In our increasingly digitised world, startups are facing a growing number of cyber threats that can significantly impact their operations and reputations. As a tech recruitment agency specialising in startups, we at Propeller-Tech recognise the critical need for startups to prioritise cybersecurity. However, it’s no easy feat to find the right people. The “2023 Cybersecurity Skills Gap” report from Fortinet found that 56% of companies struggle to recruit cybersecurity talent while 54% find it hard to retain them. In this article, we will have a look into the importance of cybersecurity, discuss key roles that startups need to address to secure their operations, and outline the essential skills required for these roles.
The Significance of Cybersecurity Measures for Startups:
“More companies have been hacked than those that have not been hacked.” – Robert Mueller
The importance of robust cybersecurity measures for startups cannot be overstated. Recent incidents from the past year highlight the critical need for cybersecurity in the startup ecosystem, and why organisations are at risk.
Protecting Sensitive Data: In the past year alone, several high-profile data breaches have affected startups, exposing customer information and intellectual property to cyber threats. These breaches not only jeopardise sensitive data but also pose legal, financial, and reputational risks to startups.
Safeguarding Business Continuity: Recent cyberattacks have disrupted operations for startups, leading to significant downtime, loss of productivity, and financial setbacks. These incidents underscore the necessity of effective cybersecurity measures to ensure operational continuity.
Building Customer Trust: With data privacy becoming a growing concern, customers are increasingly vigilant about the security practices of the companies they engage with. Startups that demonstrate a commitment to cybersecurity build trust with their customers and differentiate themselves in the market.
In order to protect themselves, companies can implement a number of different cyber security strategies, including:-
- Use a Secure Password Manager
- Implement Two-Factor Authentication
- Use a VPN
- Keep Your Software Up-to-Date
- Educate Employees
Further Reading: This article from Faster Capital gives a great overview of ways to implement these strategies and why.
Key Roles in Startups’ Cybersecurity Defence:
While startups may face resource constraints, it is vital to address key cybersecurity roles to fortify their defences:
1. Cybersecurity Engineer
Overview: A cybersecurity engineer is tasked with designing and safeguarding IT systems and architectures against unauthorized access and cyber threats. This role involves formulating and implementing security strategies, standards, and recovery protocols to swiftly restore systems post-disaster. Essential to the job is proactive risk management, including conducting penetration tests to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities before they escalate into significant threats. Cybersecurity engineers also evaluate and update security measures, manage firewalls, run encryption programs, and collaborate on incident recovery. Effective communication skills are crucial for explaining technical details and security plans to management and coordinating with law enforcement when necessary.
Skills Required:
- Secure coding practices and vulnerability detection.
- Risk assessment.
- Secure network design and architecture.
- Firewall architecture.
- Computer forensics.
- Identity and access management.
- Virtualization technologies.
- Defending against advanced persistent threats, malware, phishing and social engineering.
- Encryption technologies.
Education/Training:
- A bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, cybersecurity, or related field is typically required.
- Certifications such as CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+), CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) are highly valued.
Average Salary:
- UK: The average salary for a Cybersecurity Engineer in the UK is £50,072 per year, with the range typically between £40,000 and £70,000. [2]
- USA: The average salary for Cyber Security Engineer is $150,370 per year in the United States. The average additional cash compensation for a Cyber Security Engineer in the United States is $30,944, with a range from $23,208 – $43,321 [1]
2. Infosec Analyst/Cybersecurity Analyst
Overview: A security analyst plays a versatile role in safeguarding an organization’s IT infrastructure, overseeing the implementation and adherence to security protocols and practices using specialized tools. This includes monitoring for and addressing potential security breaches, managing access controls, and maintaining network security devices. With a comprehensive understanding of data management and various cyber threats like ransomware and social engineering, they conduct assessments to enhance security measures. Depending on the organization’s size, their responsibilities may range from focused monitoring and threat response in larger firms to a wider array of tasks in smaller settings, including educating staff on cybersecurity awareness.
Skills Required:
- Proprietary network management.
- Penetration testing.
- Security incident triaging.
- Risk assessments.
- Data encryption.
- Firewall design, configuration, deployment and maintenance.
Education/Training:
- A bachelor’s degree in computer science, cybersecurity, or a related field
- Certifications like CompTIA Network+, Security+, and PenTest+.
