Cybersecurity job vacancies across the globe are growing, and the sector is booming. In 2023, Europe experienced a 7.2% year-on-year growth in the cybersecurity workforce, and globally, the sector is predicted to reach $657 billion by 2030. Yet the “2023 Fortinet Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report” highlights that 56% of organisations struggle to recruit, and 54% struggle to retain cyber talent.
With the landscape evolving rapidly, knowing which are the most in-demand roles and what essential skills actually matter, can make the difference for anyone looking to skill, reskill or upskill in this dynamic field.
Most in-demand cybersecurity roles in 2025
As the cybersecurity landscape in Europe continuously evolves and grows, certain roles are emerging as critical to combat the increasing sophistication of cyber threats.
- AI Security Architect: Integrating AI into business operations creates completely new ways for attacks to happen. And as more business look to implement AI solutions, there is a growing demand for specialists who can create secure AI-driven security frameworks and systems, so AI can be deployed safely and responsibly.
- Cloud Security Engineer: With 83% of security leaders in Europe planning to invest in cloud security technologies in 2025, the need for qualified professionals who can proactively secure cloud infrastructures against potential breaches is only going to increase.
- Zero-Trust Network Engineer: Zero Trust security means that no one is trusted by default from inside or outside a business’s network, which is particularly relevant as many businesses no longer have their data in just one place. This has increased the demand for professionals who can design, implement, and manage network security infrastructure based on the Zero Trust security framework, which operates on the principle of ‘never trust, always verify’.
- Penetration Tester/Ethical Hacker: With escalating cybercrime and business reliance on digital systems and cloud platforms, the demand for ethical hackers is increasing. Ethical, or ‘white hat’, hackers hack into a business’s systems, networks, and applications to test security, identify weaknesses and exploit vulnerabilities, before cybercriminals can.
- Cyber Protection Engineer: As opposed to an AI Security Architect who deals with the framework, a Cyber Protection Engineer focuses on safeguarding digital assets by designing network protection solutions, conducting vulnerability assessments, and responding to incidents. And demand is growing due to the increasing reliance on digital infrastructure and the growing threat landscape.
- Cyber Risk Analyst: As a key piece in the cybersecurity puzzle, Cyber Risk Analysts evaluate a business’s data assets, networks, and cloud infrastructures to identify vulnerabilities, potential threats, and signs of compromise. Based on the findings and severity of the threat, risk analysts develop plans to mitigate the risk.
Top 5 key skills employers’ value
- Understanding of network security: Nearly all cyber threats exploit network vulnerabilities, so knowing how data moves across networks and having a solid grasp of network security tools is crucial.
- Knowledge of operating systems: Understanding file systems, process management, and permission structures in Windows, Linux, and Mac-OS helps in identifying vulnerabilities and securing endpoints.
- Coding: While it’s not essential, not having any coding knowledge may limit your opportunities. Useful programming languages include Python, Bash, PowerShell, and SQL.
- Soft skills: While technical skills are a must, it’s also important to be able to demonstrate a good set of soft skills including problem solving, communication, adaptability, curiosity and even some business acumen.
- Knowledge of compliance regulations: Often overlooked, it’s important to understand the various cybersecurity laws and regulations that define how you can use the internet and protect people from becoming victims of cybercrimes.
The EIT Deep tech Talent Initiative’s catalogue of over 230 courses and training programmes (as of October 2025), includes 39 courses in Cybersecurity and Data Protection, which offers a great opportunity for European talent to skill, upskill, or reskill in this emerging sector.
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