ICT Security Technician
Key facts
ICT security technicians propose and implement necessary security updates and measures whenever is required. They advise, support, inform and provide training and security awareness.
ICT security technicians play a vital role in safeguarding digital assets. Your days will involve analyzing security vulnerabilities, implementing security updates, and responding to incidents. You’ll work closely with IT teams to integrate security measures into existing infrastructure and provide ongoing support and training to users, fostering a security-conscious culture within the organization. This career is ideal for individuals who enjoy problem-solving, possess strong analytical skills, and are committed to staying ahead of the latest cyber threats.
- • Implementing and maintaining security systems, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and antivirus software.
- • Conducting regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify weaknesses.
- • Responding to security incidents and breaches, investigating causes, and implementing corrective actions.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Information and communications technicians — 22 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Netherlands and 2 more.
Longest-running shortage: Netherlands, 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.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $116,580 2025-05 | +8.2% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2022 * | — | +44.4% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Assessed as balanced Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | — |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £34,314 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
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Future Outlook for ICT security technician
The outlook for ICT security technician 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.
How could ICT security technician change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- communicate with stakeholders
- set up cybersecurity training programmes
- engage with stakeholders
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- implement ICT risk management
- identify ICT security risks
- analyse ICT system
Tasks most exposed to automation
- ensure proper document management
- estimate duration of work
- manage closed-circuit television system
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
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.
What people in this role usually do
Digital Technology
A typical day as an ICT security technician
09 09:00 · Morning establish an ICT security prevention plan
10 10:30 · Mid-morning identify ICT system weaknesses
12 12:00 · Midday execute software tests
14 14:00 · Afternoon identify ICT security risks
15 15:30 · Late afternoon implement ICT risk management
17 17:00 · Wrap-up analyse ICT system
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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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.
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use access control software
Utilise software to define the roles and manage user authentication, privileges and access rights to ICT systems, data and services.
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identify ICT system weaknesses
Analyse the system and network architecture, hardware and software components and data in order to identify weaknesses and vulnerability to intrusions or attacks. Execute diagnostic operations on cyber infrastructure including research, identification, interpretation and categorization of vulnerabilities, associated attacks and malicious code (e.g. malware forensics and malicious network activity). Compare indicators or observables with requirements and review logs to identify evidence of past intrusions.
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protect ICT devices
Protect devices and digital content, and understand risks and threats in digital environments. Know about safety and security measures and have due regard to reliability and privacy. Make use of tools and methods which maximise security of ICT devices and information by controlling access, such as passwords, digital signatures, biometry, and protecting systems such as firewall, antivirus, spam filters.
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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.
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identify ICT security risks
Apply methods and techniques to identify potential security threats, security breaches and risk factors using ICT tools for surveying ICT systems, analysing risks, vulnerabilities and threats and evaluating contingency plans.
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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.
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manage alarm system
Set up and maintain system for detection of intrusions and unauthorised entries into a facility.
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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.
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set up cybersecurity training programmes
Design, develop and deliver educational activities (such as lectures and cyber ranges) to cover needs and/or raise awareness on cybersecurity.
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analyse ICT system
Analyse the functioning and performance of information systems in order to define their goals, architecture and services and set procedures and operations to meet end users requirements.
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execute software tests
Perform tests to ensure that a software product will perform flawlessly under the specified customer requirements and identify software defects (bugs) and malfunctions, using specialised software tools and testing techniques.
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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.
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solve ICT system problems
Identify potential component malfunctions. Monitor, document and communicate about incidents. Deploy appropriate resources with minimal outage and deploy appropriate diagnostic tools.
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.
ICT security standards
Best practices and guidelines established for securing information and communication technology (ICT) systems and data. Standards as is the case of ISO 27000 series, provide a framework for implementing effective security controls, including access control, risk assessment and incident management, as well as to provide compliance of anorganisation.
ICT system programming
The methods and tools required to develop system software, specifications of system architectures and interfacing techniques between network and system modules and components.
levels of software testing
The levels of testing in the software development process, such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing and acceptance testing.
operating systems
The features, restrictions, architectures and other characteristics of operating systems such Linux, Windows, MacOS, etc.
penetration testing tool
The specialised ICT tools which test security weaknesses of the system for potentially unauthorised access to system information such as Metasploit, Burp suite and Webinspect.
procurement of ICT network equipment
The products available from network equipment providers and methods for selecting and procuring the equipment.
tools for ICT test automation
The specialised software to execute or control tests and compare predicted testing outputs with actual testing results such as Selenium, QTP and LoadRunner
web application security threats
The attacks, vectors, emergent threats on websites, web applications and web services, the rankings of their severity identified by dedicated communities such as OWASP.
- audit techniques
Path to become an ICT security technician
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Short-cycle tertiary education
2,882 programmes in 31 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 578 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Postgraduate Certificate in Secure Applications Development
Atlantic Technological University · Ireland
Master of information Technology (Cyber Security)
Melbourne Institute of Higher Education Pty Ltd · Australia
Master of Science in Cybersecurity
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven · Belgium
These are 6 of 3,460.
Sources
- 1. Source: Europass Qualification Dataset Register (European Commission)
- 2. Source: Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Education), CRICOS, data.gov.au, CC BY 2.5 AU. Data as at 01/09/2026. Adapted by NexPath.
- 3. Source: Hogeronderwijsregister, Flemish government (hogeronderwijsregister.be). Flemish Community of Belgium only.
- 4. Source: South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), All Qualifications and Unit Standards (allqs.saqa.org.za).
- 5. Source: Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (students.kuccps.ac.ke).
- 6. Contains information from MySkillsFuture Course Run accessed on 2026-09-28 from data.gov.sg which is made available under the terms of the Singapore Open Data Licence version 1.0 (https://data.gov.sg/open-data-licence)
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does ICT security technician fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of training or background is typically needed to become an ICT security technician?
How does the role of an ICT security technician differ from a cybersecurity analyst?
Are there opportunities for remote work within this role?
How much does ICT Security Technician pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data