Average Salary:
- UK: The average salary for Cyber Security Analyst is £40,188 per year in the United Kingdom. The average additional cash compensation for a Cyber Security Analyst in the United Kingdom is £2,685, with a range from £1,277 – £5,649. [3]
- USA: According to the BLS, cybersecurity and information security analysts earn an average annual salary of $119,860 per year ($57.63 per hour).
3. Network Security Architect
Overview: A network security architect is pivotal in enhancing the security of enterprise networks while ensuring their performance remains optimal. They bridge business requirements with secure, efficient network solutions, establishing and enforcing security policies and educating users. Their role encompasses both protective strategies, like configuring firewalls and antivirus software, and proactive tactics such as penetration testing to preemptively identify vulnerabilities. With an in-depth understanding of network infrastructure and security protocols, they play a key role in guiding network modifications to mitigate risks. Their expertise covers a broad spectrum of security measures and network technologies, ensuring the integrity of network access and data protection throughout the network’s lifecycle.
Skills Required:
- Strategic planning.
- ITIL and COBIT IT process models.
- Knowledge of TCP/IP networking and networking security.
- Open Systems Interconnection 7-layer model.
- Intrusion detection systems.
- Risk management.
- Single sign-on identity management systems.
- VPN layers and connections.
- Protocol encryption.
Education/Training:
- Requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science, with a preference for a master’s degree in cybersecurity.
- Certifications like CompTIA Network+, ISC2 Information Systems Security Architecture Professional., GIAC Defensible Security Architecture., NSE 7 Network Security Architect., Fortinet Network Security Expert (NSE).
Average Salary:
- UK: Salaries typically range from £50-70k per annum [4].
- USA: The average cyber security architect salary in the USA is $154,994 per year or $74.52 per hour. Entry level positions start at $135,525 per year while most experienced workers make up to $196,554 per year [5]
4. Security Software Developer
Overview: Combines technical programming knowledge with security analysis to create secure software. By combining technical programming knowledge with product development and security analysis skills, a security software developer creates software and adds security to it to “harden” it from potential attack.
Skills Required:
- Secure coding practices
- Security controls
- Knowledge of the threat landscape
- Project management
- Network security
- Cryptography
Education/Training:
- A bachelor’s degree in software development or engineering, with a focus on secure coding practices.
- Certificates desired include: CompTIA Security+.CySA+.CompTIA PenTest+.CASP+. Certified Information Systems Auditor. CISSP. Certified Information Security Manager. Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert. Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate.
Average Salary:
- UK: The average salary for Software Security Engineer is £53,569 per year in the United Kingdom. The average additional cash compensation for a Software Security Engineer in the United Kingdom is £5,580, with a range from £2,361 – £13,190. [6]
- USA: Typically, average salary is $111,845 a year. [7]
5. Penetration Tester/Ethical Hacker
Overview: Ethical hackers function as cybersecurity detectives, mimicking hacker tactics to uncover and fix vulnerabilities in networks and applications, thus preemptively shielding an organization’s data and systems.
Skills Required:
- Penetration testing methods and tools — e.g., Network Mapper, Wireshark and Kali.
- Knowledge of Python, Golang, Bash and PowerShell.
- OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities.
- Social engineering.
Education/Training:
- Relevant field bachelor’s degree
- Certifications like PEN-200 Offensive Security Certified Professional., PEN-200 Offensive Security Certified Professional., GIAC Penetration Tester., GIAC Certified Enterprise Defender., GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester., CompTIA Security+., CySA+., CompTIA PenTest+.
Average Salary:
- UK: Average salary is around £65,000 per year [8]
- USA: The average annual pay for a Penetration Tester Ethical Hacker in the United States is $119,895 a year. [9]
6. Application Security Engineer
Overview: Historically, security in software development lifecycles (SDLCs) was an afterthought, added only after the development process was complete. However, with the rise in cyber threats, it’s become crucial for organizations to integrate security from the start of the SDLC. This shift in approach is the domain of the application security engineer, who ensures that secure coding practices are adhered to throughout the development process. They conduct code reviews, vulnerability scans, and penetration testing to identify and mitigate security risks before the software is deployed. As experts in both coding and security, application security engineers play a key role in safeguarding software against real-world cyber vulnerabilities, while also maintaining essential technical documentation.
Skills Required:
- Knowledge of encryption techniques in databases and the cloud.
