appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Hannah Wang

Hong Kong needs more professionals focused on cybersecurity due to persistent threats and a limited talent pool, according to a recent report from the Hong Kong China Network Security Association.
The group said demand for cybersecurity professionals in Hong Kong was expected to grow steadily over the next three to five years, with a particular focus on skills related to cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) security.
The report said attackers, armed with AI, drove the number of security incidents handled by the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre in 2024 to 12,536, the highest in five years.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, it said, the adoption of multi-cloud strategies had increased significantly and as a result, demand for professionals with cloud security backgrounds had grown.
“There is growing demand for companies to hire security professionals with the experience of securing cloud environments and managing associated risks on multiple cloud platforms such as [Amazon Web Services], Azure and Alibaba,” said Fiona Fung, senior manager of infrastructure and cyber at recruiter Robert Walters.
The report was put together in collaboration with Sia, a consulting firm. The study surveyed around a hundred cybersecurity professionals in Hong Kong. In addition, inquiries were made with a number of professional recruiters who possessed “a broad understanding of the talent market and can provide valuable insights”. The report showed that companies needed to improve their communication and collaboration skills to combat cybersecurity risks.
Most of the surveyed organisations said they were increasing their use of automation, AI and machine learning because of the cybersecurity talent shortfall.
In March, the government passed new legislation, called the Protection of Critical Infrastructures (Computer Systems) Ordinance, which puts stricter controls on IT departments’ response times to cybersecurity incidents and requires emergency response plans. It will come into effect on January 1.
“The increasing regulatory requirements are putting considerable pressure on organisations to find the right resources and expand their teams to address these new demands,” the report said.
Recruiters, the report said, have faced challenges in recruitment due to high hiring costs as well as visa and salary issues.
While research showed that salary offers needed to rise by 10 per cent, companies – especially smaller firms – struggled to meet those expectations.
“Regarding the job market in Hong Kong, there is no easy fix,” said Frankie Tam, a partner in law firm Eversheds Sutherland’s technology and data practice. “In addition to nurturing and supporting the local professional community, Hong Kong needs to offer substantial opportunities for professionals from abroad to pursue and advance their careers.”
Some schools, including the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, were launching related programmes to address the shortage of cybersecurity talent, the report said.


Why China’s frontier AI pioneers are expected to miss this week’s Xi-Trump summit

Success of Xi-Trump summit lies in what happens afterwards

US announces AI dialogue with China, launches Board of Trade

Google says Gemini AI model breached real systems in security test

Cybersecurity

Hong Kong needs more cybersecurity professionals as threats increase: report

A view of Hong Kong Island from Kowloon. Photo: Sam Tsang

Business

News

Tech

Demand for cybersecurity professionals to grow steadily over the next three to five years, Hong Kong China Network Security Association says


Demand for cybersecurity professionals to grow steadily over the next three to five years, Hong Kong China Network Security Association says.


Doxxing and cyberbullying

Hong Kong

China

Hong Kong needs more cybersecurity professionals as threats increase: report

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Demand for cybersecurity professionals to grow steadily over the next three to five years, Hong Kong China Network Security Association says

Demand for cybersecurity professionals to grow steadily over the next three to five years, Hong Kong China Network Security Association says