Cyber security is one of the biggest areas of concern for businesses in 2021, with new threats challenging the cyber security skills of professionals every day. With the increase in remote working setups and high-profile cyber-attacks over the past 12 months, keeping vital information safe is now at the forefront of every major company – the White House even issued an executive order promoting a more robust cyber security infrastructure. However, a recent survey found that only 10% of enterprises feel they have the advanced digital operating models, connectivity platforms, and strategies needed for secure operations.
On top of these issues keeping IT decision-makers up at night, there is currently a scarcity of quality cyber security candidates on the market today, with more than a 134% increase in cyber security jobs, and over 3 million cyber security jobs projected to be unfilled. Advancement in the cyber security field is an enticing opportunity for IT professionals. As job market experts at Motion Recruitment, we help talented professionals find careers across the tech industry, with a dedicated practice for those in cyber security, and we talk to hiring managers and business owners about the cyber security skills needed every day.
Here are five of the biggest cyber security skills we’re seeing companies look for when hiring inside their cyber security team.
- Safeguard Migrations to Cloud Servers
Businesses all around the world are transferring their data to cloud-based software. Adding increased employee efficiency and productivity, cost savings, and scalability, cloud-based storage has grown exponentially in popularity. With this massive increase of interest comes security concerns as well. Businesses are looking for cyber security experts that can navigate the transfer of sensitive data to the cloud, mitigating or eliminating data loss of personal files and intellectual property. Candidates that have the skills to guide businesses through this transition are highly desirable in both the full-time and contract role marketplace.
- Protecting Network Infrastructure
The core components of how businesses conduct…well, business, means the hardware and software of a company’s infrastructure is vital to their success. Therefore, keeping a network infrastructure safe and running smoothly is a skill that corporations need. Implementing security measures like firewalls and structured subdivisions inside a network, employers are on the lookout for tech talent that can keep up with the demands of infrastructures that are changing due to an increasingly remote workforce.
- Employing Authentications Policies
Going beyond just setting up easily hackable passwords, companies are looking for employees that can add more security to the authentication process. From 2-factor to certificate-based authentications, a company’s cyber security team will be finding the sweet spot between keeping data secure while maintaining ease of use for employees that are less tech-literate. Being able to create programs and policies that thread that needle is a skill that employers are desiring, and employees are being paid handsomely for.
Learn More: Motion Recruitment Cyber Security Insights - Employ Patch Management Strategies
Quickly and efficiently addressing bugs and security issues with software patches is a vital skill companies are looking for when hiring in their cyber security teams. Going beyond fixing leaks in code and keeping data away from threats, a quality patch management system helps businesses stay compliant with different regulations. Because of this, candidates that can improve the patching process and can even automate some, if possible, have become hot commodities in the job marketplace.
- Conduct and maintain threat monitoring and zero-trust networking
More and more companies are implementing zero-trust security models in order to keep systems secure. The robust security measures that a zero-trust model entails adds a heavy workload to a cyber security team, especially when it comes to enterprise companies with a workforce scattered across the country (or the world). Creating and maintaining zero-trust systems that eliminate gaps in protection without hampering productivity is the goal for many companies, and cyber security hires will be expected to be able to produce results.
Whether you’re hoping to upskill your current team to be more secure, you’re already in security engineering or architecting and hoping to add value to your company (and/or your skillset), or you’re hoping to gain the skills to enter the field, these five skills are the foundation of a quality cyber security professional.
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In the end, it all comes down to keeping important information safe and keeping the business running. Cyber security teams are dealing with threats that are becoming extraordinarily complex, and people in the workforce that have the ability to overcome those obstacles are in high demand. With a practically 0% unemployment rate, opportunities abound in the cyber security job market for anyone that has experience.
If you have some of the skills listed above and are looking for a new opportunity, contact your local Motion Recruitment office. For over 30 years we’ve been connecting the very best candidates in tech with some of the top companies in North America, and we’re happy to help you take the next step in your career.
