Security Industry Salary and Certification Survey 2008

Sans Institute released an excellent study about the salaries in the Security industry and relations with certifications. This is a great study for the professionals to know where they are in relation with they career. I would like to see one of these studies for Europe, this one particularly covers USA.

The survey shows that the Security industry is one of less affected by the crisis, and where the companies plan to invest in this year.

If someone need help for a European version, let me know.

Download here

Here you have some interesting bits:

• Salaries for information security professionals are high. Over 38% of respondents earn US $100,000 or more per year.

• 41% of the respondents said their organizations use certifications as a factor when determining salary increases.

• The overall mean funding for training was US $2,854 per year with a median of US $2,000 per year.

• Digital forensics, intrusion detection, and penetration testing are the technical topics respondents are most interested in learning in 2009.

• As of late November 2008, just over 79% of respondents forecast no information security personnel reductions in the next 12 months.

• Over 25% of respondents plan to deploy the following technologies in 2009:

  • Configuration Management
  • SIEM (Security Information and Event Management)
  • Storage Security
  • Wireless Security Solutions

• The best places to find an information security position are in the metro areas of Las Vegas, Nevada; Dallas, Texas; and Washington, DC.

-CMM