Cyber security jobs make up 14% of new UK-based IT roles

Nick Elvin

Cyber security jobs now make up 14% of all new UK-based IT roles as businesses increasingly hunt for experts to help protect against hackers, according to research by Procorre.

The professional services company says businesses are increasing their investment in cyber security after a series of recent high-profile hacks exposed both the vulnerability of many businesses’ IT security systems and the extent of the potential threat.

Procorre’s research found that in an analysis of 10,210 IT vacancies in the UK, 1,420 are in cyber security, and the firm says that the demand for cyber security experts has driven up pay, with 15% of cyber security professionals paid at least £100,000 per annum.

Recent Ponemon Institute research suggests that nearly half of US companies have increased their cyber security budgets in the past two years, while half say that they will spend more in the next two years. Procorre adds that British universities have also responded to the increased demand for cyber security experts, with 42 universities offering specialist degrees related to cyber security at an undergraduate level, and more than 700 cyber security-related degrees available at a postgraduate level.

Universities such as Oxford, Warwick, University College London and Royal Holloway offer masters degrees in areas such as Cyber Security Management, Software and Systems Security, and Information Security.

Wiktor Podgorski, contracts and HR manager at Procorre, said: “There is a global shortage of experienced and talented cyber security experts, especially after a recent spate of high-profile attacks that have demonstrated the need for businesses to improve their cyber defences.

“As well as work that is going on in-house to strengthen firewalls, we are also seeing the growth of specialist cyber security companies that take a more proactive approach to defence, such as luring hackers into deliberate traps or attempting to trace the source of an attack.

“Many of the businesses that have been hacked over the past few years have lost very sensitive information. Even if the information lost does not put them at personal risk of financial loss, customers lose faith in companies that are unable to keep information secure, so data losses can have a significant long-term impact on sales and revenue.”

Procorre adds that UK businesses are also concerned about potential fines from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as well as the tightening of the EU data protection regime. The new European Data Protection Directive, due to be implemented by the end of this year, is set to turn data breaches into a far more serious financial and legal risk for businesses, according to Procorre.

Podgorski added: “With the new directive imminent, businesses need to be even more secure with the data they are storing. Cyber security experts are being drafted in to address any concerns that could see hackers access sensitive information, which may lead to a drop in revenue and a hefty fine. Not to mention the reputational damage.”