Cyber Security Salary in India: A Comprehensive Guide for 2024

The heartbeat of the modern era resides in the vast digital expanse. No matter which field or sector you belong to, you just cannot step out of the exponentially expanding digital ecosystem. Each second, vast troves of information are traversing the virtual highways, seamlessly connected through interlinked devices.

However, there is a silent battle going on between the assisting and the malicious intent. Alongside the technological marvel, a shadowy realm emerges as a breeding ground for cyber threats and hacking endeavours. This is the reason behind cybersecurity careers reaching new heights in India and worldwide.

Addressing the debut of the CyberShikshaa initiative, brought forth by Microsoft India in partnership with ICT Academy to boost the nation’s cybersecurity framework, Behncken highlighted, “The count of cybersecurity incidents in India surged from 290,000 in 2018 to nearly 1.5 million in 2021.” According to Cybercrime Magazine, by 2025, there is an expected growth of 3.5 million jobs within the field of cybersecurity.

Indeed, the rise of cybersecurity careers is not just a trend but the need of the hour. Therefore, in order to serve the call to safeguard the digital future, you must know what cybersecurity is, its need, different types of cyber attacks, the career scope, and cyber security salary in India.

Table of Contents

• What Is Cybersecurity?
• The Need for CyberSecurity
• Cyber Security Skill Gap
• Cyber Security Market and Scope in India
• Common Categories of Cyber Security
• Different Types of Cyber Security Attacks
• Cyber Security Frameworks
• Skills Needed to Become a Cyber Security Professional
• Average Range of Cyber Security Salary in India
• Different Cyber Security Job Roles and Salaries in India
• Key Factors Affecting Cyber Security Salary in India
• Top Companies That Hire for Cyber Security Roles
• How to Get Started with a Cyber Security Career?
• Conclusion
• FAQs
  

What Is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is a comprehensive approach to safeguarding digital systems, networks, devices, and data from unauthorised access, breaches, damage, or theft. It encompasses a range of practices, technologies, and measures designed to protect information technology assets from threats and vulnerabilities.

The Need for CyberSecurity

Cybersecurity is essential in today’s digital landscape due to several critical reasons:

• Protection of Sensitive Data
• Mitigation of Cyber Threats
• Preservation of Business Continuity
• Security of Critical Infrastructure
• Protection of Personal Privacy
• Compliance with Regulations
• Global Security Concerns

In essence, cybersecurity is indispensable in protecting digital assets, ensuring the privacy of individuals, maintaining the stability of businesses, and safeguarding national and global security in an increasingly interconnected world.

Cyber Security Skill Gap

As per the 2023 Fortinet Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report, a significant 56% of organisations struggle with recruiting cybersecurity talent, while 54% face challenges in retaining cyber talent. Additionally, 44% of survey respondents highlight the considerable difficulty in filling roles related to cloud security and security operations.

When it comes to India, in 2023, there was a 30% deficit in cybersecurity skills. By May 2023, there were 40,000 vacant cybersecurity positions, yet 30% of these remained unfilled. Therefore, you can have a great career in cybersecurity with a handsome cybersecurity salary in India.

Cyber Security Market and Scope in India

The Data Security Council of India predicts substantial growth in the cybersecurity landscape, estimating a need for nearly 1 million professionals by 2025. This surge is attributed to factors including a rise in cyber threats and attacks, heightened awareness of cybersecurity’s significance, the impact of the pandemic, and the escalation of cybercrime.

Over the upcoming decade, the demand for quantum-resistant cryptography will escalate, becoming an essential requirement. Strategising for the post-quantum era will play a pivotal role in cybersecurity planning. Emphasising IoT security will be crucial as the Internet of Things (IoT) expands, broadening cybercriminals’ potential attack surface. All of these factors push the rise in cyber security salary in India.

