Only cyber security jobs at IT firms are Covid-19 virus-proof

IT vendors catering to the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector are hiring more cyber security professionals even as there is freeze on all other technology positions, according to staffing firms.

Mumbai: IT vendors catering to the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector are hiring more cyber security professionals even as there is freeze on all other technology positions, according to staffing firms. As companies continue the remote-work model and look to improve the security of their networks, demand for cybersecurity roles is on the up despite uncertainty over onboarding employees amid a lockdown to combat the Covid-19 virus outbreak. Cybersecurity incidents involving video conferencing app Zoom and at IT services provider Cognizant have also forced companies to improve safeguards. “Demand has gone up by up to 15%,” Sunil C, head-specialised staffing at TeamLeaseNSE -0.75 % Digital, said.

“There were a lot of open positions for cybersecurity and, in between, this Covid-19 pandemic has happened. There is an increase in demand, particularly from the Big Four consulting companies and the IT services companies catering to the BFSI sector,” he elaborated. The last couple of weeks has seen a deferment in onboarding of new employees, but the demand remains, he said. However, for positions like digitisation (specialists) and regular developer skills, demand has fallen, “so these positions have been withdrawn”, he added.

Anand Ramakrishnan, CEO of Qtek Systems, a Quess Corp company, said hiring for cybersecurity roles will be priority for companies after the lockdown is lifted. “The nature of cybersecurity professionals will change. People who have more knowledge of endpoints detection and response and video conferencing, for example, will be more in demand,” Ramakrishnan said.

In security parlance, endpoints refer to remote devices in the corporate network, such as laptops or other wireless and mobile devices. “Earlier, endpoint protection was restricted to antivirus or anti-malware solutions and they were more 'prevention' software. There was no constant monitoring and threat analysis. Now, all of these endpoints sitting in various houses become targets, so there has to be continuous monitoring. So, the nature of IT security will change quite a bit,” he pointed out. “Cybersecurity professionals will be the first roles which will be filled post-lockdown,” Kamal Karanth, cofounder of specialist staffing firm Xpheno, said.

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