Cyber-security is no longer a field reserved exclusively for IT experts. According to ISC2, an organisation for cyber-security professionals, nearly 39% of new hires in the sector come from non-IT backgrounds. The roles within cyber-security are diverse and range from preventing attacks through analysing network security to helping organisations recover from incidents. Transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and analytical thinking are in high demand, making cyber-security a viable option for career changers.

Amanda Finch, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec), explains: “It’s not necessarily a skills gap because the skills are out there. It’s about getting people with the right skills into cyber and helping them develop further.” She adds that while many assume cyber-security is purely technical, "a lot of security is about people, process, and technology."

Skills You May Already Have

If you’ve worked in industries where communication, crisis management, or analysis were key components of your role, you may already have what it takes to succeed in cyber-security. Calum Baird, a former Police Scotland officer turned Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) consultant, says his background in risk assessment and managing crises transferred smoothly into his current role at Systal Technology Solutions. “The police taught me how to quickly assess risk and prioritise based on that risk, which is very helpful in cyber-incident response,” he explains.

Similarly, Rebecca Taylor, now a threat intelligence knowledge manager at Secureworks, transitioned from a personal assistant role into cyber-security. Her background in humanities, which involved reading and processing large volumes of information, proved useful in her role of analysing threats and conveying critical information to clients.

High Demand and Good Pay

The global shortage of cyber-security professionals means opportunities are growing, with ISC2 estimating that an additional four million professionals are needed worldwide. For those looking to break into the field, the pay can be an attractive incentive. According to a survey by Cybershark Recruitment, cyber-security professionals with just one to three years of experience can earn between £40,500 and £58,000 in digital forensics, or between £39,500 and £55,000 in threat intelligence.

Transferable Skills Are Key

CIISec encourages companies to look at candidates with non-traditional backgrounds, highlighting that many roles in cyber-security can benefit from transferable skills. Amanda Finch advises breaking job descriptions into duties to match candidates with the relevant skills. For example, “if you are analysing logs and trends, you need somebody with good analytical skills; if it's incident management, you need somebody who can work under pressure with strong communication skills.”

The cyber-security sector is evolving rapidly, and the need for professionals with diverse skill sets is growing. Whether you come from law enforcement, administration, or any other field, your current skills might be just what cyber-security employers are looking for.

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