!
The list of job positions in cybersecurity is long and growing longer all the time, but it can be divided into several categories:
Cybersecurity Experts
They are responsible for the protection of critical infrastructure, mainly from cyber-attacks. Their responsibilities include:
Hardening the security of systems and networks;
- System and network monitoring;
- Vulnerability assessment;
- Penetration testing;
- Security testing;
- Performing forensic analysis and incident response; and,
- Reporting and sharing findings.
Cybersecurity Managers
They are responsible for the protection of organizations, mainly from cyber-attacks. Their responsibilities include:
- Penetration testing;
- Security testing;
- Vulnerability assessment;
- Vulnerability management;
- Security policy and compliance;
- Incident response; and,
- Reporting and sharing findings.
They are responsible for conducting research and development aimed at improving cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity Auditors
They are responsible for the assessment of the effectiveness of the cybersecurity measures in place in organizations.
Cybersecurity Researchers
They are responsible for developing new technologies and making discoveries that help improve cybersecurity.
They are responsible for the protection of organizations from data theft and fraud.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity has become one of the most desired professions today. However, the number of cybersecurity job opportunities is not so great as to promise a large number of those who have been trained in this field a job. Only those who have good knowledge and skills in information security can perform well in this profession.
To be successful in this field, you need to have a solid foundation in basic knowledge and skills as well as practical experience. And you need to be able to apply them in solving real-life problems.
If you have what it takes to succeed as a cybersecurity professional, then now is a good time to learn more about how to do that by enrolling in our information security training program.