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Cyber security has emerged as one of the fastest-growing and most in-demand global fields in tech.

The International Data Corporation (IDC) forecasts that worldwide cyber security spending will reach $174.7 billion in 2024, with security services the largest and fastest-growing market segment. 

Closer to home, Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy saw our government commit to investing $1.67 billion over ten years to achieve a more secure online world for Australians, their businesses and essential services. The government’s Labour Market Insights predict a projected employment growth of 38.9% for Database and Systems Administrators and ICT Security Specialists and in 2021, 134,690 Australians were working in cyber security, although reports suggest the industry is growing so fast that at least another 25,000 are now needed. 

As private, public and government sectors race to secure their systems, networks, and data against an increasing number of cyber-attacks, the demand for cyber security professionals increases. Because of this strong demand, pursuing a career in cyber security means joining a thriving industry where available cyber security jobs outnumber qualified candidates.

But what’s the best way to break into the industry? In this blog, we’ll look at how to get into cyber security, the skills required for career success and the different routes you can take in this space. 

The Attributes of a Successful Cyber Security Professional

Before exploring a role in cyber security, it’s important to ask yourself if it’s the right career for you. 

Keep in mind that there are plenty of different kinds of cyber security that demand different skills and interests. However, a few key personality traits are commonly shared among cyber security professionals, regardless of technical knowledge and qualifications. 

• A Continuous Learner

The cyber security landscape is evolving continuously and rapidly, so professionals in this space need to do the same; they must be comfortable constantly analysing and breaking down complex problems. A natural propensity towards curiosity is immensely helpful in a cyber security career.

• Perceptive

A successful cyber security professional needs to look at problems from all sides, seeing both the perspective of the employer and the cyber-attacker. Understanding and anticipating where hackers might try to exploit weak points in system defences make it easier to build a strategy to defend against these threats. 

• Collaborative and Communicative

Cyber security is very team-based, so a willingness to communicate is essential. Analysts are often required to work closely with multiple company levels to ensure compliance, assess vulnerabilities and implement solutions. Remote working is certainly possible, but you’ll need to be willing to connect via online meetings regularly.

• Flexible

Cyber security can mean working unusual and long hours. In the instance a vulnerability is discovered, a breach occurs, or a system is under attack, you will be required to deal with the problem. This can sometimes mean hours of intense and time-sensitive work. These eventualities aren’t necessarily common, but you will need to respond rapidly when they do happen. 

The Technical Skills of a Successful Cyber Security Professional

There is a multitude of sub-specialisms within cyber security, so it’s best to identify which of these you’re interested in before investigating the technical skills required. 

We are currently seeing strong demand for Staff and Customer Identity Specialists and Cloud Security Engineers here in Australia. Each of these specialisations has its required knowledge base; for instance, Cloud Security Engineers must have Azure and GCP experience. 

If you aspire to work on the technical side in roles such as Engineering, Security Architecture, Security Operations or Identity and Access Management, an understanding of networks and servers, and web and business applications is required.

On the other hand, if you work in Compliance, Risk or Governance on the functional side of the business, you’ll need a foundational knowledge of compliance, frameworks, and controls, along with a high-level understanding of information systems. 

For any cyber security role, a foundational level of IT experience and knowledge will always be required. Cyber security professionals should endeavour to list all the following skills on their resumes: 

• Security incident handling and response 
• Security architecture 
• Programming 
• Information security 
• Analytics and intelligence 
• Penetration testing 
• Programming skills, including proficiency in C, C++, JavaScript, PHP and SQL

Building a Successful Career in Cyber Security 

In general, the pathways into a cyber security career can be summed up into two avenues: obtaining formal education or transferring from another tech field.

When it comes to building cyber security careers in Australia, certifications are not always necessary. However, if you lack practical experience, obtaining a qualification can be a good way to demonstrate your enthusiasm and ability to learn. Some of the most common certifications include CompTIA Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker, Certified Information Systems Security Professional and Certified Cyber Security Professional.

However, in many cases, cyber security professionals transfer from other technical fields. Many technical jobs serve as a good entry point into the cyber security realm. People with tech jobs in financial/risk analysis and security intelligence, for example, are well-positioned to transition into cyber security.

Transfers are often into entry-level technical roles or functional roles like risk, where a strong foundation of network and infrastructure knowledge can open the door to a cyber security career. The more relevant foundational knowledge you have, the easier the transition will be. 

If you’re looking to transfer from another tech role, it’s often suggested that you start as broadly as possible. In most cases, the ideal position will expose you to the technical aspects of IT networks and the governance requirements placed upon them. 

In saying that, we understand that each case is different, and your ideal role depends completely on your skillset, knowledge and background. The cyber security space is vast enough that you can find roles that suit your skills.

Contact Enterprise IT Resources and Start your Cyber Security Career Success

Cyber security is a strategically important, constantly evolving career that will provide plenty of opportunities and financial rewards. 

If you’re interested in exploring cyber security roles, reach out to the team at Enterprise IT Resources to discuss the possibilities. 

We are a Tech, Digital and Business Transformation recruiter headquartered in Sydney with further offices situated in Melbourne and Canberra. Our focus is on providing permanent and contract recruitment services across all Technology fields, including cyber security. 

Our consultants are all established recruiters, each with experience as Technology and Digital recruitment specialists. 

To discuss how you can build your successful career in cyber security, get in touch.