5 Hard Truths Of A Career In Cybersecurity - And How To Navigate Them
CSO Online, Tuesday, August 5th, 2025
Cybersecurity may promise high pay and job security, but the reality often includes intense pressure, unrealistic demands, and limited support.
Cybersecurity is an exceptionally promising career path. Demand for cyber talent is high, as is compensation, with average base salaries for leading functional roles topping $150,000, according to a 2025 benchmark report from IANS and Artico Search.
But working in cybersecurity comes with challenges that are often glossed over in job postings, media coverage, and even at industry events. And those challenges can wear down a cyber pro over time. To wit, IANS and Artico Search found that while functional staff by and large report positive job engagement, those further along in their careers are less positive about their situations, with middle management and department heads just as likely to be detractors as to be promoters when it comes to their current career situation.