Why choose a career in cyber security?

Cyber security career paths are among the fastest-growing and most in-demand fields of IT. Whether you’re looking at further education options, have recently graduated or are considering a change of career, jobs in cyber security offer the potential for high earnings and interesting and varied experiences.

So why should you consider cyber security for your next career move? Here are a few of the key benefits you can expect to see when working in this area.

Why cyber security is a strategic career path

A cyber security career path is a dynamic, varied and futureproofed option that’s central to the modern digital world, giving professionals a strong sense of purpose as well as an interesting day-to-day working environment. The sector also offers strong prospects for progression and growing strategic importance across many industries, making it an ideal field for anyone with a passion for IT, problem-solving or making a difference.

Key reasons to consider this career include:

• Rising global cyber threats: Cyber attacks are becoming more sophisticated, widespread and damaging.
• Skills shortages: There is a persistent talent gap, creating opportunities for fast career progression.
• High demand from employers: Finance, healthcare, government and tech are all urgently hiring security professionals.
• A futureproofed career path: Roles in cyber are resilient to automation and economic downturns.
• Diverse opportunities and long-term growth: From ethical hacking to governance, cyber security offers specialisms for every interest.
• Strategic role in business resilience: Cyber professionals play a vital role in protecting data, systems and reputations.

Tony Samuel from CyberSecurityJobsite.com explains: “The cyber security jobs market is very dynamic and changing quickly. The technology that is being used is constantly evolving and new job titles are always emerging. Online Platforms like Hack the Box and Try Hack Me are a great way of keeping abreast of the latest changes and new techniques for combatting emerging threats.“

An in-demand career option

One of the key benefits of having skills in cyber security is that you’ll be in high demand from employers. There is a significant shortage of talent in this sector, which means firms are always having to compete for the best employees. 

The most recent figures from the UK government’s Cyber security skills in the UK labour market 2025 study shows that almost half of UK businesses (49 per cent) reported a basic technical cyber security skills gap, while 30 per cent stated they had gaps in more advanced technical areas. 

With 43 per cent of all firms – and 74 per cent of large enterprises – experiencing a cyber attack in the previous 12 months, it’s clear that these knowledge gaps could have serious consequences. Therefore, experienced cyber security professionals remain essential to protecting businesses from a growing range of threats. 

According to figures from the report, the most in-demand roles for employers in the last year are:

• Security analyst (28 per cent of roles)
• Security engineer (26 per cent)
• Security manager (24 per cent)
• Security consultant (eight per cent)
• Security specialist (five per cent)

In total, there were 67,000 people employed in cyber security jobs in 2024, an 11 per cent increase from the previous year. However, the number of core cyber job postings did decline in 2024.

The report noted that this indicates a shift in the key challenges facing the cyber security sector, from growing the workforce to better aligning talent with demand. This will require a greater regional and technical focus, offering great opportunities to those with specialist skills and individuals who may be willing to relocate for work.

Great salary prospects

The need for cyber security staff is reflected in the salary you can expect to earn. Because demand for these professionals still outstrips the supply of talent, those with the right skills stand to be very highly paid. 

According to the Cyber security skills in the UK labour market 2025 report, the mean advertised salary was £58,800 for a core cyber job posting, with a median value of £55,000. While there are still variations across the country – with London offering the highest mean salary (£69,800) – the regional pay landscape has evolved in recent years, with the cybersecurity salary trends showing a narrowing gap between regions.

By region, mean salary offers in posted job vacancies for core cyber jobs are:

• London: £69,800 
• Scotland: £59,000
• North-east: £58,200
• South-east: £56,700
• East Midlands: £55,700
• Yorkshire and the Humber: £55,700
• East of England: £55,600
• South-west: £55,600
• West Midlands: £55,500
• North-west: £54,600
• Northern Ireland: £53,300
• Wales: £52,700 

However, the report noted that these are for advertised salaries and may not reflect actual earnings. This indicates skilled and experienced cyber security candidates have great scope to improve their compensation packages as they advance their career progression.

A range of opportunities for growth

Whether you’re looking to enter the cyber security sector from other areas of IT or step into technical fields for the first time – either as a graduate or from another sector – you’ll find there are many opportunities to move up the career ladder, taking on more responsibilities and increasing your pay rewards.

Typical career progression paths include:

• Cyber security analyst → Senior analyst → Security operations centre (SOC) manager → Head of cyber security: Analysts often begin by monitoring systems and responding to incidents. Over time, they can move into leadership roles, managing teams, conducting threat assessments, controlling budgets and setting overall security strategy.
  
• Penetration tester → Senior penetration tester → Red team lead → Security consultant: Starting in hands-on technical testing, professionals can advance into leading offensive security teams or advising organisations on their wider risk exposure.
  
• IT support or network engineer → Security engineer → Cloud security architect → Chief Information Security Officer (CISO): Many professionals come into cyber from infrastructure or systems roles. With experience and certifications, they can progress into high-level design and architecture to build secure networks, and ultimately executive leadership.
  
• Governance, risk and compliance (GRC) analyst → Risk manager → Head of compliance → Chief Risk Officer: For those less focused on technical work, careers in policy, regulation and compliance offer a structured pathway into senior management.
  

These roadmaps show that cyber security is not a single track, but a broad spectrum of careers, allowing professionals to specialise or pivot as their interests and skills develop.

