5 Growing Cyber-Security Epicenters Around the WorldCyber-security companies are hiring by the droves, with some creating hundreds or thousands of jobs every year alone.
ByZach Cutler•
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The recent hack ofAshley Madisonreminds us just how vulnerable society is to cyber attacks. Big companies such asTarget,Home Depot,Michaels,P.F. Chang'sandJP Morganfell victim to data breaches in 2014, and the attacks have continued this year.
Cyber attacks not only compromise the personal information and sensitive data of consumers, but pose tremendous threats to businesses, governments and militaries. The global balance of power and billions of lives are dependent on keeping computer infrastructure safe.
To combat attacks, interest in cyber security companies is heating up and heavy investment is following. Cyber-security companies are hiring by the droves, with some creating hundreds or thousands of jobs every year alone.
"This year we are hiring hundreds of employees for development and deep technology positions," says Dorit Dor, vice president of product atCheck Point, a prominent IT security firm.
Related:Ashley Madison CEO Is Stepping Down
To support this exploding industry, several cyber-security ecosystems have developed around the globe, consisting of companies, venture capitalists, talent and expertise concentrated in small areas. These are the top places in the world for cyber security:
1. Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is home to the vast majority of leading cyber-security companies. There is a great deal of venture capital being poured into anti-virus, anti-spamming and anti-hacking software in the area.
Data protection is an exploding area as well, where threats are mounting not only from external hackers, but also internally. For example, according toMcAfeefounder John McAfee, the recent Ashley Madison data breach was caused by a lone female employee of the site, he wrote in a recentInternational Business Timesop-ed.
Data theft from internal threats is yet another area Silicon Valley firms are protecting clients against.
Silicon Valley's overall authority and dominance in the tech industry makes it a natural place for cyber-security startups to spring up. Corporations, military and government are turning to the area for protection from hackers and terrorists. In April, theDepartment of Defense announcedpartnership initiatives with Silicon Valley companies to prevent data breaches. Companies such asCylance,Ionic SecurityandSymantecare headquartered in Silicon Valley.
Startups in Silicon Valley continue to launch, innovate, merge and change along with the demands of the tech industry, and there's no doubt that founders in the area see cyber security as a huge opportunity.
2. Israel
The combination of Israel's booming startup scene, severe security threats and large talent flow from military-intelligence units has led to the state becoming a global cyber-security superpower. In the last several years, a cyber-security synergy has formed between startups, multinational tech giants, academia, the military and government.
"There is a governmental focus on making Israel a cyber leader, and the prime minister is very involved. I'm optimistic that Israel can become one of the top two cyber-security hubs in the world," says Nadav Zafrir, founder ofteam8, an unconventional VC firm in Tel Aviv that invests in innovative cyber-security companies.
前指挥官Zafrir以色列著名的英特尔ligence corps, Unit 8200, told me that the conscripted Israeli military experience has become a major generator of entrepreneurial skills, as people are trained fast, learn how to cope with failure and how to innovate by achieving the impossible because lives depend on it.
Related:Court Rules FTC Can Come After Your Company After a Cyber Attack
There are more than200 cyber-security companiesin the small country, mostly in Tel Aviv and also Jerusalem, with more than $3 billion in annual cyber exports. Leaders include Check Point,CyberArk,Impervaandillusive networks.
3. New York City
The financial district and wealth of businesses in New York City create a large need for improved cyber security in the Big Apple.
为了解决这些需求,安全公司popped up around the city. Many of these companies are focused on protecting the stock market against bank and financial fraud. There's a good amount of capital going into cyber security in the city overall, but it's unique position as a financial epicenter have increased data-security activity in this area.
Top startups include identity-verification companySocure, incident-response-solution providerUpLeveland data-breach-prevention firmThird Party Trust.
4. Boston
Boston is home to MIT and Harvard. That wellspring of talent has created math geniuses, tech specialists and engineers -- and a blossoming hub of cyber security.
Leading companies including major defense contractorRaytheon, secure-password-solution providerSQRLand security-analytics startupRapid7call the Boston area home and continue to raise millions of dollars in funding.
Newcomers in the area are also seeing success. BitSight Technologiesannouncedin June that it closed $23 million in series B financing and Barklysecured $12.5 million.
5. London
Cyber-security activity in London trails behind the other cities on this list, but for Europe, it's the strongest by far.
CyLon, or Cyber London, is Europe's first cyber-security startup accelerator. The company aims to help businesses develop information-security technology and products, helping to grow the cyber-security scene in London. CyLon's members includeCyberLytic,IntruderandSphere Secure Workspace.
In addition, the U.K. government has launched campaigns and programs to tackle cyber crime and increase knowledge and awareness of the subject.
Related:Hackers Can Steal Your Information Through Sound Waves, Researchers Say
