The cybersecurity job market is experiencing unprecedented growth as organisations bolster their digital defences. According to CyberSeek, there are currently over 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions globally, with the UK facing a significant skills shortage. The 2022 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study revealed that the global cybersecurity workforce needs to grow by 65% to effectively defend organisations’ critical assets. With average salaries ranging from £35,000 for entry-level positions to over £100,000 for senior roles, cybersecurity offers lucrative and stable career opportunities across various specialisations. This guide explores the diverse career paths within the cybersecurity sector.

Is it Easy to Find Work in Cybersecurity?

Entering the cybersecurity field presents both opportunities and challenges:

The demand for qualified professionals far exceeds supply, creating favourable conditions for job seekers. The UK Government’s Cyber Security Sectoral Analysis 2024 reported that 51% of cyber firms struggled to fill technical vacancies, highlighting the significant skills gap.

However, entry requirements vary across different cybersecurity roles:

• Technical positions often require specific certifications (CISSP, CEH, CompTIA Security+)
• Many senior roles expect relevant experience alongside formal qualifications
• Specialist areas may demand deep knowledge in niche technical domains

While the barrier to entry might seem high, multiple pathways exist:

• University degrees in cybersecurity or related fields
• Professional certification programmes with practical components
• Apprenticeships and transitional roles from adjacent IT fields
• Self-directed learning through industry-recognised resources

As GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre states, “The cybersecurity profession encompasses various roles requiring different skills and attributes.” Success in the field often depends on continuous learning and specialisation in areas that match your strengths and interests.

What Happens if You Don’t Have Cybersecurity Expertise?

Organisations lacking cybersecurity professionals face significant vulnerabilities:

Increased Risk of Security Breaches

Without dedicated security expertise:

• Vulnerabilities may remain undetected until exploited
• Security incidents might go unnoticed for extended periods
• Response to attacks becomes reactive rather than preventive
• Recovery efforts take longer and cost substantially more

Compliance Challenges and Legal Exposure

Cybersecurity expertise is essential for regulatory compliance:

• Non-compliance penalties under frameworks like GDPR can reach millions of pounds
• Industry-specific regulations (PCI DSS, NIS2) require specialised knowledge
• Legal liability increases when security negligence can be demonstrated

Competitive Disadvantage in the Digital Economy

In today’s business environment:

• Customers increasingly evaluate security posture before engagement
• Business partners require security assurances through assessments
• Investment opportunities may depend on demonstrable security practices

The 2023 Cost of a Data Breach Report by IBM found that organisations with security skills gaps experienced 15% higher breach costs and took 33% longer to identify and contain breaches compared to those with adequate security staffing.

Can I Build a Career in Cybersecurity?

Yes, cybersecurity offers diverse career paths catering to different skills and interests:

1. Security Operations Roles

These professionals monitor and defend systems in real-time:

Security Operations Centre (SOC) Analyst

• Monitors security alerts and network traffic
• Investigates potential security incidents
• Implements initial response procedures
• Salary range: £30,000-£55,000

Incident Responder

• Develops and executes incident response plans
• Performs forensic analysis of security breaches
• Creates post-incident reports and recommendations
• Salary range: £45,000-£75,000

Threat Hunter

• Proactively searches for threats that evade automated detections
• Analyses system behaviours to identify anomalies
• Develops new detection methods for emerging threats
• Salary range: £55,000-£85,000

2. Security Engineering and Architecture

These roles focus on building secure systems:

Security Engineer

• Implements security tools and technologies
• Configures security controls across networks and systems
• Automates security processes and responses
• Salary range: £45,000-£80,000

Security Architect

• Designs comprehensive security frameworks for organisations
• Develops security standards and best practices
• Ensures security integration across business initiatives
• Salary range: £70,000-£110,000

Cloud Security Specialist

• Secures cloud infrastructure and applications
• Implements cloud-native security controls
• Develops security automation for cloud environments
• Salary range: £60,000-£95,000

3. Offensive Security and Testing

These professionals identify vulnerabilities before attackers do:

Penetration Tester

• Conducts authorised simulated attacks against systems
• Identifies security vulnerabilities and weaknesses
• Provides remediation recommendations
• Salary range: £40,000-£80,000

Red Team Operator

• Performs advanced adversary simulations
• Tests blue team detection and response capabilities
• Emulates real-world threat actors and techniques
• Salary range: £60,000-£90,000

Vulnerability Analyst

• Discovers and documents security flaws in systems
• Prioritises vulnerabilities based on risk
• Validates remediation efforts
• Salary range: £35,000-£65,000

4. Security Management and Compliance

These roles focus on governance, risk, and compliance:

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

• Develops enterprise security strategy
• Manages security teams and budgets
• Reports security posture to executive leadership
• Salary range: £100,000-£200,000+

Security Consultant

• Provides expert security advice to organisations
• Conducts security assessments and audits
• Develops security roadmaps and improvement plans
• Salary range: £50,000-£90,000

Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Specialist

• Ensures adherence to security frameworks and regulations
• Performs risk assessments and develops mitigation strategies
• Manages security documentation and evidence collection
• Salary range: £45,000-£75,000

5. Emerging Cybersecurity Specialisations

The field continues to evolve with new focus areas:

Application Security Specialist

• Secures software throughout the development lifecycle
• Performs code reviews and security testing
• Implements security controls in applications
• Salary range: £55,000-£85,000

OT/IoT Security Expert

• Protects industrial control systems and connected devices
• Bridges IT and operational technology security gaps
• Develops security controls for non-traditional environments
• Salary range: £60,000-£90,000

Security Data Scientist

• Applies machine learning to security challenges
• Develops models for anomaly detection
• Creates security analytics and visualisations
• Salary range: £65,000-£95,000

Conclusion: How ROSCA Technologies Can Support Your Cybersecurity Career Journey

Building a career in cybersecurity requires continuous learning, practical experience, and professional development—areas where ROSCA Technologies offers valuable support. Our comprehensive cybersecurity services provide opportunities for professionals at all stages of their careers.

For organisations looking to build their security teams, ROSCA Technologies offers advisory services on security team structure, role definition, and talent acquisition strategies. We can provide interim security expertise while you develop internal capabilities, and our training programmes from our partners can help upskill existing IT staff into security roles.

Whether you’re exploring a cybersecurity career or seeking to enhance your organisation’s security capabilities, contact ROSCA Technologies today to learn how our expertise can support your journey in this dynamic and rewarding field.