There has been a rise in demand for cybersecurity professionals as a result of an increase in cybercrime fuelled by the rapidly expanding online world, says recruiting experts Hays.
Day-to-day use of technology increased during the pandemic, as consumers shopping habits increasingly moved online; professionals began working remotely; and businesses started growing their digital estates. Cybercriminals have been able to take advantage of increased internet usage, resulting in a rise in cybercrime.
Organisations are now pushing to not only prevent attacks from happening in the first place, but to develop IT and security infrastructure that can deal with the increase in online demands.
James Milligan, Global Head of Technology at Hays, recently wrote about the issue, saying that the pandemic has meant security has taken on even greater importance, as entire business processes and models have shifted online.
Using businesses that have implemented remote working models as an example, James said security breaches have occurred in several ways, including; valuable data being left exposed via remote networks that were hastily set-up prior to local lockdowns; employees logging into company programs using their own Wi-Fi or devices; employees downloading new tools and apps with the potential to breach security systems; and lastly, employees becoming prone to lapses in adhering to security guidelines while they work at home.
Key skills cybersecurity professionals need in the new era of work
Cybersecurity roles have traditionally fallen into two categories, the first being specific technical roles, such as Security Engineers or Security Architects, which are responsible for the prevention of, and reaction to, cyber-attacks. The second category includes more business-focused positions such as Security Analysts and Compliance Business Analysts, these roles are responsible for the mitigation of risk in lieu of business objectives and projects.
James commented on the evolving role of a cybersecurity professionals, “The line between ‘tech’ and ‘business’ roles for those within security is blurring. More roles now require someone who is not only responsible for the technical implementation, maintenance and development of security systems, as well as the reaction to any breaches that occur, but someone who is capable of analysing incidents, processes and procedures as well”.
James continued, “These professionals need to act as a bridge between IT security and the business; to be a consultant that looks at the risks associated with different business projects and the effect they may have on security infrastructure”.
These evolving roles, such as Information Security Officers, cover more departments than just IT, meaning certain key skills and traits are required. Technical skills include:
- An understanding of current and emerging IT and security technologies, security standards, threats and trends
- Knowledge of security, risk management and assessment methodologies and standards (e.g. ISO 27000 series, NIST, OWASP, PCI DSS), and the application of them, often in large enterprise environments
- Professional certificates in IT and Security from CISA or CISM, for example
While professional skills and competencies, include:
James commented on the required skillset, “These skills and competencies should be on the checklist of any potential employer when looking to hire a full-service cybersecurity role – and cybersecurity professionals should be looking to upskill in these areas where necessary”.
James predicts the demand for cybersecurity professionals increasing further over the coming years as internet connected devices become more popular and people’s internet usage continues to rise.
Commenting on the future of cybersecurity, James said, “Threats, enhanced by the impact of Covid-19, will continue – with online and offline worlds set to collide more and more in the future. Ever-more widely available ‘smart’ IoT products, like smart kettles and doorbells or driverless cars, will ensure that cyber security professionals will continue to be in great demand to create secure infrastructures around these technologies”.
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About Hays
Hays plc (the "Group") is a leading global professional recruiting group. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe, Latin America and Asia. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As at 30 June 2020 the Group employed c.10,400 staff operating from 266 offices in 33 countries across 20 specialisms. For the year ended 30 June 2020:
– the Group reported net fees of £996.2 million and operating profit (pre-exceptional items) of £135.0 million;
– the Group placed around 66,000 candidates into permanent jobs and around 235,000 people into temporary roles;
– 17% of Group net fees were generated in Australia & New Zealand, 26% in Germany, 23% in United Kingdom & Ireland and 34% in Rest of World (RoW);
– the temporary placement business represented 59% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 41% of net fees;
– IT is the Group’s largest specialism, with 25% of net fees, while Accountancy & Finance (15%) and Construction & Property (12%), are the next largest
– Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, the UK and the USA