5 Industries in Atlanta That Need Cybersecurity Professionals

Healthcare, finance, and government are the standard-bearers of cybersecurity jobs. In Atlanta, these are also huge enterprises, employing hundreds of thousands of people, and pouring millions into cybersecurity. However, there are plenty of other options in The ATL, from even bigger industries to growing startups. As one of the largest and fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S., Atlanta is a hub for many different industries — all seeking cybersecurity professionals. Here are five industries that need cybersecurity.

Shipping and Logistics

Jobs: IT specialist, systems administrator, network engineer, IT manager

Big corporations across the country are increasing their cybersecurity budgets. In Atlanta, it probably comes as no surprise that the shipping and logistics industry is stepping up its cybersecurity practices. After all, ATL is one of the largest logistics hubs in the country. Its massive airport, Foreign Trade Zone, freight railroad lines, and major highways make it a touchpoint for all sorts of transportation projects. It's also the world headquarters of UPS, one of the country's largest shipping and logistics companies.

Automotive

Jobs: cloud security specialist, IT specialist, systems administrator

Atlanta's mix of technology hub and manufacturing haven has resulted in a perfect partnership: cybersecurity and the automotive industry. With the fast emergence of IoT (Internet of Things), many consumers are wondering: How will the automotive industry prevent cyberattacks on vehicles connected to the Internet? According to General Motors CIO, Randy Mott, the automotive company is working on building better self-driving car data analytics. They've opened an innovation center in the Atlanta area with a focus on engineering and software development questions around connected cars. Automotive cybersecurity is a cutting-edge industry that needs new talent and fresh ideas — so now is your time.

Education

Jobs: IT specialist, IT manager, network administrator, network engineer

Did you know educational institutions are one of the top cybersecurity targets? Learning institutions often have credit card numbers, contact information, government IDs, and other sensitive data on file. That information is very useful to cyberattackers. Plus, there are always those who simply want to change grades, and the amount of computers on campus — and students with their guard down — can make for easy access. The likelihood of cyberattack is even higher at research universities, where hackers could be in search of technology or medical discoveries that haven't been released yet. All this means that colleges and universities need cybersecurity experts to help them keep their information safe. And because Atlanta has the highest concentration of academic institutions in the Southern U.S., you'll have plenty of employers to choose from, including Georgia Tech and University of Georgia.

Manufacturing

Jobs: systems administrator, network engineer, cloud security specialist

The manufacturing industry in the Atlanta metro area employs 167,000 people as of August 2018, and more and more of those are cybersecurity professionals. Why should manufacturers be mindful of cybersecurity? Every industrial business has physical devices, like valves and sensors, that send information to computers and are vulnerable to being hacked. This cybersecurity vertical is called industrial control systems cybersecurity.

Many cyberattacks against manufacturing are meant to cause disruption rather than steal information, but a business's systems being down for even an hour can cause huge delays and set off a chain reaction. Atlanta is home to many industry giants, like Coca-Cola, Genuine Parts Company, HD Supply, and Georgia-Pacific, and they're all in need of manufacturing information security experts like you.

Cybersecurity Tools

Jobs: various opportunities, including CEO

So far, we've mostly been discussing the giants of Atlanta's business landscape, but the city is also home to some of the top cybersecurity startups in America. The innovative environment and entrepreneurial spirit of Atlanta makes it the perfect place to let your ideas run wild. Our article "Cybersecurity Trends in Atlanta" mentions a couple of startups that are hot right now: Pindrop, which focuses on reducing phone fraud with super-accurate voice ID, and Phosphorous, which is on the cutting edge of IoT (Internet of things) technology. There's also TargetProof (email security), Ionic Security (data protection), NexDefense (industrial network protection), SecureWorks (managed security services), and Bastille (smart devices). Why not jump in and start your own company?

There's really no wrong choice when it comes to cybersecurity jobs in Atlanta. From management roles to independent contractors, there's a career path for every professional style. And the great news is, they're all highly paid. It's time to sharpen your skillset and start climbing the ladder — one of these high-paying security jobs could be yours.