Office Space: Hot technology career: cybersecurity - Reading Eagle

As our world becomes more connected, the concern for keeping data safe has become a top-of-mind activity for businesses and individuals.

As a result, the number of cybersecurity jobs is beginning to grow at a phenomenal rate. A recent study determined that by the end of this year, there will be 1 million cybersecurity jobs worldwide, and that number is expected to grow to 1.5 million by 2019.

Younger generations, such as millennials and Gen Z, are taking note. With science, technology, engineering and mathematics jobs in high demand, cybersecurity positions stand out, especially given the growing number of jobs and extremely low unemployment rate in this area, two facts that also are driving up salaries for these roles.

According to Robert Half Technology's 2017 Salary Guide, security roles are slated to see upward of 4.5 percent growth in salaries next year, with roles such as systems security administrators seeing as much as a 5.8 percent jump. Local employers are quickly recognizing that staying on top of cybersecurity is an organizational imperative, which is why online security is one of the hottest and most in-demand tech jobs.

Top cybersecurity skills

The writing is on the wall: If your organization deals with electronic data, you need access to a cybersecurity expert. Here are some of the most sought-after skills:

Data analytics: Real-time data analysis can help you identify and stop an attack in progress, while root-cause studies can identify the vulnerabilities that led to a previous attack. The problem for recruiters, however, is that online security analysts are in high demand, including in other areas than cybersecurity, such as marketing and product development. Low unemployment in this field is one reason the Salary Guide identifies data analytics experts, such as data scientists and big data engineers, as the positions with the highest-expected salary increase over the next year.

Cloud security: One objection to the use of cloud computing by companies is its perceived risk, with some businesses feeling that keeping all data in-house in safer. In a recent Robert Half study of the financial industry, however, 42 percent of surveyed executives said their company uses a cloud-based platform, while another 20 percent said they intend to do so in the future. But risks still exist, no matter what your platform. Many cloud providers offer extensive support, but it's essential to also have some in-house expertise in this area, especially where you have a mix of cloud and on-premise systems.

Regulation and compliance: Complex data protection laws in multiple sectors govern the secure storage, processing and movement of customer information. For example, hospitals and clinics must make sure all systems and networks are compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. To ensure compliance, companies need staff who combine technical knowledge with an understanding of relevant legislation. Such people are in high demand.

What to look for in cybersecurity pros

Technical skills aren't the only things your cybersecurity employees need to have. As you recruit candidates, here are some soft skills and attributes your online security staff should have:

Attention to detail: Hackers probe for vulnerabilities, and the smallest flaw could be your downfall.

Communication: Cybersecurity specialists need to have strong soft skills, especially the ability to explain complex information technology issues to general audiences using nontechnical language.

Adaptability: Because of the evolving nature of online security threats, your online security specialists need to be able to think on their feet and effectively troubleshoot complicated issues.

Curiosity: Cybersecurity experts need a deep understanding of the latest hacker techniques and effective countermeasures. Because much of this information is not found in textbooks or classrooms, look for candidates with enough passion and interest in the subject to find the answers themselves.

As we turn the corner into 2017, cybersecurity is one of the hottest areas in tech hiring and addresses a critical business need that can't be overlooked.

Take steps in the new year to safeguard your company's most important data and information, and start by pursuing highly skilled IT specialists.

Sean Collins is a division director for Robert Half Technology, a division of staffing firm Robert Half. For more information, visit http://ift.tt/ZkrToD.

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