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There are many reasons cyber security analysts are moving to Canada. One of the main reasons includes a recent Deloitte study that found that Canadian companies will be hiring over 8,000 employees within cybersecurity. This will all take place within the next two years.
They have also estimated that the demand for this occupation is set to expand by 313,000 worldwide. People in this occupation can benefit from choosing to work in the private or government sector. There are also several benefits when you work in Canada, these include a high minimum wage, paid leave and fewer working hours.
Why Cybersecurity Is a Good Career in Canada
1. Cybersecurity is needed in all industries
Each and every industry needs some form of cybersecurity measures in place. This goes beyond only technology companies but also healthcare, the government, financial services and so much more. This means you’ll have plenty of choices as to which industry you prefer to work in as well as more job opportunities.
2. You can work remotely
Even before the pandemic, working in cybersecurity allows you to work remotely. Since most of the work is focused on technology and done online, you can be anywhere and in Canada working for any company.
3. Great growth potential
Cybersecurity has great growth potential both for your career path and for learning opportunities. You’ll learn security discipline and all of the other IT skill sets. A cybersecurity professional works to understand as much as possible about how technologies and organizations work.
4. You don’t need a degree
Cybersecurity has many self-taught specialists and people in other fields have been able to make the transition. The certifications are well respected in the field and you’ll be able to use them to start or advance in the cybersecurity field instead of going back to college or university.
5. Lack of qualified professionals in the industries
Another great reason cyber security analysts are moving to Canada is that there is a really big demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals for many companies. There aren’t enough candidates to meet the current demand, this means that you as a qualified professional have more opportunities and your job success rate increases.
What Are the Salaries in Cybersecurity in Canada?
Below is a table with the average salary of all provinces and territories in Canada for a cybersecurity analyst, this is excluding Quebec.
| Cybersecurity Analyst Wages in Canada | |
|---|---|
| Province | Average Salary |
| Alberta | $29,320 |
| British Columbia | 80,731 |
| Manitoba | $85,334 |
| New Brunswick | $80,695 |
| Nova Scotia | $83,790 |
| Northwest Territories | $104,667 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $84,607 |
| Ontario | $86,779 |
| Prince Edward Island | $79,995 |
| Saskatchewan | $90,609 |
| Yukon | $90,714 |
What skills do I need for a career in cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity professionals need specific technical skills to predict, detect, and check data breaches. These include:
- In-depth knowledge of current cybersecurity threats ;
- Best practices in cybersecurity for multiple operating systems such as, Windows, macOS, Linux, and Unix ;
- Knowledge of network monitoring and security tactics;
- Best practices for web application security;
- Cloud security ;
- Digital forensics;
- Tools and techniques for ethical hacking; and
- Procedures for disaster recovery and system restoration.
Working in Canada as a Foreigner
Any foreign national wanting to work in Canada need to get a work visa in order to do so. There are two types of work permits you can get as a foreigner, they are an open work permit and an employer-specific work permit.
The open work permit allows you to work for any employer, anywhere in Canada. And the employer-specific work visa will constrict you to an employer or specific job type. As a person in the cybersecurity industry, the Global Talent Stream is a great way to secure a Canadian work visa.
What is the Global Talent Stream?
The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is a stream designed by the government to help Canadian employers speed up the process of hiring specialized foreign skilled workers if there aren’t Canadian or permanent residents capable of filling the required role. Canadian employers favour this stream as processing time can be as quick as two weeks.
The Global Talent Stream has two categories. They are:
Category A
For employers who have been referred to the Global Talent Stream by one of the stream’s designated partners. Employers also need to hire individuals with unique or specialized talent. Eligibility for category A is as follow:
- Have a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA);
- You must have a job in Canada;
- You must prove that you will leave Canada after your work permit expires;
- Prove that you can finance your stay and your family’s stay in Canada and that you have enough funds to go back to your home country;
- Have a clean criminal record;
- Prove that you are not a threat to the national security of Canada; and
- Be in good health.
Category B
For employers who are looking to hire skilled foreign workers to fill positions for in-demand jobs in Canada that can be found on the Global Talent Occupations List. this list includes:
- Computer and information systems managers;
- Database analysts and data administrators; and
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers.
Wages offered to temporary foreign workers should be similar to the wages paid to Canadian and permanent resident employees hired for the same job, work location, skills and years of experience.
Employers must use the following to define the current wage by choosing the highest of either: For the purpose of the Global Talent Stream, you must pay the prevailing wage which is defined as the highest of either:
- the regional median hourly wage posted on Job Bank; and
- the wage that is within the wage range that the employers are paying their current employees hired for the same job.
How Working in Canada Can Lead to Immigration
Not only will you receive great benefits when you work in Canada but it can also open immigration pathways for you. By gaining Canadian work experience, you could qualify for other immigration programs such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The CEC falls under the Express Entry system, which has a goal of inviting 332,750 foreigners as Canadian permanent residents by 2023.
Now that you know why cyber security analysts are moving to Canada, simply click on the link below to see if you’re eligible to work in Canada too!
