By 
Over the past 12 months, the world has witnessed some of the largest data breaches and cyberattacks in history, including global consultancy Michael Page. As last year’s attacks have shown, recruiters are a prime target for cybercriminals. Why? Because recruiters have the one thing hackers love: data and lots of it.
But there is a silver lining: There is a lot of business to be done in cybersecurity.
The average salary for a cybersecurity professional increased by five percent in 2016 to £ 57,706 (Experis), £ 5,000 more than the average tech job (CW). The industry is lucrative for both candidates and recruiters, but there is a catch; there simply aren’t enough people to fill these roles. If this skills gap persists, who will come to your rescue when you are the victim of a cyber attack?
Taking your head out of the sand
Recruiters must be bold and stop ignoring the obvious potential that cybersecurity brings to the staffing industry. Seize the opportunity to grow your business through cybersecurity before you miss the opportunity, as the market is there for those who are ready to take advantage of it. Identifying, mentoring, and locating top cybersecurity talent will be the biggest growth factor for your recruiting business in 2017, but doing so requires addressing some of the following:
Know the Industry: Cybersecurity is an incredibly profitable area to recruit as the demand is so high, but if you are unfamiliar with the HTTPS protocol of DoS attacks, you will probably not be successful in putting the right candidate in the right position. Cybersecurity professionals have the ability to be highly analytical and data-driven, as well as good storytellers, and understanding the complexities of the role and personal attributes of the candidate you are seeking is key.
The Right Platform – Targeting the right candidates relies on using the best platform to drive your roles. Cybersecurity professionals won’t worry about passive candidate targeting and a LinkedIn campaign just won’t cut it. Take a bold and analytical approach to reaching candidates where they are likely to catch their eye.
Cybersecurity: the double-edged sword
The proverb ‘live by the sword, die by the sword’ couldn’t be more fitting when it comes to recruiting and cybersecurity. Yes, there is great potential for business growth and development in the cybercrime arena, but if you’re not careful, you could end up being your candidate’s future customer.
If you think your recruitment consultancy is immune from cyberattacks, you are wrong. Recruitment agencies house some of the largest data collections in the world, the perfect food for gluttonous cybercriminals. Suffering a data breach or hack is not only a logistical nightmare, but also a serious dent in your credibility. Neither candidates nor clients want to work with a recruiter who is an information security risk and the damage from such an attack could be costly.
For those companies that have not yet recognized the severity of cybercrime, it is time to wake up and prepare for what could be a critical business event and implement security measures that will keep your data safe.
Throughout 2017, cybersecurity will continue to be a huge pressure hitting businesses of all sizes like a ton of bricks. So, seize the opportunity presented by this skills gap across the UK and be part of the next wave of talented cybersecurity professionals should you ever need their help.