Cyber Security Jobs in Europe
Cyber security jobs in Europe may be taking a while longer to move up the hiring agenda as the majority of businesses seem reluctant to treat cybercrime with the level of concern it warrants. According to the 2015 European Cyber Risk Survey, 79% of businesses have a basic understanding of their cyber risk profiles leaving them exposed to cybercriminals looking for weak spots.
With an EU directive on privacy laws urging businesses to educate themselves on the dangers of cyber-crime and its very real presence in the mobile office operated by most if not all the working world, Hector Cruz, Head of UK Audit at National Grid, asserts that “information security skills and data analytics are very important as there is more and more scrutiny of non-financial data and cyber security is a bigger and bigger concern.” This relatively new way of working which sees the briefcase and desktop replaced with iPads and Smart Phones poses a grave risk of exposure to our personal data and companies in Europe need to work harder to better understand and respond to cybersecurity threats.
The human aspect of security remains a considerable challenge, but without the proper understanding of the role cybersecurity plays within an organisation people will continue to be the weakest link when it comes to combating cyber-attacks. Cybersecurity specialists must make their area of expertise as fluently accessible as HR management is to every department in a business, as ultimately the responsibility of information security should fall to everyone.
Information security professionals in the European market need to be proactive when it comes to sourcing opportunities, as the skills shortage in this area combined with a general apathy towards the threat of cyber-attacks means companies need to be educated and made aware of threats to their business. Candidates in this space must possess both the technical and soft skills to offer value to organisations who need individuals to engage across all areas and communicate effectively to all departments within the business to help all employees understand the relevance and importance of information security.
For individuals looking to undertake cybersecurity roles in Europe, the key things to highlight among their skillset includes the ability to identify the types of cyberattack scenarios which could severely impact a business, as well as calculating the potential financial fallout of a data breach or exposure to a virus. Candidates with experience in scenario testing and financial impact analysis are immensely valuable to companies looking to build up their cyber risk profile.
As Europol work to encourage companies to include cybersecurity within their risk strategy from boardroom level downwards, it is important for information security professionals looking for opportunities in cybersecurity to be able to identify business-critical areas within a company they are looking to join. Being able to effectively explain to every employee across the business the function and significance of information security is the key expertise hiring managers are looking for when recruiting for cybersecurity jobs in Europe.