- Working knowledge of software development, network engineering, security protocols, systems engineering, web application security and cryptography (preferred).
- Clear conceptual understanding of the SDLC.
- Familiarity with secure coding best practices.
- Knowledge of existing and emerging security threats.
- Robust communication and soft skills.
Education/Training:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field, with a focus on secure coding practices.
- Certifications include Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional., CISSP., MCSI-Certified Application Security Engineer., Certified Application Security Engineer.
Average Salary:
7. Malware Analyst
Overview: As malware continues to evolve rapidly, outpacing many organizations’ defenses, the need for malware analysts has reached an unprecedented high. These specialists are tasked with identifying, analyzing, and understanding malware to reverse-engineer attacks, pinpoint their success factors, and develop or refine defense mechanisms. Additionally, they document prevention strategies to mitigate future malware threats, playing a critical role in enhancing cybersecurity defenses.
Skills Required:
- Experience with programming: C/C++ preferred since many malware strains are written in these languages.
- Ability to write scripts in Python, Perl and Ruby.
- Strong knowledge of tools such as IDA Pro, OllyDbg, RegShot, WinDbg, Immunity Debugger and TCP view.
- Working knowledge of Windows API and Windows OS internals.
- Ability to reconstruct unknown TCP/IP protocols, file formats and data structures.
- Ability to write technical reports and to communicate with dev teams and senior leadership.
Education/Training:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or cybersecurity
- Training in , GIAC Reverse Engineering Malware, CISSP., Certified Ethical Hacker., Certified Malware Analysis Professional., Certified Reverse Engineering Analyst.
Average Salary:
- UK: Around £52,500 [12]
- USA: Salaries for malware analysts can range from $125,000 to £202,500 annually, depending on experience and sector [13]
8. Computer Forensics Analyst/Digital Forensics Examiner
Overview: A computer forensics analyst, also known as a digital forensics examiner or cyberforensic analyst, plays a pivotal role similar to a crime scene investigator but in the realm of cybercrime. Their expertise is crucial for investigating cybercrimes, determining how breaches occur, and devising strategies to prevent future incidents. They delve into digital evidence to trace how attackers breach networks, identifying security weaknesses that need addressing. Key tasks include analyzing log files, conducting forensic analyses of files and systems, and examining intrusion artifacts like source code or malware. Additionally, they often collaborate with security teams to bolster defenses and may provide expert testimony in legal cases. This role demands a blend of technical, criminal, and legal knowledge, typically placing it at a mid-senior career level, although entry-level positions are available in certain sectors for candidates with the requisite skills.
Skills Required:
- Knowledge of anti-forensics tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs).
- Knowledge of data carving tools and techniques, malware analysis tools and binary analysis.
- Knowledge of and experience with forensic tool suites, analyzing anomalous code, analyzing volatile data, processing digital evidence and preserving evidence integrity.
- Ability to interpret tool results to ascertain TTPs.
- Ability to conduct bit-level analysis and analyze memory dumps to extract information.
- Ability to identify obfuscation techniques.
- An understanding of law and criminal investigation techniques.
- Strong analytical and communication skills plus attention to detail.
Education/Training:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer forensics or a similar area
- Certificates in: Certified Forensic Computer Examiner., Certified Computer Examiner., GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner., GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst., EnCase Certified Examiner for forensic examiners using Opentext EnCase Forensic.
Average Salary:
- UK: Starting salary £25000 to £60000 [14]
- USA: Average salary as of Feb 2024 is at $74,125 per year [15]
Conclusion:
In wrapping up, the emphasis on cybersecurity within startups has reached an all-time high, reflecting the critical need to protect operations and customer trust in an increasingly connected world. The challenge of recruiting and retaining skilled cybersecurity professionals is significant, highlighting a gap that startups need to address proactively. By focusing on essential roles—from engineers to analysts—startups can build a comprehensive defense strategy. Investing in such talent is not just about risk mitigation; it’s a strategic move that underpins growth, innovation, and long-term success.
As startups gear up to meet these challenges head-on, the path forward is clear: prioritize cybersecurity, embed it into the fabric of your operations, and ensure your team has the tools and knowledge to defend against threats. This approach will not only secure your assets but also enhance your competitive advantage, proving to customers and investors alike that your startup is a reliable, secure, and forward-thinking entity.
