5 Most In-Demand Cybersecurity Skills & Jobs

Due to so many organizations moving towards rapid digital transformation and automation, digital security is more critical than ever before. Since everything is being stored online, securing digital assets has become of utmost importance. Organizations redirect their focus to recruiting cybersecurity professionals and it security teams to make sure their digital infrastructure is secure from cyber threats.

The landscape of Cybersecurity Jobs  

Most organizations, especially the government, have increased their cybersecurity budgets due to the increase in cybersecurity risks over the past few years. This means that the opportunity for skilled professionals and it security roles is increasing. Organizations are looking to the future of automation, adoption of machine learning tech, and supporting AI to combat cyberattacks. At this time, there are more than 460,000 cybersecurity jobs open and a meager workforce ratio.

Cybersecurity Team Mission Statement  

Of course, before you start hiring, you need to build a cybersecurity team mission statement. A strong mission statement to help draw in candidates will include most or all of the following:

• Primary function of what the team does for the company
• What industry or customer does the team serve
• What is the team trying to protect
• Geographic location of operation

Cybersecurity Team Mission Statement Examples

“Connecting Cyber, Defense, and Intelligence IT Talent” - Advantis Government Solutions

“... identify and address the grand challenges in cybersecurity and privacy.” - Georgia Institute for Information Tech Security & Privacy

“The mission of the Office is to establish and provide:  assistance and guidance on the use of technology-supported business process reengineering; investment analysis; performance measurement; strategic development and application of information systems and infrastructure; policies to provide improved management of information resources and technology; and better, more efficient service to our clients and employees.” - HHS.gov

Most In-Demand Cybersecurity Skills & Jobs

Chief Information Security Officer  

The CISO is a senior-level exec responsible for meshing the business goals with the cybersecurity plans of the company. Most organizations have CISO on their management team to oversee several aspects of the IT and security operations of the company. They stay on top of what is happening in the industry and provide real-time analysis of threats that may arise.  

‍

Skill Set Needed

• Incident management/supervisory skills
• Risk management
• Strong communication/supervisory skills  
• Experience in the IT sector  
• Business expertise

Ethical Hacker  

An ethical hacker, also known as a pentester or penetration tester, performs in-depth testing across the company's network systems and web applications to test for vulnerabilities or loopholes before the cybercriminals do. Consider adding an ethical hacker to your IT security team.  

These professionals need to understand the motives and psyche of cybercriminals to discover these vulnerabilities.  

‍

Skill Set Needed  

• Knowledge of Perl, Java, and Python
• Strong reporting/presentation skills
• Good networking skills  
• Black box testing

Security Architect  

A security architect designs IT security structures and develops architecture patterns and new security approaches for a company. They also educate staff on security policy within the company and help to prevent cyber risks. This is a great IT security role to have on your team.  

‍

Skill Set Needed  

• Knowledge in cyber risk management  
• Knowledge of security protocols/cryptography  
• Strong IT background  
• Experience in network hardware configuration
• Analytical/problem-solving skills

Network Security Engineer  

Network Security Engineers front the digital and physical assets of an organization and protect them from cyber threats. They oversee the networks, IT infrastructure, and operational data systems. They are responsible for maintaining network monitoring tools, VPNs, routers, and more.  

‍

Skill Set Needed  

• Strong communication/presentation skills  
• Knowledge of security architecture/management of operating systems
• Sound networking skills  
• Knowledge of C, C++, Java, and Python

Digital Forensic Analyst  

This professional is a cybersecurity detective. They show up at the scene of the crime to investigate the severity. They study cyberattacks, collect evidence, and supervise/train the team to follow suit. They retrieve data that has been lost, stolen, deleted, or manipulated. They work with law enforcement to investigate cybercriminals.

‍

Skill Set Needed

• Knowledge in cyber-law/criminal investigation
• Networking skills  
• Analytical mind with attention to detail

Need Help Staffing IT Security Roles?

Cybersecurity is a growing field because so many companies are leaning more toward automation and digital transformation. There are many opportunities and not many professionals to take those opportunities.  

Advantis Government Solutions can help you find qualified and cleared talent to fill your IT security team.