CybersecurityDemand for gov. cybersecurity specialists outstrips supply

The demand for IT personnel continues to grow, but there has been a subtle shift with regard to the qualifications most sought after. A recent study by Clearancejobs.com and Dice.com found that professionals with the right IT skills and an active government security clearance earned 12 percent more than non-cleared personnel. In the Washington, D.C., area, the pay bump is 20 percent.

GCN reports, though, that finding the right people can be difficult. The report noted that most of the qualified cybersecurity experts are in the private sector.

Cybersecurity is one area which escaped the list of proposed budget cuts circulating in Congress.

Demand for cybersecurity personnel outstrips supply, so government and academia are taking steps to educate and train more people. Many colleges in the Washington, D.C. area are now offering educational tracks in cybersecurity, and these college courses are also a good way for people currently working in IT to augment their credentials.

Cybersecurity and cyber warfare are relatively new professions with exacting entrance requirements. They also represent one of the few areas in government IT that is both growing and unlikely to see funding cuts anytime soon. For the right candidates, the profession has open horizons, Evan Lesser, Clearance Jobs’ managing director, told GCN. “How many times in IT do you see a field open up with new possibilities and practically unlimited budget money?” he said.