SubscribeSubscribe Now
  • Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
We have independently evaluated the products and services below. We may earn affiliate revenue from links in the content.
Right Arrow Button IconLeft Arrow Button Iconeducation
Right Arrow Button IconLeft Arrow Button IconTech
Right Arrow Button IconCybersecurity hiring remains red-hot—the industry to surpass $400 billion market size by 2027

Cybersecurity hiring remains red-hot—the industry to surpass $400 billion market size by 2027

By
Sydney LakeSydney Lake
Sydney LakeSydney Lake
and
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
By
Sydney LakeSydney Lake
Sydney LakeSydney Lake
and
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
July 22, 2022 at 5:52 PM UTC
People attend the Mega Job Fair held at the FLA Live Arena, as seen in June 2022 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
People attend the Mega Job Fair held at the FLA Live Arena, as seen in June 2022 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

In 2017, the global cybersecurity industry had an approximate market size of $86.4 billion, according to research conducted by Gartner, a tech research and consulting firm. But just a decade later, the market is expected to grow nearly 80%.

By 2027, market research company BrandEssence projects that the global cybersecurity market will reach $403 billion; that’s with a compound annual growth rate of 12.5% between 2020 and 2027. 

Advertisement

Master’s in Cybersecurity Online From UC Berkeley

Earn a Master’s in Cybersecurity Online in Just 20 Months

The UC Berkeley School of Information’s online Master of Information and Cybersecurity prepares students to become leaders in cybersecurity. No GRE/GMAT required.

Learn More
Master’s in Cybersecurity Online From UC Berkeley
Learn More
  • GRE RequiredNo
  • Part TimeYes

Kayne McGladrey, a senior Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) member, explains that this rapid growth rate results from a cycle of actions between cybercrime actors and intelligence agencies. While cybercrime actors reinvest their illegally gained profits in developing new capabilities, employing more staff, and diversifying their supply chains, cybersecurity customers aren’t investing or hiring at the same rate.

“As a result, those companies with solutions and products in the cybersecurity industry are heavily reinvesting their profits into research and development of artificial intelligence-based solutions intended to automatically detect and remediate actions from these increasingly well-funded adversaries,” McGladrey tells Fortune. “This cycle will continue so long as it remains profitable for cybercrime actors, barring remarkable changes in how companies prioritize and address their cyber risks.”

Why the cybersecurity industry is growing so much

Simply put, there are more cyber attacks happening each year. Between 2020 and 2021, the average number of cybersecurity attacks per year rose 31%, to 270 attacks, according to Accenture’s State of Cybersecurity Report 2021. And the average number of successful attacks per company was 29. 

For that reason, adequate cybersecurity measures are becoming a necessary venture for companies of all shapes and sizes. 

“Cybersecurity is an integral part of all businesses, whether they are online or not, especially given the proliferation of payment networks, cloud-based data storage, and everything else regardless of if they are internet facing businesses,” Yale Fox, IEEE member and CEO of Public Benefit Technologies, tells Fortune. 

Learn more: The top cybersecurity hiring trends

Plus, new technology is growing at a rapid pace. As Fox points out, artificial intelligence and machine learning are really “just starting to awaken,” he says. “We’re in the middle of a renaissance right now.” 

As a result, Yale says the market could end up being larger than the projected target of $400 billion by 2027. “We’re in the eye of the storm for a rapid and exponential growth of all the tech industries.”

The need for cybersecurity talent

With massive industry growth comes the need for more trained cybersecurity professionals. But we’re already short-staffed in the U.S.—and a lot of that has to do with the fact that there simply aren’t enough people trained and qualified to work on some of these complex systems. 

“Organizations are challenged in hiring cyber security experts who are equipped with the skills to defend the complex attack surface, like the cloud, and can operate the new technologies that are being purchased every year,” Adi Dar, CEO and founder of Cyberbit, a company that offers cybersecurity readiness and skills platform, tells Fortune. 

