High-Demand Cybersecurity Jobs to Pursue

Moulika Bollinadi

Governance Risk and Compliance Analyst

Graphic depicting a woman working on cybersecurity at her computer

Advancements in technology and adoption of cloud-native infrastructure has expanded the threat landscape, necessitating specialized cybersecurity expertise to defend against these attacks. Data breaches have hit every industry, and even major corporations often find themselves vulnerable to attack.

In fact, in 2024 there was a 211% year over year increase in victim notices, largely due to 5 “mega-breaches” ^[1] across a variety of industries. Cybercrime is ever present, which is why demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to grow. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 33% growth for information security analysts from 2023 to 2033 ^[2].

Why Pursue a Career in Cybersecurity

With billions of dollars in potential losses, significant regulatory penalties, and hard-earned customer trust on the line in every security incident, protecting critical digital infrastructure has evolved into a business imperative. Organizations rely on cybersecurity professionals to implement strategies protecting sensitive corporate assets and customer information.

The field offers diverse career paths spanning hands-on technical, leadership, and specialized roles — all continuously evolving to counter emerging attacks.

Careers in cybersecurity offer a high earning potential and job security due to the demand for this type of expertise and the shortage of people with the required skills. Opportunities can be found in almost every industry, from health care to finance.

For example:

Medical and educational institutions need cybersecurity experts to help them keep patient or student data safe.
Government organizations utilize cybersecurity professionals to fend off digital threats and protect sensitive information.
Technology companies need skilled experts to secure critical infrastructure and data.
Retail businesses have a vested interest in protecting customer data, such as credit card numbers and personal information.

Cybersecurity Jobs & Their Descriptions

Key career types within the cybersecurity field include entry-level, hands-on, specialized, and senior positions.

Entry-Level Cybersecurity Roles

Security Operations (SOC) / Incident Response Analyst

“SOC analysts serve as the security monitoring instance of organizations, monitoring environments 24/7 to detect and respond to threats. When alerts fire or suspicious activities are detected, these professionals investigate, contain, and remediate potential security incidents before they cause significant damage.” – Christopher Nett (Security Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft)

Key Skills:

Monitoring and investigating alerts / potential incidents
Tracking and Analysis
Incident Response Management

Tools: SIEM Platforms (Splunk, QRadar), EDR Solutions (Crowdstrike, Falcon, SentinelOne), Wireshark, ServiceNow, Jira

Relevant Certifications: CompTIA Security+

Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst / Cyber Threat Hunter

A threat intelligence analyst is responsible for researching emerging threats, analyzing threat patterns, developing hypotheses and producing intelligence reports.

Key Skills:

Data analysis
Content Writing and Communication skills
Analytical thinking

Tools: Threat intelligence platforms, Data Visualization tools (ELK Stack, Tableau), SIEM Platforms (Splunk, QRadar)

Relevant Certifications: CompTIA Security+

Hands-On Cybersecurity Roles

Application Security Engineer / Penetration Tester (Ethical Hacker)

A penetration tester hacks into computer systems to simulate real attacks and discovers vulnerabilities, which could be exploited by an adversary. During a penetration test, the tester determines how easily an outsider could access sensitive data in real time.

Christopher Nett (Security Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft) notes Application Security Engineers as one of the most in-demand cybersecurity roles, “In our software-driven world, application security engineers have become increasingly valuable. These specialists work alongside development teams to identify and address vulnerabilities throughout the software development lifecycle, ensuring security is built into applications rather than added as an afterthought as part of a DevSecOps approach.”

Key Skills:

Knowledge on OWASP Top-10 Vulnerabilities
Understanding CVEs and CVSS scoring
Reverse engineering
Vulnerability assessment
Scripting and Manual Code Reviews

Tools: Kali Linux, nmap, SQL map, Nessus, Burpsuite, Honeypot, Metasploit, Nikto, OpenVAS, Docker, Static/ Dynamic code analyst tools

Relevant Certifications: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Network Security Engineer

A Network Security Engineer designs secure network architecture, implements firewalls/ IDS/ IPS and continuously monitors network transmission traffic across the organization. Additionally, managing encryption programs and upgrading to new encryption standards is part of the responsibilities. This hands-on technical role involves putting general security policies into active practice.

Key Skills:

Network Architecture
Firewalls and VPNs
Operating system security

Tools: Network Monitoring (Wireshark, tcpdump, NetFlow), Firewall Management (Palo Alto, Check Point, Fortinet), IDS/IPS (Snort), VPN Solutions (OpenVPN, Cisco AnyConnect)

Relevant Certifications: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

Security Architect

“Security architects combine strategic thinking with technical expertise to design secure systems from the ground up. They understand infrastructure, applications, business requirements, and risk management to create security frameworks that protect assets while enabling business operations rather than hindering them.” – Christopher Nett (Security Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft)

Key Skills:

System Design and Architecture
Risk Assessment and Mitigation
Budget and compliance considerations

Tools: Architecture Modeling (Microsoft Visio, Lucidchart), Security Frameworks (NIST CSF, ISO 27001 etc.,), Cloud Security Posture Management Tools, OWASP ASVS

Relevant Certifications: Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

Specialized Cybersecurity Roles

Security Compliance Analyst

Laws, regulations, and industry standards often dictate how sensitive data should be managed. A compliance analyst ensures adherence to these rules through regular monitoring and periodic audits.

