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Cyber attacks are setting businesses back by $400 to $500 billion a year. That figure, from Forbes, does not include the large number of cyber attacks left unreported. As businesses and governments realise the best defence against hacking headaches is a skilled cybersecurity team, budgets and headcounts are rising exponentially. For IT professionals, entering this field has never been a more attractive and promising career move.

On April 1 last year, US President Barack Obama responded to the growing dangers thus: "I hereby declare a national emergency to deal with this threat." By the end of 2015, he had included $14 billion for cybersecurity spending in his 2016 budget. As ever, where the US leads, others are likely to be not far behind. Indeed, a recent Gartner report revealed worldwide information security spending will grow almost 4.7% to reach over $75 billion in 2015 and $170 billion in 2020. Much of that money will be spent hiring new security talent.

According to job market analyst Burning Glass, the number of job postings for cybersecurity grew by 91% from 2010-2014, compared to 28% for overall IT job postings. If the IT career is booming, the cybersecurity career is exploding. For example, Burning Glass reports that, in the US, employers posted 49,493 jobs that requested certification of CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), advertising an average salary of $93,010. Yet the total number of CISSP holders is only 65,362, most of who are likely already employed.

The urgent demand, and the specialised skills that cybersecurity requires, explains why cybersecurity workers command an average salary premium of almost $6,500, which is 9% more than other IT workers. But bigger pay is not just from bigger demand. According to Victor Alhadeff, CEO of Boost eLearning, "the best defence is a team of skilled and experienced IT pros, with the credentials to prove it". Employers are seeking very educated and experienced individuals. Some 84% of job postings requested a bachelor's degree or higher. And an almost equal 83% require at least three years' experience, with an average request of 5.4 years.

Those best positioned for the cybersecurity gold rush are workers already in the IT profession, especially if they have some security experience. A bachelor's degree makes a big difference and certification is key. According to the Burning Glass report, "the cybersecurity job market is shaped by certifications, and job seekers of all experience levels can improve their employment opportunities by obtaining the relevant credentials." Those who get the training and certifications will make up the cybersecurity teams that businesses need to win against this ever-expanding threat.