South Korea’s information security network is in turmoil following disruptions in intelligence operations by the National Intelligence Service and the Military Intelligence Command. Recent reports reveal alarming evidence of suspected hacking attempts on military reconnaissance assets, indicating that these breaches may be linked to North Korea.
The defense industry revealed that North Korea attempted to hack defense company subcontractors and successfully leaked technical data related to the Baekdu and Geumgang reconnaissance aircraft, key aerial reconnaissance assets for South Korea’s military against North Korea. A government official stated, “North Korea is conducting extensive hacking attempts targeting our defense companies and their partners,” adding, “I understand that investigations have been ongoing since the latter half of last year.”
The National Police Agency’s Cyber Security Investigation Unit is investigating the case, focusing on tracking the IP addresses that accessed the subcontractors’ networks. They are also examining recent hacking attacks targeting small and medium-sized partner companies. As cyber threats continue escalating, the risks of personal information exposure and leakage of military secrets are growing. This underscores the urgent need for increased cybersecurity personnel to defend against sophisticated attacks and secure vulnerable networks.
Forbes has predicted that the global shortage of cybersecurity professionals will worsen in the coming years. In response, U.S. companies have started offering higher salaries and investing more heavily in recruiting and training cybersecurity talent. According to Forbes, there is a shortage of around 4 million cybersecurity professionals worldwide. This figure is expected to increase, as highlighted in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) “2024 Global Cybersecurity Outlook.”
In a Forbes survey, 90% of global business executives reported experiencing a shortage of cybersecurity skills and talent, with 71% saying that immediate action is needed to address this shortage. These executives also believe that new technologies, such as generative AI, will exacerbate existing cybersecurity issues, lending weight to the prediction that the world will suffer from a lack of cybersecurity personnel.
American cybersecurity company Okta announced plans to invest $50 million over the next five years to nurture cybersecurity talent. This demonstrates how companies swiftly respond to the urgent need for cybersecurity professionals.
A representative from Okta stated through Forbes, “Companies worldwide will face the greatest cyber threats in ten years,” emphasizing the need to recruit more cybersecurity experts now. Major U.S. corporations like Alphabet, Microsoft, Twitch, and Cisco have also been observed taking steps to develop their own cybersecurity talent. Forbes also reported that demand for cybersecurity jobs in the U.S. is expected to increase explosively, with related salaries and talent competition likely to intensify. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, cybersecurity jobs are expected to grow by about 32% by 2032.
This figure contrasts sharply with the average growth rate of 3% for all jobs in the U.S. during the same period, showing a growth rate more than ten times higher. Consequently, the value of cybersecurity experts is expected to rise. According to the Economic Research Institute (ERI), the average base salary for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) managing physical and digital security at companies is $275,000.
Cybersecurity experts are reportedly receiving annual bonuses of up to $500,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has indicated that the average salary for information security analysts was $120,360 last year. In contrast, cybersecurity managers earned between $150,000 and $225,000.
Software and application security engineers command salaries ranging from $130,000 to $200,000. Additionally, companies that actively recruit skilled hackers for cybersecurity roles offer compensation of around $125,000.
In contrast, the average salary for cybersecurity professionals in South Korea ranges from $80,725 to $145,000, making it unlikely to exceed $150,000. This discrepancy is thought to be due to differences in how U.S. and South Korean companies perceive the value of cybersecurity professionals.
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