Common Categories of Cyber Security

Cybersecurity can be categorised into various types based on the areas they focus on and the methods they employ to protect digital systems. Here are some key cybersecurity types:

• Network Security: Focuses on securing networks from unauthorised access, attacks, and breaches. It involves implementing firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion detection systems to protect network infrastructure.

• Endpoint Security: Concentrates on securing individual devices such as computers, laptops, mobile devices, and servers. Antivirus software, encryption, and access control are used to safeguard endpoints.

• Cloud Security: Aims to protect data, applications, and services hosted in cloud environments. It involves measures like encryption, access management, and ensuring compliance with cloud security standards.

• Application Security: Focuses on securing software and applications from vulnerabilities and threats. This includes secure coding practices, penetration testing, and regular security updates.

• Data Security: Involves protecting sensitive data from unauthorised access, disclosure, or theft. Techniques like encryption, tokenisation, and data loss prevention (DLP) are used to secure data.

• Identity and Access Management (IAM): Manages and controls user access to systems and data. IAM ensures that only authorised individuals have appropriate access rights, reducing the risk of unauthorised access.

• IoT Security: Focuses on securing the growing network of interconnected devices in the Internet of Things. It involves authentication, encryption, and monitoring to protect IoT devices and networks.

• Behavioral Analytics: Uses machine learning and AI to analyse user behaviour and detect anomalies that could indicate potential security threats or breaches.

Each type of cybersecurity plays a vital role in protecting digital assets, systems, and information, forming a comprehensive defence system against constantly evolving cyber threats.

Different Types of Cyber Security Attacks

There are several cyber security threats or attacks that people use for malicious activities, including compromising systems, stealing data, or causing disruptions.  Here are some of the most common types of cyber security attacks:

• Malware:  Malicious software designed to infiltrate and damage systems. This includes viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, and spyware.

• Phishing: Deceptive attempts to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, financial details, or personal data by posing as a trustworthy entity.

• DDos (Denial-of-Service): Overloading a system or network with excessive traffic, causing it to become unavailable or slow down.

• SQL Injection: Exploiting vulnerabilities in databases by inserting malicious SQL code to access, modify, or delete data.

• Man in the Middle Attack: Intercepting communication between two parties to eavesdrop, steal information, or manipulate data without either party’s knowledge.

Understanding these attack types helps organisations and individuals implement appropriate cybersecurity measures to protect against these threats and minimise the risk of cyber attacks.

Cyber Security Frameworks

Cybersecurity frameworks encompass a series of policies and protocols adopted by companies to enhance and boost their cybersecurity approaches. These frameworks, developed by diverse cybersecurity entities and government bodies, serve as guiding principles for companies aiming to fortify their cybersecurity posture. They offer comprehensive directives outlining a structured five-step cybersecurity methodology:

• Identification: Assess and identify vulnerable assets within the organisation.

• Protection: Ensure robust protection of data and assets.

• Detection: Promptly identify breaches and intrusions.

• Response: React effectively to cybersecurity breaches.

• Recovery: Restore and recover compromised data, financial assets, systems, and corporate reputation following a cyber attack.
  

Skills Needed to Become a Cyber Security Professional

Cybersecurity requires it all, including logical thinking, troubleshooting, technical expertise, and verbal and written communication. Most importantly, the person must possess the efficiency to acquire and learn new technologies while working autonomously when required by the project assigned.

Take a closer look at the top skills needed in cybersecurity for becoming a cybersecurity professional or expert. Here are they:

• Strong Technical Knowledge: Cybersecurity professionals require a deep understanding of network security, operating systems, coding languages, and security tools.

• Implementation Skills: These skills cover the ability to translate security strategies and protocols into actionable measures within organisational frameworks.

• Management Skills: Cybersecurity experts with strong management skills excel in orchestrating security frameworks, leading teams, and fostering collaboration between technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Cyber Threat Intelligence: Professionals proficient in this area possess the ability to gather, interpret, and contextualise threat information from various sources, enabling proactive threat detection and response.

