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The constant news about ransomware attacks, security breaches, and other such issues is enough to emphasize the importance of cybersecurity roles. Bad actors are everywhere, threatening businesses, governments, and individuals all over the world. Only good actors can stop these insidious and destructive intruders. Cybersecurity is both a noble profession as well as a field of opportunity for those who want to do good, frustrate those who seek digital disruptions, and help commerce and government operate unimpeded by enemy attacks. The ever-increasing salaries of IT security professionals, as well as the benefits that they receive, make this a very secure career path.

Understanding the Inherent Security Need
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs reveals that security and safety are the most important human needs. Given the increasing evidence of the severe damage and high costs that cybersecurity intrusions can cause, it’s not surprising that this human motivation is also evident in businesses. CyberSecurity Ventures estimates that cyber intrusions worldwide will cost businesses more than $6 trillion by 2021 compared to $3 trillion in 2015. As humans and business professionals, we are trained to protect ourselves and our corporate resources. These inescapable economic realities make us more motivated to act and protect our environment. Unfortunately, in order to be able to respond to cyber threats and intrusions, it is essential to have skilled and qualified individuals to manage them. This is the core issue facing almost every business: a lack of skilled cyber professionals worldwide.
How big is the Skills Gap
It’s huge! Analysts predict that cybersecurity jobs will remain unfilled for as many as two million people by 2018. This is astonishing, even though it may sound. With only four million cyber professionals available, there will be approximately six million cyber professionals. CyberSecurity Ventures predicts that the gap will grow to 3.5 million vacant positions by 2021. McAfee, a security vendor, found that 82% of the surveyed IT and cybersecurity decision makers had a shortage in cyber skills within their companies. A report by Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG), and the Information Systems Security Association, (ISSA) found that 22% of respondents felt their cyber teams were not sufficient and 18% could not keep up to the cyber workload. This is a bad sign for enterprises, as they face ever more nefarious schemes if their teams are understaffed.
Robert Herjavec, the star of Shark Tank TV and founder and CEO of Herjavec Group, a Managed Security Services Provider, states that “Unfortunately, the pipeline of security talent doesn’t exist to help curb the cybercrime epidemic.” We will continue to be outpaced every day by the Black Hats until we improve the quality of the education and training our cyber experts receive.
This cybersecurity talent gap is a problem for companies on the short end of their stick. However, it is a boon to cybersecurity professionals who want to enter the field or expand their reach in the field. The U.S. market is very tight for cyber talent. However, there are only one candidates for every three vacancies in other parts of the globe.
Cyberdemand is highest in areas where it is high
APAC is the most sought-after region for cyber professionals worldwide due to its rapid growth and constantly changing environment. This region is most vulnerable to cybercriminals because it has had to transition from an industrial past to digital high-value venues. China accounted for more than 31% of APAC’s cybersecurity market in 2016.
Cybersecurity professionals with high-skilled are paid a lot
Rising salaries, increased benefits and other perks are a result of talent shortages. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for cybersecurity professionals was $92,000 per year in 2016. This figure is expected to rise to $100,000 by 2018. Cybersecurity pay is expected to be at least 10% higher than other IT jobs that are less in demand.
The Most In-Demand Cyber Roles
If you are considering a career as a cybersecurity professional, the following roles might be of interest to you:
Security Analyst
Security Engineer or Architect
Security/IT Manager
CISO/CSO, System Administrator
Network Architect or Engineer
Forensics Investigator
Auditor
Systems Engineer or Integrator
Functionally, these skills are