CyberSecurity Means Job Security

Tandem Solution cybersecurity certifications program has grown quickly and provides students with extensive hands-on training for an array of career opportunities in the field.

According to ESG research, 51% of organizations report having a problematic shortage of cybersecurity skills in 2018. This is up from 45% in 2017.

The cybersecurity skills shortage has multiple implications. Organizations don’t have the right sized teams and operate in a perpetually understaffed mode. Often, the cybersecurity team lacks some advanced skills in areas like security analytics, forensic investigations, or cloud computing security, putting more pressure on the most experienced staffers to pick up the slack. Finally, many organizations are so busy with day-to-day security operations that they have little time for ongoing cybersecurity training. According to research from ESG and the information systems security association (ISSA), 62% of cybersecurity professionals believe that their organization is not providing an adequate level of training for them to keep up with business and IT risks.

Clearly the cybersecurity skills shortage is affecting organizations, but what’s often overlooked is the impact it has on the cybersecurity pros in the trenches. For example, the ESG/ISSA research indicates:

• 70% of cybersecurity professionals say that the cybersecurity skills shortage has had some impact on their organization. Of course, they are living this impact.
• 63% of cybersecurity professionals say that the cybersecurity skills shortage has increased the workload on existing staff. More work and stress at the same salary is a surefire recipe for dissatisfied employees and high attrition.
• 41% of cybersecurity professionals say that the cybersecurity skills shortage has led to a situation where the infosec staff spends a disproportional amount of time dealing with high-priority issues and incident response. This means that many cybersecurity pros face a high-stress workplace from the beginning to the end of their workdays.
• 68% of cybersecurity professionals believe that a cybersecurity career can be taxing on the balance between one’s personal and professional life. In other words, infosec pros are taking the pressure of their jobs home with them. It’s safe to assume that this can lead to issues like substance abuse and others.
• 38% of cybersecurity professionals say that the cybersecurity skills shortage has led to high burnout rates and staff attrition. This affects cybersec pros and the organizations they work for.

It’s worth remembering that cybersecurity pros tend to take their jobs very personally. To paraphrase Elliot Alderson (of Mr. Robot), cybersecurity professionals want to save the world so they become emotionally invested in their careers, adding to the stress levels. Alarmingly, the ESG/ISSA research also reveals that 60% are not very satisfied with their current job. Since many of these folks are suffering from cybersecurity job fatigue, can you blame them?

The 6 Highest-Paid Cybersecurity Jobs:

• Application Security Engineer: This cybersecurity role tops the list with an average salary range that falls between $100,000 to $210,000, according to our 2017 Salary Outlook guide. However, our most recent 2017 placement data shows that Senior or Lead-level roles are pushing past that salary limit to net $220,000 or higher. As more and more companies turn to software solutions provided by 3rd party organizations like AWS or Microsoft's Azure or build their own solutions, it's clear they need to ensure these solutions are safe and secure from online hackers. This role specializes solely in securing all software used by a business and ensuring that all privacy and compliance constraints are followed or built into the software. With the growing use of automation software to improve business function and efficiency, it's likely this role will continue to net higher salaries than most other Tech-driven roles.
• Network Security Analyst: Another of the highest-paid cybersecurity jobs, Network Security Analysts make on average between $90,000 and $150,000. While the median salary for this role inches closer to the lower spectrum, we've seen highly qualified placements for this role net the highest salary option offered ($150,000) based on our 2017 placement data. Given this role's core responsibilities include managing the security of a company's entire computer network and/or information system, it's obvious forward-thinking companies will spare no expense to guarantee their most vulnerable devices and systems are protected from ever-evolving cyberattacks.
• IS Security Manager: Another of the highest-paid cybersecurity jobs highlighted in our 2017 Salary Outlook, Information Systems Security Managers are the only Manager-level title to make this list. (We did not include any exec-level roles in this list as CISO, CTO, and CDO titles are understood to make C-level type salaries across the board.) With a salary range that falls between $120,00 and $180,000, strategic companies that rely on their exclusive data are adjusting budgets to be able to afford this role since it's solely focused on the security of these information systems. As data becomes even more valuable to the functions of businesses like yours, it's critical to source a Manager-level position qualified to secure that vulnerable data and manage your IS team.
• Cybersecurity Analyst: The average annual salary for this cybersecurity title falls between $90,000 and $185,000. These experts are paid well due to their invaluable job responsibilities which focus primarily on protecting and preventing cyberattacks, like malware, denial-of-service attacks, viruses, and hacks, on a company's website and computer networks. Based on the specific function of the role at your business, it's possible to net a qualified professional on the lower end of the salary range for consulting or to augment your current cybersecurity support. For Senior-level roles, companies should expect qualified candidates to ask for the higher end of the average salary range due to their elevated strategic thinking and proven in-depth cybersecurity analytics capabilities.
• Penetration Tester: A title that is still unfamiliar to some although it's been around for years, the Penetration Tester role nets an average salary between $80,000 and $130,000. Companies looking to routinely test their cybersecurity effectiveness and identify any vulnerabilities should hire full-time experts for this role, while companies looking to do quarterly tests would benefit most from outsourcing to a consultant. As identified in the recent TechRepublic article featuring Stephen Zafarino, Mondo's Sr. Director of Recruiting, this is one of the most in-demand cybersecurity jobs of 2017. As the position continues to rise in demand, expect the average salary to rise as well, which is why forward-thinking companies are hiring for this role now.
• IS Security Engineer: Rounding out this list of the highest-paid cybersecurity jobs is the Information Systems Security Engineer. This role nets an average salary range of $90,000 to $150,000. Typically working under an IS Manager, the IS Security Engineer is tasked with maintaining a virus-free network, performing regular security testing, and communicating security system protocol to the rest of the company's employees. Given their wider scope of responsibilities relating to information system security, companies typically hire one or more individuals with this title to ensure effective follow-through with cyberattack prevention and regular security testing.

If you wanted to know where the money is flowing, it’s clear that a lot of it is going to cybersecurity professionals. With the increase and prevalence of cyberattacks across industries, companies of all sizes must adjust budgets to allow for new cybersecurity hires. Failing to do so before the end of 2017 could result in cyberattack-related damages that will easily balloon far past the salary ranges outlined here and possibly irreversible damage to your brand. Eliminate stress over your company’s cybersecurity effectiveness by hiring for one of these specialized roles today.