This type of cybersecurity professional also ensures proper protocols are followed after a breach, including sending official notifications to regulatory agencies and consumers whose data might have been compromised.

Key Skills:

Audit Procedures
Policy Writing
Risk & Compliance Management

Tools: GRC Platforms, Audit Board, Policy Management software

Relevant Certifications: Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)

Risk Management Specialist / Governance Risk Compliance (GRC) Analyst

A risk management specialist is responsible for identifying and assessing security risks, conducting risk assessments, developing risk mitigation plans and continuously monitoring risk across the organization.

Key Skills:

Risk Management
Risk Assessment
Risk Matrix and Security scoring
Risk Tracking and Remediation

Tools: GRC Platforms, Threat Modeling tools, Data Analytics tools

Relevant Certifications: Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)

Cloud Security Specialist

Securing cloud environments by implementing cloud security controls and ensuring compliance are primary responsibilities for a Cloud Security specialist. This role requires expertise in leading cloud environments and consistently challenges professionals to design a scalable and affordable security posture. According to Christopher Nett (Security Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft), Cloud Security Engineers are one of the most in-demand cybersecurity roles, “With businesses migrating to the cloud at unprecedented rates, organizations need specialists who understand the unique security challenges of cloud environments.”

Key Skills:

Cloud knowledge
Cloud Security Posture Management
Cloud Security Controls

Tools: Wiz, Prisma Cloud, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud

Relevant Certifications: AWS Certified Security Specialty, Microsoft Azure Security Engineer, Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer

Identity and Access Management (IAM) Specialist / Engineer

An IAM Engineer manages user access, implements authentication systems and develops access control policies for the organization.

Key Skills:

Access Control and Authentication
Zero Trust Architecture
Identity Federation Protocols

Tools: Sailpoint IdentityIQ, Okta, CyberArk, BeyondTrust, Microsoft Active Directory, LDAP, Ping Identity

Emerging Cybersecurity Roles in High Demand

AI Security Specialist

An AI Security specialist primarily leads in securing AI systems, detecting AI-based attacks and implementing AI for security operations.

Key Skills:

AI/ML Security Frameworks (NIST AI RMF)
AI Security Scanning Tools
AI Risk Management

Security Automation Engineer

Automation plays a key role in designing efficient and scalable processes over the long term. An automation engineer is responsible for designing and implementing automated workflows for security testing, vulnerability management, and incident response, creating scripts and tools to automate repetitive security tasks, and developing self-service security capabilities for development teams.

Key Skills:

Programming Languages or Scripting Knowledge
Basic understanding of Cybersecurity Principles
Secure Architecture

Executive and Management Roles

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

A CISO leads security strategy, oversees security operations, manages security budgets and strengthens the security posture of the organization.

Key Skills:

Leadership, Communication and Management
Threat Landscape awareness, Security controls
Compliance Requirements
Scaling and Automation knowledge
Industry leading Cybersecurity experience

Tools: GRC Platforms, Security Dashboards

Relevant Certifications: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

Cybersecurity Director / Manager

A security director or manager manages security teams, implements security policies, handles incident response planning.

Key Skills:

Leadership, Communication and Management
Project Management
Scaling and Automation knowledge
Industry leading Cybersecurity experience

Relevant Certifications: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

Recommended Cybersecurity Certifications, Education, and Networking for Career Growth

Roles in cybersecurity often require a bachelor’s or master’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or a related field. If you already have a career in IT or a background in tech work, developing your cybersecurity skills could open up new career paths.

Online Courses and Certifications

As noted above, Cybersecurity Certifications can give you an edge in the hiring process and be a stepping stone for enhancing your cybersecurity skills. Here is a recap of some valuable cybersecurity certifications you can earn to kickstart or advance your career:

Self-learning through online cybersecurity courses is gaining popularity as a quick way to acquire relevant skills. Notably, consumption of our Cybersecurity Courses has grown by 22% YOY, highlighting an increased interest in using online courses to achieve one’s goals. Get started today.

Expert Insights with Christopher Nett (Security Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft)

Q: What are some valuable resources, such as courses, conferences, or forums, that aspiring cybersecurity professionals can use to enhance their skills and network with industry experts?

These practical resources have proven valuable for cybersecurity professionals at various career stages:

Valuable Professional Events
– DEF CON brings together technical security practitioners for in-depth learning and connections
– Black Hat showcases security approaches and security research
– RSA Conference focuses on the business aspects of security with executive networking opportunities
– OWASP meetings connect application security specialists and promote secure development practices

Community Resources
– Discord communities
– Reddit forums such as r/netsec and r/cybersecurity
– GitHub security projects allow professionals to learn through contribution and collaboration

Essential Information Sources
– SANS Internet Storm Center provides daily analysis of emerging threats
– Krebs on Security offers reporting on breaches and security incidents
– The Hacker News delivers quick updates on current security developments
– PortSwigger Research shares web application testing techniques and vulnerabilities