Cyber specialists are in hot demand — this, of course, is not breaking news, and it doesn’t look like the demand is in anyway faltering, as cyber attacks against UK businesses continue to increase to unprecedented levels in the face of a significant skills shortage.
While every city nowadays is a tech hub, within its own right, it appears that some cities are fundamentally better than others when it comes to attracting cyber security professionals.
>See also: Will blockchain solve the cyber security skills crisis?
Cyber security training facility Crucial Academy has recently released their 2018 Cyber Security City Ranking, which reveals the best cities for cyber security professionals, with Reading, Leeds and Cardiff topping the table.
The study analysed several factors including salary, affordability, job availability and tech sector potential growth to research the characteristics which may render some cities more attractive to cyber specialists.
>See also: The science of securing cyber skills
Reading in Berkshire, home to a diverse range of global tech organisations, topped the ranking, performing particularly well for job availability and salary. Leeds followed in second, earning points for the potential growth of its tech sector, while Cardiff ranked in third place, scoring top points for affordability.
It is predicted that the cyber security skills shortage will remain, with a 2016 skills gap analysis from ISACA estimating a global shortage of 2 million cyber security professionals by 2019, according to the UK House of Lords Digital Skills Committee.
>See also: The cyber security skills gap in the UK: a multifaceted problem
Tom Marcus, former MI5 spy and best-selling author of Soldier Spy, and who partners with Crucial Academy, said: “Cyber security is one of the most serious issues UK business faces today. For young people leaving education, ex-military people looking to transition to civilian life or those looking for a career change, there is no career no more Brexit-proof than cyber security.”
The top 10 cities can be seen below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihZorxR41gI
