Cyber Security Manager

Lead security teams and strategy. Manage security budgets, coordinate incident response, communicate with stakeholders, and oversee organizational security posture.

Career Cluster: Cyber Security

What you need to know

Overview

Cyber Security Managers lead security teams, develop security strategies, and ensure organizational security programs meet business objectives. They manage security budgets, coordinate responses to incidents, communicate security needs to executives, and oversee implementation of security controls. This role requires technical expertise combined with leadership and strategic thinking.

Irish organizations increasingly recognize security as business-critical, creating demand for security managers who can bridge technical and business perspectives. Career progression leads to CISO and executive security leadership roles.

Key responsibilities

  • Lead and develop security teams
  • Develop security strategy and roadmap
  • Manage security budgets and resources
  • Coordinate incident response
  • Report to executive leadership
  • Oversee security projects
  • Manage vendor relationships
  • Ensure regulatory compliance
  • Drive security awareness programs
  • Assess and manage security risks

What skills are needed?

Leadership

  • • Team management
  • • Strategic thinking
  • • Decision-making
  • • Coaching and mentoring
  • • Stakeholder management

Security Expertise

  • • Security architecture
  • • Risk management
  • • Compliance frameworks
  • • Incident management
  • • Security technologies

Business Skills

  • • Budget management
  • • Communication
  • • Project management
  • • Business alignment
  • • Vendor management

What is the pay?

Average Salary in Ireland

€50,000 - €90,000

Security managers in Ireland earn €50,000-€70,000 typically, with senior managers and those at large organizations earning €75,000-€100,000. Progression to CISO roles offers €120,000-€180,000+.

Leadership compensation reflects responsibility and impact. Total packages include bonuses (15-25%), health insurance, pension contributions, professional development, and potential equity at tech companies.

What is the career outlook?

Job Growth

Growing recognition of security as business priority drives demand for security managers. Approximately 400+ positions in Ireland with excellent career progression opportunities to CISO and executive roles.

Why the growth?

  • • Board-level security awareness
  • • Regulatory compliance needs
  • • Growing security teams
  • • Complex threat landscape
  • • Digital transformation security
  • • Risk management focus

What education is required?

Educational Pathways

Technical Background + Experience

Typically requires 5-8 years security experience plus leadership capability. Level 8 degree in Cyber Security or Computer Science combined with management certifications (CISSP, CISM).

MBA or Leadership Training

Many security managers pursue MBA or executive leadership programs to develop business and management skills complementing technical expertise.

Key Competencies

  • • Strategic security planning
  • • Team leadership and development
  • • Budget and resource management
  • • Risk management frameworks
  • • Compliance and governance
  • • Incident response coordination
  • • Executive communication
  • • Security architecture oversight
  • • Vendor and contract management
  • • Business relationship management

Ready to Lead in Security?

Explore resources for security management careers.

EdUTec Careers
itag - Irish Technology Association Galway
itag 25 Years Celebration
itag Skillnet Ireland
Atlantic Technological University
University of Galway