Five In-Demand Cybersecurity Careers

Cybersecurity is a complex, dynamic field that changes constantly as new and more sophisticated threats surface. And now with artificial intelligence (AI) woven into almost every corner of society, new concerns are being raised about how to ensure safe and ethical AI use.

To maintain a robust defense, organizations globally are expected to spend an estimated $377 billion on cybersecurity by 2028. Much of that investment will likely involve staffing up with skilled cybersecurity professionals who have expertise in the field.

Those who have a strong mix of technical and leadership skills will be instrumental in constructing and leading their organization’s frontline cyber defense to safeguard critical data and digital operations.

Here’s a closer look at five in-demand cybersecurity careers and the skills and education needed to pursue them.

>>Read More: 5 Cybersecurity Trends to Watch in 2025

1. Cloud Security

Cloud computing—or accessing hardware and software over the internet as opposed to maintaining physical infrastructure—is widely used by organizations today. But it’s also a wide-open field for attackers to exploit.

A cloud security specialist secures the organization’s cloud environment by:

• Monitoring cloud infrastructure for vulnerabilities and identifying potential threats
• Defining secure system requirements and creating security controls
• Responding to cyber incidents and breaches
• Helping with the recovery process in the event of a breach

2. AI Security

Industries are implementing AI applications at a rapid pace, which means they’re often learning after the fact about the security implications of these tools and the need for effective governance when deploying them.

An AI security specialist ensures the organization’s AI tools and processes remain secure and ethical by:

• Collaborating closely with IT teams and data scientists to prioritize AI security and aligning everyone on the common metrics used to determine AI trustworthiness
• Monitoring all AI tools—including shadow AI and AI agents—to identify potential security issues
• Scanning for and protecting from malicious prompts
• Ensuring the right levels of access control and user authentication
• Advocating for ethical AI by driving for greater transparency and bias reduction in AI models

Certifications to consider: Certified AI Security Fundamentals (CAISF), Certified AI Governance Professional (AIGP), Advanced in AI Security Management (AAISM)

3. Cybersecurity Risk Management

A key component of cybersecurity leadership that impacts every department in the organization is risk management. Understanding risk of all types—from financial to employee to data privacy—and how layered technology and data increase risk is critical to preventing financial, reputational, and other significant loss.

A risk management specialist addresses and mitigates risk across departments by:

• Creating and conducting regular risk assessments
• Monitoring factors that contribute to increased risk
• Understanding and maintaining compliance with laws and regulations
• Developing organization-wide strategies to help reduce risk

Certifications to consider: Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

4. Threat Intelligence

Threat intelligence is an analysis-centered discipline that helps inform other cybersecurity professionals as well as non-technical leaders in the organization. Cyber threats move fast and change often, but strong threat intelligence puts organizations on more proactive footing.

A threat intelligence specialist uses strategic and tactical methods to protect the organization, including:

• Staying ahead of new threats and threat potential
• Offering high-level strategic guidance to enable stakeholders to make smart cybersecurity decisions
• Analyzing and sharing current and potential tactics and techniques that cyber criminals may use to attack the organization
• Using detailed, technical knowledge of cyber threats to help train response teams and guide them toward the best actions

Certifications to consider: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+), CREST Registered Threat Intelligence Analyst (CRTIA)

5. Offensive Security

One of the more unique cybersecurity roles is an offensive security specialist—one who can either work as an ethical hacker or collaborate with such hackers. These professionals proactively “attack” the organization’s own networks and systems with the goal of finding and fixing vulnerabilities before malicious actors do.

An offensive security specialist uses a variety of methods to find potential threats, such as:

Leading a red team—a team composed of hackers—in thoroughly testing the organization’s cybersecurity defenses
Using penetration testing to simulate a real-world cyber attack
Creating vulnerability assessments to continually discover, prioritize, and resolve security gaps in systems

Certifications to consider: CompTIA PenTest+, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)

Cybersecurity Skills Employers Are Seeking

No matter which area appeals to you, launching a successful career in cybersecurity means having both technical and business acumen. Here’s a sample of just some of the technical and business cybersecurity skills needed for careers in cybersecurity:

Cybersecurity Technical Skills

• Intrusion detection: Monitor for possible intrusions or breaches in the network.
• Scripting: Create task-specific programs using coding languages like Python.
• DevOps (software development and operations): Build security into software applications from the beginning rather than patching later.
• Security frameworks: Understand cybersecurity best practices, protocols, and tools to develop effective plans and strategies for the organization.
• Cloud: Define and implement security controls for cloud-based systems.
• Incident response: Effectively respond to security incidents to minimize damage.

Cybersecurity Business Skills

• Regulatory compliance: Understand and comply with local, state, national, and global cybersecurity regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Critical thinking: Ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, evaluate data, understand the importance of context, and identify alternative plans or solutions.
• Communication: Clearly communicate technical terms and details to non-technical audiences, document incidents, and manage misinformation.
  Adaptability: Cultivate a flexible mentality to adapt and respond to new threats as they develop, and learn about and embrace emerging cyber technologies that enhance cyber defense.

How a Master’s in Cybersecurity Leadership Degree Prepares You

If you’re wondering, “Is a cybersecurity degree worth it?”, the answer is a resounding yes. Completing a Master of Cybersecurity Leadership can give aspiring cybersecurity professionals the comprehensive technical education and leadership skills needed to confidently step into a high-demand cybersecurity role and help thwart cybercrime.

With your degree, you can go into the world prepared to:

• Design resilient security systems
• Shape cyber strategies to safeguard organizations
• Bring a deep understanding of the technical and human sides of security to any job you do

Learn more about how the Wake Forest University School of Professional Studies (SPS) online master’s degree in cybersecurity leadership can prepare you for a cybersecurity career, or request more information today.