InnovatingCanada.com reports the estimated damage caused by cybercrime to the Canada's economy is $3 billion annually. This includes hacking, data breaches and malicious activities. Naturally, as the threat to cybersecurity is on a rise, the demand for cybersecurity professionals is also growing in Canada. A 2021 international security association study estimates that Canada employs about 124,000 cybersecurity professionals but needs 25,000 more cybersecurity professionals.

"Cyber attacks are becoming more and more sophisticated each day", says Kevin Magee, Chief Security Officer at Microsoft Canada. "These cybersecurity challenges are compounded by a workforce shortage; there simply aren’t enough people with the cyber security skills needed to fill open jobs. This is a global problem. By 2025, there will be 3.5 million cybersecurity jobs open globally, representing a 350 per cent increase over an eight-year period, so there will be no shortage of career opportunities in the field in Canada.” she added.

According to Canada's job bank, cyber security professionals are in-demand, and businesses of all kinds are hiring. There are currently 263 job openings for cybersecurity specialists, classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system with code 21220.

So whether you are thinking of changing your current role or already working in technology and considering upskilling, cybersecurity is a excellent choice with lots of job security, variety and pays well. Here are five skills you need to master, if you are considering a job in cyber security:

Artificial Intelligence:

Artificial Intelligence has revolutionized cybersecurity. With new developments every day, AI is creating new skill requirements for cybersecurity professionals.. This means cyber security candidates needs to keep their learning quotient at peak to stay abreast with the latest AI developments.

Most cybersecurity professionals believe that AI will positively impact businesses, making it more resilient from cyber attacks. In the ISC2’s AI study, AI Cyber 2024 82% cybersecurity professionals agree that AI will improve their job efficiency. Furthermore, in the same research 88% of respondents believe that AI will significantly impact their jobs, now or in the near future, and 35% said to have already witnessed its effects. 

Cloud Security:

Organizations across the world are moving their data to cloud-based systems. This has increased the demand for cloud security, as organizations protect their assets.

Cloud security involves working on one or more cloud-based platforms, (e.g., Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), or Alibaba Cloud) to develop and implement security strategies that can safeguard against a wide range of cyber threats.

Computer Forensics Science:

Although digital forensics or computer forensics is an emerging field in Canada, he future of computer forensic skillsets look positive with advancements in AI, ML, automation, and cybersecurity measures. Popular sectors where this skill set is highly desired includes business and law enforcement.

Computer forensics aids in attack prevention and problem solving. Professionals with computer forensics skills collect and store data that can be admissible in a legal proceeding for data breach and frauds. Moreover, they are also responsible for demonstrating a proper chain of custody and need to document how data was collected and stored.

Programming Skills:

The demand for programmers in Canada is higher than ever before. According to Job Bank Canada, for Computer programmers and interactive media developers, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 80,500 , while 89,900 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them.

As technology is moving forward, hackers and cyber criminals are finding more sophisticated and innovative ways of committing cyber crimes. It is imperative to keep developing new programs to prevent cybersecurity breaches.

IoT Security:

Like Blockchain and AI, the internet of things (IoT) is also an evolving field. However, it is likely to become a foundational aspect of security systems, including supply chain integration, identity solutions, and network control. As someone already in technology career or looking to find a job in tech, IoT security is a more specialized skillset dealing with security and data protection.

Internet of Things (IoT) security refers to the measures and practices implemented to protect the interconnected network of devices, sensors, and systems that make up the IoT ecosystem. As IoT devices become increasingly prevalent in homes, businesses, industries, and critical infrastructure, ensuring their security is paramount to prevent unauthorized access, data breaches, and cyberattacks. In fact, in 2022, Mirai, a malicious Internet of Things (IoT) malware, was detected 103,092 times worldwide.

The demand for cybersecurity professionals and their skills will continue to increase in Canada and globally. The application of cybersecurity skills are no longer just relevant in the IT sector but are also in high demand in other industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture etc. Basically, wherever technology is implemented, cybersecurity skills will be needed.

Whether you are looking for a new tech job or specifically focusing on entering the cybersecurity, it is an excellent career choice. As technology will never stop evolving, the demand for cybersecurity professionals will keep increasing to mitigate the risks and threats from cyber attacks. Organizations across the globe are heavily investing in finding professionals with diverse skillsets to match their business needs and help them prevent losses resulting from cyber attacks.

If you are looking for more guidance on how to enter the cybersecurity domain or are looking for a technology position in a different field, our recruitment team can help. For more than 46 years, we have served our candidate and employer networks, connecting job seekers with great opportunities. 

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