Skills and certifications to accelerate your journey

Success in cyber security requires a blend of technical expertise and interpersonal skills. While strong IT knowledge is an essential foundation, it’s not the only factor that employers will be looking for in a candidate. Recruiters value professionals who can think critically, work collaboratively and adapt to a fast-changing threat landscape.

Core skills for cyber security roles include:

• Technical awareness: Understanding of networks, operating systems, firewalls and security tools.
• Problem-solving: Ability to assess risks, detect threats and resolve incidents quickly.
• Analytical thinking: Spotting anomalies in data and logs, interpreting complex patterns.
• Attention to detail: Identifying vulnerabilities and weak points others may miss.
• Communication: Explaining security risks clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Ethical mindset: Maintaining trust and responsibility when dealing with sensitive data.
• Teamwork: Collaborating across departments to implement secure solutions.
  

In addition to these skills, industry-recognised certifications can fast-track your credibility and career prospects. These qualifications demonstrate both technical competence and commitment to professional development and are often tailored to the key steps on the cyber security career ladder, with professionals working on more complex, challenging certifications as they progress their career.

Common entry-level certifications include:

• CompTIA Security+: A widely recognised starting point that covers essential security concepts, threats, vulnerabilities and basic risk management.
• Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (CCET): Designed for those new to cybersecurity to develop fundamental technical and practical skills.
• GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC): Goes beyond the basics to demonstrate applied knowledge of security principles and defensive practices.

For those progressing their career, intermediate certifications include:

• CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+): Focuses on threat detection, analysis and incident response. Good for SOC analysts or defensive roles.
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): Covers common attack methods and tools, providing a structured path into ethical hacking and red team roles.
• GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH): Emphasises handling incidents, detecting intrusions and responding effectively.

Finally, for the most experienced professionals, key advanced certifications include:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): An industry gold standard for experienced professionals, covering broad security domains and strategic responsibilities.
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM): Management-focused, highlighting governance, risk and compliance for those in leadership roles.
• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP): Highly respected technical, hands-on certification for penetration testing and offensive security, rather than focusing on management.
  

Whether you’re just starting out or advancing into a senior role, gaining the right mix of skills and qualifications will help you stand out in a competitive job market and unlock long-term career growth in this vital industry.

Job satisfaction and career flexibility

Cyber security is known for strong job satisfaction and real flexibility. Recent (ISC)2 research found most professionals are happy in their roles, with 76 per cent of women and 70 per cent of men reporting good job satisfaction, which highlights a generally positive experience across the sector and compares favourably to the economy as a whole. 

Hybrid and remote options remain common in parts of the industry too, with flexible working the norm in cyber security – especiall;y for those in roles such as consulting. This is something that is likely to be important to many professionals, as (ISC)2 notes many cyber security specialists place high value on work-life balance. According to Barclay Simpson, for instance, 99 per cent of employers offer flexibility, with 65 per cent of cyber security and data privacy professionals able to work from home at least four days a week.

Where can I work as a cyber security specialist?

Cyber security professionals are in demand across the UK, with major opportunities in both established hubs and regional centres. Cities such as London, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and Edinburgh are all home to large employers in finance, government, defence and tech – all of which rely on robust cyber defences.

Government figures show that 38 per cent of cyber security companies are registered in London and a further 17 per cent in the south-east. Elsewhere, there are also significant clusters of these firms in Manchester, Bristol, Bath, Cheltenham, Belfast and Glasgow.

However, opportunities aren’t limited to big cities or dedicated cyber security employers. With the UK’s growing digital economy, organisations across all sectors and in every region are hiring. Key industries with strong demand for these specialists include:

• Finance: Protecting sensitive financial data and digital transactions.
• Healthcare: Securing patient records and critical health systems.
• Government and defence: Safeguarding national infrastructure and intelligence.
• Technology: Embedding security in apps, platforms and cloud services.
• Retail and e-commerce: Defending online payments and customer data.
• Energy and utilities: Managing cyber risks in critical infrastructure.

Browse our jobs board for open cybersecurity roles

Frequently asked questions about cyber security jobs

How long does it take to get into a cyber security role?

Timeframes vary. With focused training or certifications, some people transition into entry-level roles within six to  12 months, especially if they already have an IT background. Those starting from scratch may take longer, but structured bootcamps and apprenticeships can speed up the process.

Can I work in cyber security without a degree?

Yes. Many professionals enter the field through alternative routes such as apprenticeships, self-study and certifications. Employers often prioritise demonstrable skills, hands-on experience and problem-solving ability over formal academic pathways.

Is prior IT experience necessary?

Not always. Roles like security analyst or penetration tester often require technical knowledge, but others in governance, compliance and awareness training are open to candidates from business, legal or communications backgrounds.

What industries are hiring the most cyber security professionals right now?

Beyond finance and government, sectors with growing demand include healthcare (to secure patient data), energy (protecting critical national infrastructure) and e-commerce (defending digital transactions).

Do cyber security roles involve on-call or shift work?

Some do, particularly in incident response or within SOCs, where 24/7 monitoring is critical. However, many roles are nine-to-five and hybrid or remote working is increasingly common.

What are the biggest challenges in cyber security careers?

Constantly evolving threats mean professionals must commit to lifelong learning. The pressure of high-stakes incidents can be demanding, but many find the challenge rewarding and motivating.