If there is one thing that seems to be making the news on a regular basis it is data security. A week doesn’t seem to go by without news of a cyber attack. You’ve no doubt heard about the breaches at TalkTalk, Ashley Madison, and British Gas. What makes this even more worrying is the fact that these are just the big companies that we hear about.
The number of data breaches is a real issue, especially as there is a large shortage of skills and not enough cybersecurity consultants across the world. And, the growth of the Internet of Things is only accelerating this problem.
The average salary for a cybersecurity professional has soared per annum due to the huge skill shortage. It is now $116,000 a year, which equates to $55.77 per hour. A survey conducted by ISACA also revealed that 86 per cent of IT professionals and businesses around the world believed there was a shortage in cybersecurity experts while 46 per cent expected to suffer a breach within the year, despite only 34 per cent believing they are prepared.
If this wasn’t bad enough, the rise of the Internet of Things is only going to make the problem worse, as it gives cybercriminals the ability to attack from more angles. Traditionally, cybersecurity concerns have revolved around the threat of having data stolen, for example, health records and financial information. However, connected devices are going to be even more vulnerable to attacks, as hackers will be able to gain access to physical devices, stealing information and even controlling them remotely. This will mean an even bigger demand for cybersecurity specialists.
In fact, a recent HP Study revealed that 70 per cent of Internet of Things devices had security vulnerabilities, meaning they could easily be hacked. Issues included the likes of inadequate software protection, insecure web interfaces, lack of transport encryption, insufficient authorisation, and privacy concerns. When you consider the fact that 50 billion devices are expected to be connected to the Internet by 2020, you see the problem.
Consequently, we are going to see a huge surge in demand for insurance policies that protect against cyber attacks, as businesses and individuals recognise the sheer financial devastation that can arise as a result.
This all highlights the fact that there is a great need for more cybersecurity training schemes. There needs to be more focus on training people to carve out a career in this area so that we can reduce the ever-growing threat. There are courses being offered on the Internet in this domain, for example, you can take an online MBA no GMAT now. After all, the job opportunities in this field are huge.
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding regarding the cyber security skills shortages in the world at the moment, and how the IoT is fuelling them. This presents a great opportunity for anyone looking to carve a career for themselves in this domain.
