What are Average Cybersecurity Salaries in 2025?

Cyberattacks are perhaps the biggest threat to businesses today — and many organizations are struggling to fend off the danger. In one 2020 survey, 86 percent of participating companies said their networks had been breached at least once in the past year. Each of those breaches can cost an average of $4.24 million, according to IBM's Cost of a Data Breach 2021 Report.
To mitigate the risk of cyberattacks and data breaches, companies need skilled cybersecurity teams capable of planning and executing robust strategies. But how do you build a cybersecurity team?
Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to level up your existing team, this article will cover the key points you need to know, including:
Let's dive in.
What is cybersecurity? It's a broad term, but at the core, "cybersecurity" refers to a subdiscipline of the information technology (IT) field dedicated to protecting computer systems from unauthorized access, use, or manipulation. The safety of everything from individual devices and the data stored on them to networks, websites, applications, and cloud services falls under cybersecurity's purview.
Perhaps the best way to learn cybersecurity is to look at the many specializations within cyber security. These overlapping practice areas encompass all the responsibilities, goals, methods, and technologies that cybersecurity professionals work with.
Any effective cybersecurity team will need to cover most, if not all, of these specializations. Some companies build teams of cybersecurity generalists who share responsibilities across domains, while other organizations create a team of experts for each subdiscipline. The approach your company takes should be informed by multiple factors, including the cybersecurity risks you face, the size of your company, and your budget.
Read next: 8 Specializations That Define Successful Cybersecurity Organizations.
If you need to build a brand-new cybersecurity team or add some additional firepower to your current team, your first instinct may be to hire externally. But sourcing cybersecurity experts is no easy feat in this talent market. According to the 2021 (ISC)2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, the global cybersecurity workforce is about 65% smaller than it needs to be to fill all the open cybersecurity roles around the world. Skillsoft’s IT Skills and Salary Report shows IT decision-makers rank cybersecurity as the toughest discipline to hire for.
Because cybersecurity professionals are in such high demand and short supply, the best bet for many companies is to train existing employees to take on cybersecurity roles. It's easier than ever to learn about cybersecurity online, with reputable virtual training platforms offering comprehensive cybersecurity courses covering the specializations mentioned above.
Investing in cybersecurity education allows you to sidestep the talent shortage, and it also helps your team stay on the cutting edge. Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, and the skills it calls for today may be obsolete in the blink of an eye. By focusing on training instead of hiring, you can connect your employees with continuous education that helps them stay up to date on the latest cybersecurity threats, technologies, and best practices.
It's a good idea to open cybersecurity training to all of your employees, even if they don't intend to join the team. They don't all need to be experts, but anyone who touches the company's computer systems — which includes most employees today — should know the basics to keep themselves and the company safe.
Interested in where to learn cyber security online? Check out our cyber security course catalog.
If you decide to build in-house cybersecurity expertise through training, it's important to ensure you offer employees the right training. The career paths your employees want to explore and the roles you need to fill will inform the best way for your employees to learn.
Each cybersecurity specialization requires a slightly different skill set and body of knowledge. Your employees want to know how to learn cybersecurity, and it's essential to connect them with the right training for their desired career paths.
Here's an overview of the different kinds of roles available in cybersecurity, as well as the training they require:
Find out more about how to learn cyber security online. Explore our information security course catalog.
While different cybersecurity career paths will require unique training programs, cybersecurity professionals also need broader sets of technical and soft skills to excel in their careers. Some skill sets may be more relevant to some roles than others, but employees who want to learn cybersecurity will need at least a basic knowledge of the following domains:
Learn how a carefully considered compliance program may protect your organization from data breaches.
Cybersecurity professionals in all specialties can also benefit from cultivating the following soft skills:
Read next: How to Plan a Career Path in Cybersecurity.
The length of time it takes for an employee to learn enough to start a cybersecurity career depends on where they're starting from. Thanks to the wealth of courses online, it's possible for employees with a limited technology background to learn cybersecurity. However, they will likely have to undergo a more comprehensive and structured course of study. For these employees, it may make the most sense to first learn technology basics and then move into a technology-oriented role, where they can continue studying cybersecurity while gaining hands-on IT experience.
On the other hand, employees who already know technology fundamentals or hold technology-focused roles may only need to take a couple of specialized classes or earn a new certification before stepping into a cybersecurity job.
Similarly, employees with experience in compliance-oriented roles like finance, risk analysis, or legal functions may have an easier time learning cybersecurity specializations that focus on auditing, compliance, and policy.
Ready to learn cybersecurity online? Visit our cyber security course catalog.
Cybersecurity certifications offer people a way to learn new skills and prove their expertise. Obtaining a certification usually requires passing a test and/or amassing a certain amount of real-world experience. Certification exam preparation courses are available for most certifications as well. While they aren't strictly required, they can help sharpen key cybersecurity skills while boosting employees' chances of earning certification.
For intermediate level members of your cybersecurity team, you might encourage them to obtain certifications like:
More advanced cybersecurity practitioners and leaders may have earned these certifications already or mastered the associated competencies. When recruiting more senior cybersecurity professionals, the following advanced certifications are a good signal of their expertise:
The certifications outlined above are all vendor-neutral, meaning the competencies they validate apply to all cybersecurity teams regardless of the tools they're using. However, cybersecurity professionals may also choose to pursue certifications in technologies from specific vendors. Those certifications include Cisco CCNP Security, Check Point CCSA, Paolo Alto PCNSA, SonicWall SNSA, and many others. Whether or not your team needs those certifications will depend on whether you use those systems.
Want to earn a cyber security certification online? See our cyber security certification training course catalog.
As technology evolves and cybercriminals adopt new methods, the threat of cyberattacks and data breaches will only increase. A robust cybersecurity team is vital to defending your company against these risks and ensuring your organization's continued success.
Facing talent shortages, many organizations struggle to find all the cybersecurity experts they need. However, virtual training options have removed many of the barriers to cybersecurity education, making it possible for your employees to learn cybersecurity online. A training-focused approach can be the most efficient and cost-effective way to staff your cybersecurity department.
Connect your employees with comprehensive cyber security training. View our cyber security course catalog.