Digital transformation, wide adoption of cloud computing, big data, the internet of things, and many more have spurred innovation and technological growth massively. Today, businesses at all scales and levels of operations have become digitized and the trend is expected to continue for the next many years. While the digital era has brought with it good tidings for the business world, it has also opened up vulnerabilities and businesses are more exposed to threats than ever before. Whether it is business processes, data transmission, or application deployment, cybersecurity is a matter that cannot be overlooked.
India alone has seen an unprecedented increase in cyberattacks by up to 300% in 2020 and at least 1,738 attacks are witnessed every week. The COVID-19 pandemic created an awareness of the importance of digital transformation which saw more businesses digitize their operations. Increased digitization had its ripple effect on the cyber security job market that witnessed a sharp increase in the demand for cyber security professionals. Currently, the industry is in dire need of professionals with excellent analytical skills, a qualification from a credible cyber security program in India, and a desire to keep advancing knowledge. Yet the cyber security market continues to experience a growing skills gap. For aspiring cybersecurity professionals that are ready to adapt to the demands of this evolving market, the future is promising as the demand for cybersecurity skills continues to rise.
What is cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is a combination of two words, cyber and security. Cyber refers to computers or a network of computers. Security means protection. Hence cybersecurity refers to the techniques or methodologies applied in defending computers, servers, mobile, data, or electronic system networks from unauthorized access or attacks. Cybersecurity is an IT field that is involved with safeguarding organizational digital assets from threats. A good cybersecurity strategy draws from the concerted efforts of cybersecurity professionals, users of an organization’s digital assets, the organization’s management, government agencies, and other players.
The scope of cybersecurity
In just four decades, the internet has transformed what started as a military communication network into global cyberspace. Cybersecurity is a broad field that encompasses several domains. Each domain requires specific knowledge and skills as it features different defined roles. Some popular cybersecurity domains are:
- Network security is about protecting an organization’s network infrastructure from unauthorized access or inappropriate use through policies, governance, best practices, and network monitoring.
- Application security involves the implementation of layers of security on the organization’s systems and applications to prevent a wide range of attacks. Application security comprises measures and techniques such as identity access management (IAM), deployment of secure architectures, and writing secure code.
- Information security refers to the measures taken to protect information and electronic data by mitigating risks and threats.
- Incident response (IR) and disaster recovery (DR). IR refers to the policies and action plans put in place to detect, mitigate, and halt an attack or prevent it from occurring in the future. Disaster recovery, on the other hand, focuses on restoring systems, data, and infrastructure access in the event of a disaster with the goal of resuming normal operations.
- Business continuity is the measures put in place to maintain business operations in the event that a disaster occurs.
Cybersecurity Market
As of 2021, the global cybersecurity market was valued at USD 132.94 billion and was projected to grow at a CAGR of 14.1% between 2022 and 2027. This market is driven by emergent technologies like the internet of things (IoT), machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing. Also, massive digital transformation post-COVID-19 and the increasing demand for security solutions have played a significant role in the growth of the security market. Further, tightened security regulations requiring the reporting of cybersecurity incidents are also a key driver of the cybersecurity market.
Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing cybersecurity region. The Indian cybersecurity services and products market had combined revenue of $9.85 billion in 2021 growing at a CAGR of 40%. Also, due to the spiked demand, cybersecurity professionals command averagely higher packages than other IT roles with a gap of about 9%. Still, the skills gap continues to dip. Surprisingly, the Indian cybersecurity workforce continues to expand its footprint to countries like the United States, UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, UAE, and France.
India’s cybersecurity job market
India is home to tech talent and the growth in the job market is evident with Business Insider India projecting up to 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings by 2025. However, India is expected to fill more than 1 million cybersecurity roles each year which leaves a skills gap. The demand for roles like ethical hackers, security architects, CISOs (Chief Information Security Officers, analysts, and security engineers is high and expected to continue rising within and without the borders. This means that whether you are a fresh graduate, seasoned professional, a cybersecurity expert, or looking to upskill, the field is ripe with opportunities in the government, financial services, healthcare, consulting, retail, IT, and others.
It is important to note that cybersecurity is soon becoming a core skill for all IT professionals alongside soft skills like communication, leadership, problem-solving, collaboration, and attention to detail. Also, working knowledge of various security platforms and a basic understanding of hacking are necessary for cybersecurity specialists.
In-demand cybersecurity roles in India
Enterprises are on the lookout for skilled cybersecurity professionals who can monitor, detect, and mitigate security threats to keep the organization’s digital assets secure. India is recognized for its cybersecurity talent. Still, some skills have seen higher demand ultimately fetching higher pay than others.
The average annual salary of a cybersecurity specialist falls between INR 300,000 and INR 632,218 with a satisfaction level of 68% to means that a career in cybersecurity is both mentally and financially satisfying.
These are:
- Chief information security officer (CISO) – INR 2,233,247
- Cybersecurity architects – INR 2,170,853
- Security systems administrator – INR 651,000
- Cybersecurity engineer – INR 617,865
- Forensics analysts/investigators – INR 590,000
- Information security analyst – INR 562,530
- Network security engineers – INR 535,415
- Cybersecurity analysts – INR 535,069
- Ethical hackers/Penetration testers -INR 512,043
The future of the cybersecurity profession in India
Cybersecurity attacks are not expected to decrease anytime soon. In 2021 alone, 15,651 Indian sites were hacked. Attacks are becoming more sophisticated which calls for innovative techniques for securing digital assets. While the demand for cybersecurity professionals is set to increase in the coming years, the job market requires individuals who can mitigate security risks proactively.
Still, with the rapid advancements in technology, the cybersecurity skills gap will continue dipping if professionals do not endeavor to upskill. To upskill, consider getting security training and certifications, do practicals in labs, and thereafter pursue specializations.
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