The cybersecurity industry is facing an unprecedented talent shortage.
According to Cybersecurity Ventures, there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally by 2025 (Cybersecurity Ventures).
As cyber threats grow in complexity - and with increased cloud hijacking, mobile malware, and endpoint vulnerabilities, finding the right cybersecurity professionals is no longer optional. It’s mission-critical.
This 7-step guide explains exactly how to attract, hire, and retain top cybersecurity talent, using proven strategies and tools like Vouch to optimize every step of the hiring process.
Step 1. Build Your Cybersecurity Employer Brand With Vouch
In a tight cybersecurity talent pool, your employer brand can be the difference between hiring the best and losing them to competitors.
Skilled security engineers, SOC analysts, and penetration testers want to join organizations with a strong reputation for innovation and cybersecurity leadership.
Vouch’s employer branding platform helps you:
- Showcase your company culture and commitment to data privacy.
- Use video testimonials from your current employees, including security architects and information security managers, to build credibility and attract top talent with shared passions.
- Demonstrate cutting-edge projects in network security engineering, digital forensics, and threat detection.
A strong employer brand can boost applicant quality by 50% (LinkedIn Talent Solutions). Vouch makes it easy to create authentic, engaging content that resonates with even the most passive cybersecurity professionals.
Step 2. Use Video in Your Job Descriptions
Traditional job postings often fail to connect with cybersecurity experts.
Adding video to your cybersecurity job listings can transform your recruitment efforts.
With Vouch’s dynamic video solution, you can:
- Highlight your cyber infrastructure and security tools.
- Let chief security officers explain the company’s cybersecurity landscape and leadership vision.
- Feature day-in-the-life content from security analysts, Red Teams, or Blue Teams to make roles feel tangible.
Research shows job postings with video can increase applications by 34%, especially in competitive industries like cybersecurity.
The AI-enabled workspace for talent teams.
- Unified workspace for talent teams
- Accelerate hiring with AI tools
- Auto-generate polished hiring and employer brand content
- Easily repurpose assets across all channel
Step 3. Expand Your Employee Advocacy Program
Your current cybersecurity workforce is your most powerful recruiting tool.
Through an employee advocacy program, you can turn employees into brand ambassadors who share open roles with their networks.
Benefits of employee advocacy programs include:
- Authentic recommendations from your cybersecurity engineers, data privacy experts, and vulnerability assessors.
- Greater reach into niche communities like local industry meetups or secure diversity initiatives.
- Increased trust with passive candidates, who are more likely to engage when referred by a peer.
When employees share your job openings, they improve not only visibility but also your cybersecurity recruiting credibility.
Step 4. Go Beyond Compensation: Your Cybersecurity EVPs
The average cybersecurity salary in the US is over $120,000 per year (ZipRecruiter).
But top cybersecurity professionals want more than paychecks; they want purpose and professional growth.
With Vouch’s EVP content, you can:
- Highlight professional development programs like cybersecurity courses or cyber leadership development programs.
- Showcase your investment in AI researchers, machine learning engineers, and privacy engineering talent.
- Emphasize flexible work options, including remote work patterns for digital forensics experts or data scientists.
A strong EVP reduces turnover and attracts candidates who align with your security industry values.
Step 5. Streamline Your Hiring Process
Time is your enemy in cybersecurity recruitment. Skilled security professionals are often hired within days.
Here’s how to streamline your hiring process:
- Use Vouch for video interviews and candidate engagement.
- Partner with background check companies such as Checkr for quick security clearance validation.
- Automate screening with AI recruiting tools for better talent matching and faster shortlisting.
This approach reduces bottlenecks and creates a smoother candidate experience while protecting your digital assets.
Step 6. Focus on Cybersecurity Retention From Day One
The cost of replacing a single cybersecurity engineer can exceed 200% of their salary (ISACA).
Retention starts with onboarding, and Vouch’s internal team communication platform helps you:
- Deliver video-based onboarding for tools like threat detection systems and security protocols.
- Build ongoing engagement with updates on cybersecurity industry trends and compliance changes.
- Keep teams connected across remote work patterns, whether they’re SOC analysts or cyber hunters.
An engaged workforce not only improves retention but strengthens your cyber defenses against growing cyber vulnerabilities.
Step 7. Partner with Specialized Cybersecurity Staffing Agencies
Sometimes, you need expert help.
Specialized staffing agencies can connect you to pre-vetted cybersecurity talent quickly.
Top agencies include:
- CyberSN – Known for its deep cybersecurity recruiting expertise.
- Emergent Staffing – Focuses on network and infrastructure security hires.
- Robert Half Technology – Offers executive search for chief security officers and other leadership roles.
- Mondo – A leader in hiring cloud computing services and security engineers.
- Secure Diversity – Advocates for diversity in the cybersecurity sector, helping employers find untapped talent.
These agencies can help fill even the most niche roles, from vulnerability assessors to data privacy specialists.
Who Are The Top 10 Cybersecurity Employers Globally?
- Palo Alto Networks – 13,000 employees, $6.9B revenue – Leader in network security and cloud protection.
- CrowdStrike – 8,000 employees, $3B revenue – Specializes in endpoint vulnerabilities and threat detection.
- Fortinet – 13,000 employees, $5B revenue – Known for cyber defenses and security architecture.
- Cisco – 84,000 employees, $57B revenue – Provides infrastructure security and network security engineering.
- IBM Security – 288,000 employees (IBM overall), $61B revenue – Expertise in AI-driven cybersecurity solutions.
- Check Point Software – 6,000 employees, $2.3B revenue – Specializes in application security and cloud protection.
- McAfee – 7,000 employees, $2B revenue – Known for endpoint protection and cyber threat intelligence.
- FireEye (Trellix) – 4,000 employees, $1.2B revenue – Offers advanced threat detection and digital forensics.
- Proofpoint – 4,300 employees, $1.3B revenue – Specializes in data privacy and cybersecurity expertise.
- US Cyber Command – Classified workforce – The US military’s arm for cybersecurity defense and intelligence.
FAQs
Why is there a cybersecurity talent gap?
In short, the rapid AI transformation and evolving cyber threats have outpaced talent supply.
How can Vouch help in cybersecurity recruitment?
One of the major benefits is showcasing authentic employee videos that attract top cybersecurity talent, but Vouch is an entire recruitment enablement tool, and this is just one benefit.
What skills are most in demand?
Threat detection, cloud security, and application security dominate hiring needs.
Is remote work common in cybersecurity?
Yes, many security analysts and digital forensics experts work remotely, both red hat and blue hat.
How do staffing agencies help in cybersecurity recruitment?
Staffing agencies connect employers with vetted, hard-to-find cybersecurity professionals from their internal and partner databases.
Are certifications important in hiring?
Yes, credentials like CISSP, CISM, and CompTIA Security+ add credibility.
What’s the average cybersecurity salary?
The average salary is over $120,000/year in the US, depending, of course, on the role and location.
See Why Recruiters & Talent Teams Love Vouch!
Used by companies like Cisco, Aldi, Ericsson, Canva, Nike, Warner Bros. Discovery, HubSpot, Amazon, Mars and thousands more, modern recruiters love Vouch.
Simply book a Vouch demo today to see how Vouch can help!
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