Occupation intelligence

cybersecurity risk manager

Snapshot

Are you passionate about protecting digital assets and ensuring organizational resilience? As a cybersecurity risk manager, you'll be at the forefront of identifying and mitigating threats to ICT infrastructure, safeguarding businesses from evolving cyber challenges.

Summary

Cybersecurity risk managers play a vital role in protecting organizations from the ever-increasing threat of cyberattacks. Your days will involve analyzing complex systems, identifying vulnerabilities, and developing strategies to minimize potential risks. You'll work closely with IT teams, business leaders, and potentially external security consultants to ensure a robust and adaptive security posture. This role requires a blend of technical understanding, analytical skills, and strong communication abilities.

Key responsibilities:
  • • Conducting thorough risk assessments of ICT systems and services, identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities.
  • • Developing and implementing risk mitigation strategies, including selecting appropriate controls and security measures.
  • • Establishing and maintaining a comprehensive cybersecurity risk management framework aligned with organizational goals.
45%
Resilience Score · 2026 (Higher is better)
Bachelor's or equivalent level 45% AI exposure
Start Career DNA assessment
Labour market

Where this occupation is in demand

Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.

Shortage reportedSurplus reportedReported in another yearNot covered by this source

Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.

Figures cover Information and communications technology professionals — 75 jobs including this one.

10 of 11 in shortage2025All 30 growing3.7Mopenings to 2035

In shortage: Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark and 6 more.

Longest-running shortage: Austria, 3 years.

Select a place on the map to see its figures.

About this source

Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.

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Quick fit check

Could cybersecurity risk manager fit you?

Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.

Progress0/3

Do you enjoy tasks that require Attention to Detail?

Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?

Do you enjoy tasks that require Working Conditions?

NexFuture™

Future Outlook for cybersecurity risk manager

The outlook for cybersecurity risk manager reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.

How are these scores calculated?

The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.

Play the future

How could cybersecurity risk manager change as AI adoption grows?

This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.

Significant task-level transformation is estimated in 13 years (around 2039) under the selected Expected Pace scenario.
~45%
Resilience
Automation Risk
EXP~50%
Human advantage
MOAT~45%

Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.

2026
2033
2044
AI Adoption Speed:

How AI may change this role

Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.

Human-owned 45% Human-owned
What still depends on people
  • establish an Information Security Management System
  • ensure adherence to organisational ICT standards
  • communicate with stakeholders
The Human Edge To stay ahead in this role, focus on attack vectors and cyber attack counter-measures. These human-centric skills are the hardest for AI to replicate in the next 20 years.
Assist 24% Assist
Where AI may become a co-pilot
  • implement ICT risk management
  • advice on security risk management
  • manage system security
Automate 45% Automate
Tasks most exposed to automation

No single task here is highly automatable yet.

Detailed Analysis

Vital Signs & AI Vectors

AI Exposure Vectors

0-100%
AI / Machine Learning 24%

Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks

Cognitive Software 7%

Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation

Generative AI 3%

Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools

Robotic & Physical Automation 0%

Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement

Technical Details
Methodology: NexFuture v3.0 Sources: O*NET® 30.3, ESCO v1.2.1 Updated: Aug 2026

NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.

Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.

Day in the life

What people in this role usually do

Digital Technology

Day in the life

A typical day as a cybersecurity risk manager

09
09:00 · Morning
establish an ICT security prevention plan
Define a comprehensive and proactive strategy for managing information and communication technology (ICT) security risks by establishing a set of measures and responsibilities to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. Implement policies to prevent data breaches, detect and respond to unauthorised access to systems and resources, including up-to-date security applications and employee education.
10
10:30 · Mid-morning
establish an Information Security Management System
Design, apply, monitor and review an Information Security Management System (ISMS) that preserves the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information by applying a risk management process, and gives confidence to interested parties regarding the adequate management of such cybersecurity-related risks.
12
12:00 · Midday
advice on security risk management
Provide advice on security risk management policies and prevention strategies and their implementation, being aware of the different kinds of security risks a specific organisation faces.
14
14:00 · Afternoon
ensure adherence to organisational ICT standards
Guarantee that the state of events is in accordance with the ICT rules and procedures described by an organisation for their products, services and solutions.
15
15:30 · Late afternoon
implement ICT risk management
Develop and implement procedures for identifying, assessing, treating and mitigating ICT risks, such as hacks or data leaks, according to the company's risk strategy, procedures and policies. Analyse and manage security risks and incidents. Recommend measures to improve digital security strategy.
17
17:00 · Wrap-up
manage system security
Analyse the critical assets of a company and identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities that lead to intrusion or attack. Apply security detection techniques. Understand cyber attack techniques and implement effective countermeasures.

Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.

