The market for cybersecurity professionals in London is under immense pressure. Morgan Spencer’s data shows that demand for skilled cyber experts is outpacing supply by 35%, pushing salaries up and extending hiring timelines. Employers are competing for a limited pool of professionals who can manage data protection, cloud security, and compliance simultaneously, reshaping how London’s tech firms plan their recruitment strategies in 2025.
Key Takeaways:
- London faces a 35% shortage of cybersecurity talent, driving salary inflation and longer hiring cycles.
- Specialists in cloud, compliance, and incident response are most in demand across finance and tech sectors.
- Hybrid work, flexible contracts, and training incentives are key to winning scarce talent.
- Senior cybersecurity vacancies take 46 days longer to fill than standard tech roles.
- Morgan Spencer’s AAA Triad of Cyber predicts future demand will revolve around Automation, AI Risk, and Adaptive Compliance.
Why cybersecurity hiring pressure is growing in London
If you’re finding it harder to recruit cybersecurity professionals in London, you’re not alone. The capital’s technology and finance sectors are driving one of the strongest hiring surges in years. UK businesses lost an estimated £30 billion to cyber incidents in 2024, forcing leadership teams to prioritise data protection and governance.
A common mistake we see is businesses reacting only after a breach or audit failure. This reactive hiring approach often leads to costly short-term fixes and increased salary spend. The most effective companies plan cybersecurity hiring ahead of demand, identifying risk areas early and securing the right professionals before critical projects start.
The growing cybersecurity talent gap also mirrors broader workforce challenges across the city. You can learn more about this wider trend in our blog on London’s 2025 talent pipeline.
What skills are most in demand right now?
The cybersecurity market in 2025 has become more specialised. Employers want professionals who not only have the technical expertise to protect data but can communicate clearly with stakeholders and align decisions with business strategy.
Top technical and soft skills in demand:
- Cloud security expertise - AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud experience remain the most requested specialisms.
- Incident response and recovery - Candidates skilled in containing breaches and mitigating losses are in high demand.
- Regulatory compliance knowledge - ISO 27001, NIST, and GDPR expertise is critical for enterprise roles.
- Communication and reporting - The ability to translate complex threats into clear business risk discussions.
- Strategic oversight - Professionals who link cybersecurity investment to operational continuity and ROI.
According to Morgan Spencer’s recruitment data, senior cybersecurity vacancies in London stay open an average of 46 days longer than other IT roles, evidence of a widening cyber workforce gap.
What are cybersecurity salaries in London in 2025?
With talent still scarce, cybersecurity salaries in London have continued to rise. Specialist certifications and leadership experience drive the highest increases, particularly for roles in governance, risk, and cloud-based environments.
Cybersecurity Analyst:
- Average Salary (London, 2025): £55,000 - £70,000
- Year-on-Year Growth: + 8%
Cloud Security Energineer:
- Average Salary (London, 2025): £75,000 – £95,000
- Year-on-Year Growth: + +10%
Security Operations Manager:
- Average Salary (London, 2025): £90,000 – £115,000
- Year-on-Year Growth: + +12%
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO):
- Average Salary (London, 2025): £140,000 – £180,000
- Year-on-Year Growth: +9%
Insight: Employers offering flexibility, professional certification support, and remote options secure talent up to 30% faster than those relying purely on pay increases.
How London businesses are responding to the cybersecurity talent shortage
Businesses across London are adapting fast, using innovative recruitment and retention strategies to manage cyber workforce demand.
Trends shaping cybersecurity recruitment:
- Cross-training internal IT staff - Upskilling remains the quickest solution to fill mid-level gaps.
- Contract and interim hiring - Organisations are relying on short-term professionals to manage high-risk projects.
- Broader candidate profiles - Employers are hiring professionals from data, DevOps, and risk management backgrounds.
- Recruitment partnerships - Engaging cybersecurity recruitment specialists helps reduce time-to-hire and improve quality of hire.
- Employer branding and EVP - Showcasing culture, flexibility, and progression attracts top-tier candidates in a competitive market.
Here’s a quick insider tip: Employers who introduce contract-to-permanent pathways reduce onboarding time by 40% and improve retention within 12 months.
How to Hire Cybersecurity Professionals in London Effectively
You can improve hiring outcomes by combining strategic planning with practical recruitment methods.
Outcome: You’ll attract top-tier cybersecurity professionals faster and secure lasting value from each hire.
- Define your workforce needs - Identify whether your business requires defensive, compliance, or leadership-level expertise.
- Benchmark salaries - Compare pay scales against current London market data to stay competitive.
- Highlight work flexibility - Hybrid options are a major deciding factor for cybersecurity professionals.
- Streamline the interview process - Compress timelines to prevent candidate drop-offs.
- Assess culture alignment - Evaluate communication and cross-team collaboration during interviews.
- Work with cyber recruitment specialists - Leverage existing talent pools and market insight through agencies like Morgan Spencer.
- Provide learning pathways - Support staff certifications to build long-term retention and loyalty.
Where is the cybersecurity job market heading next?
The UK cybersecurity landscape is entering a new phase of sophistication. Analysts predict that by 2026, the country will need at least 160,000 new cybersecurity professionals to meet enterprise and regulatory demands.
Morgan Spencer calls this evolution the AAA Triad of Cyber:
- Automation - Expanding use of AI-driven defence and monitoring systems.
- AI Risk - Rising focus on securing machine learning and generative AI models.
- Adaptive Compliance - Continuous updates to meet shifting data privacy and security standards.
The AAA Triad framework captures how cybersecurity hiring priorities are changing, toward proactive defence, smart technology oversight, and flexible regulatory response. Businesses investing early in these areas will hold a competitive advantage in security readiness and employer reputation.
FAQs
Q: What’s driving demand for cybersecurity professionals in London?
A: The demand for cybersecurity professionals in London is driven by rising digital threats, cloud expansion, and evolving regulatory requirements in sectors such as finance and technology.
Q: How much do cybersecurity professionals earn in London?
A: Cybersecurity professionals in London earn between £55,000 and £180,000 depending on experience, certification, and role seniority.
Q: Is there a cybersecurity talent shortage in the UK?
A: Yes. The UK faces a 35% talent shortage in cybersecurity roles, particularly in governance and cloud-based specialisms.
Q: How can employers attract cybersecurity experts?
A: Employers can attract cybersecurity experts by offering hybrid work, professional development budgets, and clear progression paths supported by specialist recruiters.
Q: What’s the outlook for cybersecurity careers in 2025 and beyond?
A: The cybersecurity career outlook in 2025 remains exceptionally strong, with growing opportunities in AI risk management, automation, and compliance-led roles.
Speak to a cybersecurity recruitment specialist
If you’re struggling to hire skilled cybersecurity professionals, Morgan Spencer can help. Contact Morgan Spencer today to connect with our tech recruitment team and find the cybersecurity talent your business needs.