Security engineers are cybersecurity builders, building not only technical solutions, but also systems, such as access control systems, or processes, such as incident response plans. They often focus narrowly on specific technologies, such as networking or architecture, or tasks, such as threat modeling, software or hardware testing, or dealing with network intrusions.
For this reason, security engineers are well paid, with the average salary in the United States being $127,094. Despite the lucrative wages, a huge gap remains: the US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be 33% growth in this field by 2033.
ISC2 assumes that security engineers are in high demand because they provide immediate benefits. Because they have a hands-on role in supporting an organization's cyber defenses, they are a top priority for any team. They prevent data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other intrusions that have high direct and indirect costs, such as reputational damage and lost productivity, which makes them worth their high salaries. Most importantly, it reduces opportunity costs, enabling organizations to focus on strategic plans rather than draining resources and distracting from breaches or intrusions.
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1. Cloud computing security
Hiring manager preference: 36%
Non-hiring manager preference: 48%
According to Gartner, cloud computing is the fastest growing technology market, and with companies investing so much in the cloud, it should come as no surprise that cloud security ranks as the most in-demand skill, according to the ISC2 survey. This skill area retained its number one position as of 2023, indicating relative stability for security professionals who want to develop this ability.
According to the ISC2 definition, cloud security includes three areas: cloud platform and infrastructure security, cloud data security, and cloud architecture and design. These skills are important for organizations because they are responsibilities that organizations share with all major providers, such as Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud Platform.
While the definition and scope of joint liability varies slightly between providers, the overall relationship is the same. The cloud provider secures the data centers, servers, and virtualization layer, and the customer must secure everything built on top of that, including applications, data, and access management. There is a similar division of responsibilities for Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) as well.
With cloud resources now the top target for cyberattacks in 2024 — cloud management infrastructure at 26%, cloud storage at 30%, and SaaS applications at 31%, according to Thales — it is wise to prioritize protecting its cloud assets. Hiring managers and non-hiring managers agree to put cloud security skills at the top of their lists.
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