Saudi Arabia is undertaking a huge digital transformation program, an initiative central to Vision 2030. Cloud computing is helping to reshape the way governmental organizations, private sector businesses, and a wide range of industries conduct their operations. As the country’s digital boundary expands at an extraordinary rate, so does the urgency for cybersecurity. This has raised the need for a new classification of specialized workers: cloud security professionals. There is a surge in cloud security training in Saudi Arabia tailored for the emerging demands.

In this blog, we explore the unique aspects of the expanding cloud security market within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, highlighting the reasons behind its direction, the hyper-demand for talent, and a detailed guide for professionals to develop the high-value skills and certifications needed to succeed. 

The Foundation of Growth in KSA 

The rapid growth of cloud computing in Saudi Arabia goes beyond the technology; it is a result of a national strategy driven from the top, which creates a stable environment for cloud careers. 

Cloud-First Strategy 

The adoption of cloud computing is supported by the “Cloud First Policy, launched by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). This fuels initiatives and investments in cloud security training in Saudi Arabia to create demand and build a skilled workforce.

Government-Led Cloud Ecosystem 

The government is led by the National Information Center (NIC), implementing initiatives such as the DEEM program, saving more than 1.33 billion USD. The government favors cloud computing as the primary solution over constructing new data centers. These initiatives are complemented by investments in cloud security training in Saudi Arabia, enabling professionals to upskill in alignment with national objectives.

KSA Market in Hyper-Growth 

KSA’s cloud market is projected to grow from 10.5 billion USD in 2024 to 124.8 billion USD by 2033. With 75% of enterprises adopting cloud solutions, demand for cloud security training in Saudi Arabia has increased, especially in sectors like healthcare and finance. 

Saudi’s Regulatory Landscape 

The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) has published the Cloud Cybersecurity Controls and a set of rules/regulations to ensure secure cloud environments. The NCA’s Cloud Cybersecurity Controls are driving investments in cloud security training in Saudi Arabia, ensuring that organizations have experts capable of implementing security frameworks. This has a potential to create new demand for experts in identity management, encryption, and compliance, and help companies leverage cloud environments against their privacy concerns. 

The Critical Demand for Expertise 

The landscape of security threats in KSA is considerable, with over 110 million cyberattacks noted in 2022. There are persistent threats to KSA’s digital services. This requires a constant supply of experts to defend the country’s digital landscape. Job vacancies corroborate this urgency, posting demands for positions such as Cloud Security Engineer and Cybersecurity Consultant. The market is not merely seeking general information security abilities; candidates are expected to integrate security with general IT functions. This indicates an urgent need for specialists who have undergone robust cloud security training in Saudi Arabia programs.

The KSA Job Market 

The job market for cloud security professionals is concentrated in key urban centres but is expanding nationwide. Riyadh, Jeddah, and other cities are rapidly becoming centres for cloud security training in Saudi Arabia, creating accessible pathways for career advancement. There are varied job postings from junior-level Cybersecurity Engineers, existing security staff who would be promoted to senior Cybersecurity Engineer, to senior-level architect positions that clearly indicate a healthy job market with reasonable and effective career trajectories. 

The Local Demand 

Riyadh is a major centre for cloud security opportunities, while Jeddah continues to draw some activity. Careers are also likely in other cities, including Buraidah, the Eastern Province, and overall, Jubail. The demand exists across professions, with apparent prominence and strength in IT Services, Telecommunications, and Oil & Gas arenas. 

KSA Cloud & Security Popular Job Role Overview image

Certifications as a Career Multiplier 

The compensation for a career in cloud security in KSA is quite attractive, with certifications being a significant multiplier for possible earnings. The average gross salary of a cloud engineer in Saudi Arabia is SAR 242,696. However, this is the absolute minimum. Professionals with certifications can earn quite a bit more. A Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) can earn 35% more in hybrid cloud environments than those without certifications. A Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) can earn 25-34% more than their peers, while a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) will make 15-20% more. The future outlook, financially, is very bright. By 2026, cloud security engineers in KSA could earn in excess of SAR 400,000, while those who specialize in emerging areas, like IoT security, could make above SAR 450,000.

Certification exams such as CCSP and CISSP are frequently offered through comprehensive cloud security training in Saudi Arabia courses that combine theory and practical labs.

Local Variations in Compensation 

Compensation can also vary by location and industry specialization. Generally, compensation tends to be slightly higher in Jeddah than in Riyadh, while the average annual salary for mid-level is SAR 238,800 in Jeddah compared to an average annual salary of SAR 202,500 in Riyadh. In addition, professionals in the Oil & Gas industry can generally expect to earn salaries of 10-15% above the national average.  

