More and more of our lives move online – even our vehicles, appliances, and election systems. With this trend comes an increase in efficiency and productivity, but also a rise in new risks. Cyber attackers can use every digital tool as a weapon to get access to our personal data.
Well-trained cybersecurity professionals are more than ever in high demand. But with new threats and types of attacks that appear constantly, cybersecurity professionals need to reinvent their skills sets to be up-to-date.
Read on to find out the top fastest-growing cybersecurity skills professionals should focus on.
Application Development Security
Projected 5-Year Growth +164%
Key Specialized Occupations
- Software Developer
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- DevOps Engineer
- Network Architect
Fastest-Growing Skills: DevSecOps; Container Security; Microservices Security; Application Security Code Review
Cloud Security
Projected 5-Year Growth +115%
Key Specialized Occupations
- Cloud Architect
- Systems Engineer
- Software Developer
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Cybersecurity Consultant
Fastest-Growing Skills: Azure Security; Cloud Security Infrastructure; Google Cloud Security; Public Cloud Security; Cloud Security Architecture.
Risk Management
Projected 5-Year Growth +60%
Key Specialized Occupations
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Cybersecurity Manager
- System Engineer
- Network Architect
Fastest-Growing Skills: SABSA; FedRAMP; NIST Cyber Security Framework; Cybersecurity Assessment.
Threat Intelligence
Projected 5-Year Growth +41%
Key Specialized Occupations
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Security Intelligence Analyst
- Vulnerability Analyst
- Software Developer
Fastest-Growing Skills: Threat Hunting; Security Insider Threat Mgmt.; Threat Modelling; Threat Intelligence and Analysis; Threat Analysis.
Incident Response
Projected 5-Year Growth +37%
Key Specialized Occupations
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Data Scientist
- Vulnerability Analyst
- Software Developer
Fastest-Growing Skills: Anomaly Detection; Phishing; Social Engineering; Security Information and Event Management.
Compliance and Controls
Projected 5-Year Growth +36%
Key Specialized Occupations
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Cybersecurity Manager
- Security Officer
Cybersecurity Consultant
Fastest-Growing Skills: GDPR Assessment, Strategy & Remediation; NIST Security Standards; ICS Security Standards – NIST 800-82; ISO 27001; NIST SP 800-53
Data Privacy and Security
Projected 5-Year Growth +36%
Key Specialized Occupations
- Attorney
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Network Architect
- Software Developer
- Cybersecurity Engineer
Fastest-Growing Skills: Data Privacy; Data Security
Access Management
Projected 5-Year Growth +32%
Key Specialized Occupations
- Software Developer
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Network Architect
- Java Developer
Fastest-Growing Skills: Multi-Factor Authentication; OAuth; Spring Security; Role Bases Access Control – RBAC; Password Management
Security Strategy and Governance
Projected 5-Year Growth +20%
Key Specialized Occupations
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Security Officer
- Cybersecurity Manager
- Cybersecurity Consultant
Fastest-Growing Skills: Cybersecurity Strategy; Information Governance; Security Operations Mgmt.; Security Design; Security Implementation
Health Information Security
Projected 5-Year Growth +20%
Key Specialized Occupations:
- Health Insurance Sales Agent
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Records Technician
- Health Care Administrator
- Cybersecurity Engineer
Fastest-Growing Skills: Health Care Security; Electronic Case Report Form (ECRF Design; Health Information Confidentiality; HIPAA Compliance; HIPAA Regulations
In conclusion, the skill areas with the fastest growth are the ones associated with building secure infrastructures such as Cloud Security and Application Development Security. Security professionals with high-growth skills can expect higher salaries so this is a strong incentive to build these skills.
