Cyber Scotland: Here’s Why You Need To Prioritise Cyber Security In 2023

It’s a catch-22. As technology evolves, so do the methods used by hackers and other cyber criminals to infiltrate business’s databases. Even worse, these attackers don’t discriminate. No organisation is immune to a cyber invasion.

Fortunately, security teams are rising to meet these threats so we can move forward, safe in the knowledge that our data is protected. But what’s the best approach to tightening up your cyber security? Keep reading for expert insights from our team…

The necessity of a robust cyber resilience strategy

According to a report carried out by the UK government, 39% of businesses experienced a cyber attack in 2022. To put this figure into context, 19 out of 50 businesses reported an attack in just one year. And this can have a significant impact on your IT infrastructure. It costs an average of £19,400 for medium to large businesses and up to £4,200 for small businesses to recover from a cyber attack. Looking at these figures, it’s unsurprising that more organisations are increasingly prioritising cyber security – especially as we learn more about the risks.

That said, while organisations recognise the need for more robust cyber security measures, many report a lack of skills and expertise in the workplace. And it’s for this reason that businesses may choose to outsource their cyber security infrastructure to a specialist team with more concentrated expertise.

However, the problem with outsourcing is that cyber attackers can then use these suppliers as an entry point to an organisation’s system. Fully outsourcing key functions to third parties may only risk exposing yourself to even more threats. Instead, you may need an internal team that has a comprehensive understanding of your business context to forecast possible threats and liaise with external teams where necessary.

How you can join the fight against cyber threats

There are plenty of reasons to consider a career in cyber security – not least because you’ll always be in high demand, particularly since the huge rise in remote working post-pandemic. Though this is undoubtedly a great benefit for employees – demonstrating trust and offering new flexibility – it also exposes businesses to new levels of risk. Without the security protections afforded by an office network, like firewalls and intrusion detection systems, companies run the danger of insecurely storing sensitive information. To combat this, they need to invest in robust cyber security measures and build their own teams.

With data accessed in a number of different ways and locations, it’s increasingly complex to manage digital systems. Technology is very fast-paced, and the intricacies will only become more challenging – which means the cyber security field will continue to grow.

There isn’t a single cookie-cutter approach to cyber security, either. Whether you’re already in the field and looking to broaden your horizons or you’re just getting started, there are various avenues you can take – such as IT support technician, networking systems engineer, cyber security analyst, penetration and vulnerability tester, cybersecurity architect, and more. In terms of the compensation available to cyber security professionals, we’ve listed some average salaries below:

Cyber security engineer: increased from £58,000 to £75,750

Cyber security architect: increased from £70,525 to £89,320

Cyber security specialist: increased from £52,670 to £63,890

Don’t waste another second

It’s no secret that cyber security breaches are potentially disastrous for your business. And with external threats rising rapidly by the day, we recommend spending money to save money – rather than dismissing cyber protections as an additional overhead. An experienced cyber security professional will even conduct a vulnerability assessment to effectively eliminate any weaknesses in your network. Or if you’re a candidate looking for progression in an area where you’ll always be in high demand and never get bored, we can help with that too.

For advice on building your cyber security team or pursuing your cyber crime-busting career, get in touch with one of our experienced consultants today.