The cybersecurity industry continues its rapid growth, driven by an escalating wave of cyberattacks. This surge has created unprecedented demand for skilled professionals, making cybersecurity one of the most sought-after career paths today. For small and midsize businesses (SMBs), this creates a paradox: the need for robust security is greater than ever, but the talent required is increasingly scarce and expensive.

According to a Hack The Box blog post, there were a staggering 4.8 million unfilled cybersecurity roles globally in 2025. This severe talent shortage is projected to continue, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasting a 29% growth rate for information security analysts between 2024 and 2034. For SMBs, this means competing with larger enterprises for a limited pool of experts, often with budgets that can’t keep pace with market rates.

Cybersecurity roles command high salaries, reflecting their critical importance. Entry-level positions like Security Operations Center (SOC) analysts typically start between $70,000–$95,000 annually, while experienced specialists can earn well over $150,000. Even Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) at large corporations can command upwards of $180,000–$300,000+. These figures highlight the financial strain of building an in-house security team for many SMBs.

The field is also incredibly diverse, encompassing specializations from offensive security (ethical hacking) and defensive operations (SOC analysis, incident response) to Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), and digital forensics. A single internal hire can rarely cover this broad spectrum of expertise. Furthermore, the dynamic nature of cyber threats demands continuous learning and adaptation, placing a high burden on internal staff to stay current with evolving attack techniques and defensive strategies, including AI-driven threats and cloud security advancements.

For SMBs, the most effective strategy to counter the talent gap and high costs is often through managed IT and security services. COM3 IT Solutions provides access to a comprehensive team of cybersecurity experts covering various specializations – without the need for you to recruit, train, or retain individual high-cost professionals. We ensure your business benefits from 24/7 monitoring, rapid incident response, proactive threat hunting, and compliance expertise, all while managing the constant learning curve that an internal team would face.

Partnering with a managed security provider like COM3 allows SMBs to achieve enterprise-grade security posture, maintain compliance, and respond effectively to incidents. This strategic approach ensures your business is protected by a diverse team of specialists whose skills are continuously updated, freeing you from the burdens of the competitive cybersecurity job market.

Source: https://www.hackthebox.com/blog/cybersecurity-careers-pros-cons-salaries