The threat of cyber-attacks and growing public concern over data protection will lead to large pay increases for security specialists this year, according to the latest salary survey recruitment company Robert Walters.

With competition building to secure their services, IT security professionals are in line to achieve pay rises of up to a fifth of their base salary in 2015.

Business intelligence is also moving up the agenda as employers seek to gain an advantage over competitors and improve customer experiences, leading to an uplift in salaries for those specialising in this area.

>See also: The 2015 cyber security roadmap

Rising market confidence has also boosted investment in IT infrastructure, resulting in double-digit rises in contract rates for some change-management professionals.

Outside of London, top IT directors are set to command substantial pay rises as businesses compete to bring in individuals with strong strategic skills.

“Improving economic conditions are driving new levels of IT recruitment, and in 2015 we expect hiring managers to seek out professionals with niche expertise in areas including BI, development, security, ERP and CRM,” said James Murray, associate manager of IT recruitment at Robert Walters.

“Skilled project managers or analysts who can bridge the gap between technology and the business will also be in heavy demand. In some areas, such as the North of England, relocations of companies from London and the South East has stimulated demand for IT professionals to provide assistance to internal support staff.”