The Hottest Jobs in Cybersecurity for 2023

Thanks to an ever-growing tide of threats, many companies find they’re on the back foot when it comes to cybersecurity skills. In our latest blog, we explore the major areas driving demand for cybersecurity talent in 2023.

For most organisations, the new year is unlikely to alleviate the various pressures related to managing cybersecurity. Perennial and emerging risks are spurring CIOs and CTOs to keep a close eye on cyber strategy and the human resources they have available to make it all work.

It doesn’t help that hybrid work environments have raised unique security challenges, with 43% of tech leaders highlighting data privacy, cybersecurity and compliance as their key concerns, a PwC report has underscored.

Nearly half (48%) of UK businesses have a ‘basic’ skills gap in cybersecurity, government research shows, while in Australia, the shortfall of qualified cybersecurity professionals is forecast to reach 30,000 over the next four years, according to CyberCX research. From a tech recruitment perspective, sourcing qualified cybersecurity talent will require much more than run-of-the-mill tactics.

So, how is cybersecurity evolving and what are the implications for jobs in this area? As part of our series on tech trends in 2023, we’ll highlight the developments fuelling job growth in cybersecurity.

Threat Intelligence

Getting the balance right between reactive and proactive security measures is a challenge for any organisation. As access points proliferate and the volume of threats expands, many IT leaders are deciding they would rather be safe than sorry!

Penetration Testers, Intelligence Analysts and Application Security Specialists are essential for spotting gaps in the castle wall long before the bad actors do. Those who are comfortable wearing a hacker’s hat will also be sought after as companies try to get a better handle on malicious activity and how to uncover new threat vectors.

With the help of AI, threat detection and response will evolve in leaps and bounds – and help free up resources to focus on long-term projects. As we noted in our 2023 tech industry predictions, machine learning is playing a growing role in threat intelligence, with more IT leaders recognising the powerful capabilities that deep learning tools can provide to cyber teams.

Professionals who can use training data to refine detection algorithms will be valuable additions to threat intelligence teams. Savvy organisations are poised to hire people with data science and machine learning backgrounds to collaborate with security researchers and analysts, creating a new crop of ML-powered detection and response tools.

Security Architecture

In virtually every business environment, the level of security complexity is increasing. As Gartner has highlighted in its tech industry predictions, COVID-19 further increased the number of digital assets and individuals located outside of traditional enterprise infrastructures. Security architectures will evolve and benefit from a ‘mesh’ framework that creates scalable security solutions to manage this new environment.

To make the ‘mesh’ work, organisations need expertise in the form of Cybersecurity Architects, who can map the foundations of a security ecosystem and enlist Engineers to help build it. Security Architects have the combination of technical chops and business acumen necessary to develop custom solutions, define workflows, manage integrations and more.

Data Security, Compliance and Risk Management

Regulatory pressures are on the rise, triggered in part by several high-profile cyber incidents over the past year and growing threats from state-sponsored actors. It’s arguable that cybersecurity issues are now a household concern, as more consumers question the safety of their data and transactions.

These developments have led governments to review existing laws or enact tougher regulations of data handling and harsher penalties for organisations that fail to secure their data. Demand is set to grow accordingly for professionals who can manage cyber compliance, governance, policy and risk in the face of tighter regulations.

On the technical side, this includes positions that require programming skills to operate data storage and access management systems. For management roles, professionals with ample knowledge of local and international privacy and data protection laws will be essential for organisations.

Auditing and Forensics

The unfortunate reality is that total immunity to a breach or attack remains elusive. Even with a well-resourced cybersecurity team, IT leaders know they need objective analysis of their information systems. Routine audits are a critical part of a cybersecurity arsenal, enabling organisations to maintain accreditations and avoid unwanted news headlines.

When a breach does occur, Forensics Specialists with the ability to uncover root causes and create a full paper trail will be essential to meet growing compliance demands. As the rising wave of ransomware attacks suggests, more businesses will need forensic talent to help security teams retool systems after an incident and cooperate with investigators. Research by Mordor Intelligence shows the global digital forensics market is expected to grow by more than 10% annually between 2023 and 2028.

Summary

Demand for cybersecurity talent will be robust throughout 2023, even as the broader technology job market softens. Cybersecurity risks are evolving and increasing faster than many organisations can keep up with and hiring even for basic cyber skills can be a challenge.

To overcome the cybersecurity skills gap, employers need a tech recruitment strategy that meets short-term needs and long-term objectives. At Hawksworth, we are passionate about helping employers build their cybersecurity teams and connecting talented professionals to great companies.

Are you looking to start 2023 with the right hire or career move? Contact our friendly and knowledgeable team today for your next great hire or tech role.