The Tax Regine in KSA 

A major consideration that contributes to the appeal of these salaries is that the income earned in Saudi Arabia is tax-free. A $95,000 per year salary in Jeddah equates to the same take-home pay as an income of about $127,000 in London or $135,000 in New York after considering income taxes. These financial benefits are not limited to local professionals and help position KSA as a global focal point for top-tier talent—for the betterment of the cloud security ecosystem as a whole. 

The Salary Advantage: KSA Cloud & Security Salaries by Role, Experience, and City

Your Training Roadmap: A Multi-Cloud Guide to Skills and Certifications 

To capitalize on this market opportunity, professionals must acquire specialized skills and industry-recognized certifications. The following is a perspective on a roadmap towards a learning path on AWS, Azure, and GCP. Professionals looking to thrive should seek structured cloud security training in Saudi Arabia pathways across AWS, Azure, and GCP platforms.

AWS Cloud Security Skills 

A well-structured training strategy for AWS will ensure that learners go from foundational skills to specialized skills. Foundational courses such as the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner offer a high-level overview of cloud concepts, security fundamentals, and core services. These types of courses provide a hands-on approach to teaching scientific principles and purposefully serve as foundational courses in the talent pipeline for the industry. For those focusing on AWS environments, the AWS security course in KSA offers specialized training in identity management, encryption, and threat mitigation. 

For more depth of knowledge, professionals can pursue associate-level certifications such as the AWS Certified Solutions Architect. While still having some foundational components for AWS skills and knowledge, Security is the primary content that focuses on the deeper critical services within AWS, including AWS Identity & Access Management, AWS Web Application Firewall, and AWS Key Management Service. For those wanting to focus on security within AWS, the AWS Certified Security – Specialty certification is the standard. 

Azure Cloud Security Skills 

Security is at the heart of the certification paths within Microsoft Azure. For IT security professionals, the Microsoft Azure Security Technologies (AZ-500) is pertinent, as it teaches participants how to implement security controls, manage the overall security posture of an organization, and respond to vulnerabilities across identity, platform, and data. The Azure cloud security curriculum provides essential training for managing organizational security postures in cloud environments. 

For a career in security operations, participants can take the Microsoft Security Operations Analyst (SC-200) course, which will give them the skills to investigate and respond to threats using Microsoft Azure Sentinel and Microsoft 365 Defender. Lastly, the Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) training course includes two significant security modules – “Securing Identities” and “Implementing Workloads and Security.” The presence of these security modules highlights the integrated practices of security in the platform. 

Google Cloud Security Skills 

On the Google Cloud Platform, security best practices are woven into the core curriculum. A professional seeking a career in this ecosystem can pursue the Google Cybersecurity Professional certificate. Security concepts are also foundational to other courses, such as the Google Certified Associate Cloud Engineer. The course learning objective includes “Implement security best practices and identity management,” to provide relevant skills to a working professional with the platform. The GCP cloud security in Saudi programs integrate best practices for identity management and data protection across cloud-native services. 

The Path Forward: Strategic Recommendations for Aspiring Professionals 

While certifications indicate technical competency, employers also seek communication, analytical thinking, and the ability to apply local frameworks like the NCA CCC. As hybrid and multi-cloud environments become more prevalent, a good skill set would be to develop expertise across platforms. Our Unique System Skills courses can build this expertise.  

Recommended courses to build this expertise: 

AWS 

Azure 

GCP and Networking Foundations 

A Journey of Continuous Learning 

The cloud security environment is ever-changing due to new dangers and new technologies. For professionals, staying current is a necessity, and it is backed up by data that suggests that many professionals will work to earn AI certifications in 2024, as they work to future-proof their careers. By preparing for new and emerging technologies, especially AI-based threat mitigation and IoT security efforts, professionals can find themselves aligned for roles that will have a larger impact as well as better compensation in the future. 

Conclusion: Launching Your Career in KSA’s Cloud Security Ecosystem 

The digital transformation in Saudi Arabia is a tidal wave, and the cloud is its power source. This commitment at the national level has dynamics of hyper demand for skilled individuals that are unique and stable. The regulations imposed by the NCA, instead of being viewed as barriers, are accelerating the need for human capital to meet compliance requirements, promoting cloud security training in Saudi Arabia.

For aspiring individuals in the market, the confluence of these factors represents a generational opportunity. Cloud security in KSA is not just a job; it is an opportunity to be actively involved as a key part of an entire strategic effort for the nation. The market offers high salaries, defined career progression towards potentially six figures, and direct financial return on training and certification. With Unique System Skills’ structured learning approach, professionals can effectively bridge the gap between knowledge and application in Saudi Arabia’s cloud security sector. Begin now to seize your opportunity to be an enabler of KSA’s digital future. 

Individuals ready to participate in cloud security training in Saudi Arabia will be well-positioned to contribute to the Kingdom’s digital future and access rewarding career paths.