Over the past 12 months, the world has seen some of the largest data breaches and cyberattacks in history, which included the global consultancy, Michael Page. As last year’s attacks have shown, recruiters are a prime target for cybercriminals. Why? Because recruiters have the one thing hackers love: data, and lots of it.

But there is a silver lining: there is a huge business to be done in cyber security.

The average salary for a cyber security professional increased five per cent in 2016 to £57,706 (Experis), £5,000 more than the average technology job (CW). The sector is lucrative for both candidates and recruiters, but there is a catch; there just aren’t enough people to fill these roles. If this skills gap persists, who will come to your rescue when you fall victim to a cyber attack?

stick your head out of the sand

Recruiters must be bold and stop ignoring the obvious potential that cybersecurity brings to the staffing industry. Seize the opportunity to grow your business through cyber security before you miss out, as the market is there for those who are ready to take advantage of it. Identifying, targeting and locating the best cybersecurity talent will be the biggest growth driver for your recruiting business in 2017, but getting there requires addressing some of the following:

Know the industry – Cyber ​​security is an incredibly profitable area to hire as the demand is so high, but if you don’t know the HTTPS protocol of DoS attacks, you probably won’t be able to place the right candidate in the right role. Cybersecurity professionals have the ability to be highly analytical and data-driven, as well as good storytellers, and understanding the complexities of the position and the personal attributes of the candidate you’re looking for are key.

The Right Platform: Targeting the right candidates depends on using the best platform to power their roles. Cybersecurity professionals won’t mind passive candidate targeting, and a LinkedIn campaign simply won’t cut it. Take a bold, analytical approach to reaching candidates in places where you’re likely to catch their attention.

Cybersecurity: the double-edged sword

The proverb ‘live by the sword, die by the sword’ couldn’t be more apt when it comes to recruiting and cyber security. Yes, there is great potential for business growth and development in cybercrime, but if you are not careful, you could end up being your candidate’s future client.

If you think that your recruitment consultancy is immune to cyber attacks, you are wrong. Recruitment agencies are the custodians of some of the world’s largest collections of data, perfect fodder for gluttonous cybercriminals. Suffering a data breach or hack is not only a logistical nightmare, but also a serious dent in your credibility. Neither candidates nor clients want to work with a recruiter who is an information security risk and the damage from such an attack could be costly.

For those companies that have not yet recognized the seriousness of cybercrime, it is time to wake up and prepare for what could be a business-critical event and implement security measures that will keep your data safe.

Throughout 2017, cyber security will continue to be a major pressure hitting businesses of all sizes like a ton of bricks. So take advantage of the opportunity presented by this skills gap across the UK and be part of the next wave of talented cybersecurity professionals should you ever need their help.