• Problem-Solving Skills: Cybersecurity experts adept in problem-solving possess the capability to analyse complex threats, identify vulnerabilities, and devise innovative solutions to mitigate risks.

• Ethical Mindset: Professionals with an ethical mindset uphold moral principles, prioritise confidentiality, and adhere to legal and ethical standards while handling sensitive information.

• Continuous Learning: Continuous learning stands as an indispensable skill for cybersecurity professionals, given the ever-evolving nature of cyber threats. Professionals committed to continuous learning stay updated with the latest trends, technologies, and threats in the cybersecurity domain.

• Communication and Collaboration:  Cybersecurity professionals proficient in communication foster collaboration among diverse teams, enhancing information sharing and incident response coordination.

Interested candidates might look for different cybersecurity certificate programs where they can be trained under experts to acquire all the required skills one should possess to become a professional in this field.

Average Range of Cyber Security Salary in India

Here’s an average range of cyber security salary in India across various roles:

Different Cyber Security Job Roles and Salaries in India

To know about cyber security salary in India for different job roles with their responsibilities, you must look into the following table:

When it comes to government cyber security salary in India, the anticipated net income within the Government of India falls between ₹50,818 and ₹52,017 per month.

Key Factors Affecting Cyber Security Salary in India

Several key factors influence cyber security salary in India:

• Experience and Expertise
• Education and Certifications
• Specialisation and Skills
• Industry and Company Size
• Demand-Supply Dynamics
• Role and Responsibilities
• Market Trends and Threat Landscape
• Location

Understanding these factors can provide insights into the range and variation in cybersecurity salaries across different roles and regions in India.

Top Companies That Hire for Cyber Security Roles

Several top-tier companies actively seek cybersecurity talent to fortify their digital defences and protect their assets. Some of these prominent companies known for hiring cybersecurity professionals include:

• IBM
• Cisco
• Microsoft
• Amazon
• Google
• Deloitte
• Accenture
• CrowdStrike
• FireEye
• Palo Alto Networks

These companies, among others in the tech, consulting, and cybersecurity sectors, actively recruit cybersecurity professionals to safeguard their digital assets and infrastructure against a myriad of cyber threats while paying the highest salary in India to their employees.

The highest cyber security salary in India reaches ₹69 lakhs, while the average yearly income stands at ₹5 lakhs. Among employees in this field, the top 10% earn above ₹40 lakhs annually.

How to Get Started with a Cyber Security Career?

In India, the demand for cybersecurity professionals is surging. Companies are offering attractive compensation packages to cybersecurity specialists capable of safeguarding their organisation and customers’ data from cyber threats and breaches. Individuals seeking career advancement without the option to leave their current jobs can explore online cybersecurity courses available in India. Here are some vital steps to initiate a career in cybersecurity:

• Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a related discipline.  Also, you can go for an online cyber security course from a reputable platform like Hero Vired.
  
• Familiarity with firewalls and diverse types of endpoint security.
  
• Proficiency in languages/tools like C++, Java, Node, Python, Ruby, Go, or Powershell offers added benefits.
  
• Capability to handle pressure in a fast-paced work setting.
  
• Possession of keen attention to detail alongside exceptional problem-solving abilities.
  
• Continuous update on the latest trends in cybersecurity and hacker methodologies is essential.
  

Conclusion

The realm of cybersecurity in India is witnessing a profound surge in demand due to escalating cyber threats and the ever-growing reliance on digital infrastructure. The scarcity of skilled professionals, evident in the substantial skills gap, translates into lucrative career opportunities.

The cyber security salary in India exhibits considerable diversity across roles, with average annual incomes ranging from ₹5 lakhs to as high as ₹69 lakhs. Major companies actively seek cybersecurity talent, offering competitive compensation packages to safeguard their digital assets. Aspiring professionals can initiate their cybersecurity journey by pursuing relevant education, gaining hands-on experience, and staying abreast of industry advancements.