Software & Technologies & Knowledge areas
Software & Technologies
Adobe AcrobatAmazon Web Services AWS softwareArcSight Enterprise Threat and Risk ManagementChinotec Technologies ParosCisco Systems CiscoWorksCustomer information control system CICSCyberArkDatabase softwareFirewall softwareIBM Tivoli softwareIntrusion prevention system IPSJavaScriptKismetLinuxManagement information systems MISMcAfeeMetasploitMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Active DirectoryMicrosoft Azure software
Knowledge areas
  • attack vectors

    Paths or methods that threat actors use to exploit vulnerabilities in information networks or systems from a concrete organisation and impact its availability, integrity and confidentiality. Attack vectors may include social engineering tactics such as phishing mails or pretexting, technical exploits as SQL injection as well as buffer overflow attacks.

  • cyber attack counter-measures

    Methods, technologies and techniques used to defend (detect, monitor and recover) against cyber attacks. These cyber attacks include several attack vectors such as malware, denial of service (DoS) attacks and phishing. Intrusion prevention systems (IPS), firewall, antivirus, intrusion detection systems (IDS), cybersecurity training, backup, Information Security Management System (ISM), multi-factor authentication and employ awareness, are some examples of the methods used.

  • cyber security

    The methods and best practices that protect ICT systems, networks, computers, devices, services, processes and people against unauthorised access, modification and/or denial of service of assets.

  • ethical hacking principles

    The set of actions that are carried out to detect vulnerabilities within a computerised system in order to improve security within an organisation. They aim to identify and address data breaches and threats in a network.

  • ICT network security risks

    The security risk factors, such as hardware and software components, devices, interfaces and policies in ICT networks, risk assessment techniques that can be applied to assess the severity and the consequences of security threats and contingency plans for each security risk factor.

  • ICT performance analysis methods

    The methods used to analyse software, ICT system and network performance which provide guidance to root causes of issues within information systems. The methods can analyse resource bottlenecks, application times, wait latencies and benchmarking results.

Cross-sector skills
  • assessment of risks and threats
  • risk management
  • security engineering
Essential skills
performing risk analysis and management
  • implement ICT risk management

    Develop and implement procedures for identifying, assessing, treating and mitigating ICT risks, such as hacks or data leaks, according to the company's risk strategy, procedures and policies. Analyse and manage security risks and incidents. Recommend measures to improve digital security strategy.

  • advice on security risk management

    Provide advice on security risk management policies and prevention strategies and their implementation, being aware of the different kinds of security risks a specific organisation faces.

developing contingency and emergency response plans
  • establish an ICT security prevention plan

    Define a comprehensive and proactive strategy for managing information and communication technology (ICT) security risks by establishing a set of measures and responsibilities to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. Implement policies to prevent data breaches, detect and respond to unauthorised access to systems and resources, including up-to-date security applications and employee education.

protecting ict devices
  • manage system security

    Analyse the critical assets of a company and identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities that lead to intrusion or attack. Apply security detection techniques. Understand cyber attack techniques and implement effective countermeasures.

collaborating and liaising
  • communicate with stakeholders

    Facilitate communication between organisations and interested third parties such as suppliers, distributors, shareholders and other stakeholders in order to inform them of the organisation and its objectives.

protecting privacy and personal data
  • establish an Information Security Management System

    Design, apply, monitor and review an Information Security Management System (ISMS) that preserves the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information by applying a risk management process, and gives confidence to interested parties regarding the adequate management of such cybersecurity-related risks.

developing professional relationships or networks
  • engage with stakeholders

    Use a variety of processes that result in mutually negotiated agreements, shared understandings and consensus building. Build partnerships within the work context.

complying with operational procedures
  • ensure adherence to organisational ICT standards

    Guarantee that the state of events is in accordance with the ICT rules and procedures described by an organisation for their products, services and solutions.

Skill DNA

Skill DNA

Work personality traits and values that define this role

Key traits you need
Attention to Detail Integrity Dependability Initiative Cooperation Analytical Thinking Adaptability/Flexibility Stress Tolerance Leadership Self-Control Persistence Achievement/Effort Independence Concern for Others Innovation Social Orientation
Key rewards you can expect
AchievementWorking Condit…RecognitionRelationshipsSupportIndependence
Career progression

Growth Pathways & Similar Roles

Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.

Career landscape

Where does cybersecurity risk manager fit?

This role
cybersecurity risk manager This role

Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What kind of technical skills are most important for a cybersecurity risk manager?
While deep technical expertise isn't always required, a solid understanding of IT infrastructure, network security, common attack vectors, and security controls is essential. Familiarity with frameworks like NIST Cybersecurity Framework or ISO 27001 is also beneficial.
How does this role differ from a cybersecurity analyst?
Cybersecurity analysts typically focus on the technical detection and response to security incidents. A cybersecurity risk manager takes a broader view, focusing on proactively identifying and mitigating risks *before* incidents occur, and establishing the overall risk management strategy.
What are the key soft skills needed to succeed as a cybersecurity risk manager?
Strong communication, analytical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to influence stakeholders are crucial. You'll need to clearly articulate complex risks and propose effective solutions to diverse audiences.
Cybersecurity Risk Manager — is there a shortage in Europe?
Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 10 of the 11 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark and 6 more. Austria has reported one for 3 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
Cybersecurity Risk Manager — what does it pay in the United States?
$81,270 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $46,700 to $108,160. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.