In the U.S., there are about 1 million cybersecurity workers, but as of November 2021, around 715,000 jobs had yet to be filled, according to a report by Lightcast, a market research company. Worldwide, the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs grew 350% between 2013 and 2021, from 1 million to 3.5 million, according to Cybersecurity Ventures. 

Companies continue to hunt for cyber talent, but many of these jobs require credentials, certifications, or a master’s degree in the field. 

“There’s just not enough people in cyber security with the skills to handle the new threat landscape,” Dar says. “Government, education, and industry should urgently get together to find a way to increase both the quantity and quality of the workforce in cybersecurity, or we’ll keep seeing an increase in spend year over year, with no real impact.”


See how the companies you’re considering fared in Fortune’s rankings of the best cybersecurity bootcamps.

Read more

  • Looking into learning more about cybersecurity? Check out our ranking of the best masters in cybersecurity programs.
  • Our list of affordable online masters in cybersecurity programs can help you find the school that best fits your budget.
  • Achieve your goal of becoming an expert in data science by choosing from our list of the best masters in data science programs.
  • Interested in computer science? Here’s our ranking of the best online computer science masters programs.
  • Cybersecurity is essential in the modern workforce, and one of the best cybersecurity bootcamps can help you hone that skill.
  • Advertisement

    Hawai‘i Pacific University MS in Cybersecurity

    Certification prep available

    The online MS in Cybersecurity program from Hawai‘i Pacific University prepares students to defend their organization from data breaches, strengthen their résumé by taking key certification exams, and advance their career as responsible leaders in cybersecurity.

    Learn More
    Hawai‘i Pacific University MS in Cybersecurity
    Learn More

    About the Contributors

    Sydney Lake
    By Sydney LakeAssociate Editor
    LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

    Sydney Lake is an associate editor at Fortune, where she writes and edits news for the publication's global news desk.

    See full bio
    Jasmine Suarez
    Reviewed By Jasmine SuarezSenior Staff Editor
    LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

    Jasmine Suarez was a senior editor at Fortune where she leads coverage for careers, education and finance. In the past, she’s worked for Business Insider, Adweek, Red Ventures, McGraw-Hill, Pearson, and more. 

    See full bio

    Top Articles

    alt text
    10 free data analytics courses you can take onlineByRich GrisetApril 18, 2024
    alt text
    2024 real estate school review: AceableAgentByPreston ForeJune 24, 2024
    alt text
    Best UX/UI bootcamps of 2025ByJasmine Suarez AND Preston ForeMarch 18, 2024
    Advertisement

    Online Syracuse University M.S. in Cybersecurity

    Earn a Syracuse Univ. M.S. in Cybersecurity in 15 Months

    Syracuse University’s online M.S. in Cybersecurity prepares students to effectively combat cybercrime. No GRE currently required, but a master’s degree is preferred.

    Learn More
    Online Syracuse University M.S. in Cybersecurity
    Learn More
    Rankings
    • 100 Best Companies
    • Fortune 500
    • Global 500
    • Fortune 500 Europe
    • Most Powerful Women
    • Future 50
    • World’s Most Admired Companies
    • See All Rankings
    Sections
    • Finance
    • Leadership
    • Success
    • Tech
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Environment
    • Fortune Crypto
    • Health
    • Retail
    • Lifestyle
    • Politics
    • Newsletters
    • Magazine
    • Features
    • Commentary
    • Mpw
    • Ceo Initiative
    • Conferences
    • Personal Finance
    • Education
    Customer Support
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Customer Service Portal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms Of Use
    • Single Issues For Purchase
    • International Print
    Commercial Services
    • Advertising
    • Fortune Brand Studio
    • Fortune Analytics
    • Fortune Conferences
    • Business Development
    About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Press Center
    • Work At Fortune
    • Diversity And Inclusion
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Site Map

    © 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.