Top among today's sought-after cybersecurity competencies

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, cybersecurity has become a critical concern for organizations worldwide. Three key areas stand out as in-demand skills in this field: cloud security, risk management, and application security.

Cloud Security is the most sought-after skill, according to ISC2's survey, due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and the increased targeting of cloud resources by cyberattacks. Major providers of cloud services, such as Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud Platform, share responsibilities for securing their clients' properties in the cloud. Relevant certifications for cloud security include the Azure Security Engineer Associate from Microsoft, AWS Certified Security - Specialty, Professional Cloud Security Engineer from Google Cloud Platform, ACA Cloud Security Certification from Alibaba Cloud, and Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge from Cloud Security Alliance.

Risk management, particularly Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (GRC), is increasingly important due to emerging technologies, especially AI, and the increasing regulatory policies that apply to them. GRC is a framework for ensuring an organization's cybersecurity plans align with its objectives and the regulatory environment. Certifications relevant to this field include the PMI Risk Management Professional from the Project Management Institution, Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control from ISACA, and Certified Information Systems Risk Manager from mile2.

Application security is another vital skill that organizations value. It helps ensure products or platforms are launched without glaring vulnerabilities. Companies often need application-specific security expertise to continuously monitor third-party software and have strong patch management processes. Worldwide spending for application security is projected to grow from 2023 to 2024 by 15.7% to US$6.6 billion.

Security analysts play a crucial role in identifying weak points in applications, networks, or systems and suggesting ways to improve them. They may perform various security evaluation functions, such as vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, log and event analysis, security architecture review, and more.

AI and machine learning are crucial to organizations, as they can help automate cybersecurity processes, reduce human error, and fend off more attacks. However, they also encompass domain knowledge of how these technologies may be used against enterprises, including social engineering attacks and prompt injection vulnerabilities.

Despite the importance of these skills, cybersecurity teams are finding themselves understaffed, overburdened, and struggling to keep up with a rapidly changing threat landscape. Organizations are accelerating their embrace of the latest technologies, which creates additional challenges for these teams.

In Germany, hiring managers prefer professional goals that include taking responsibility, protecting people, continuous qualification through certifications (such as IHK exams), and being prepared for diverse roles in event security, public transportation, industrial sites, cultural institutions, and reception areas. Additionally, digital threat management, risk analysis, communication skills, and ongoing training in response to evolving digital security risks are highly valued.

In conclusion, as technology continues to advance, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals in cloud security, risk management, and application security will undoubtedly grow. Organizations must invest in these areas to protect their digital assets and stay ahead of the ever-evolving threat landscape.