IT & Telecom Cyber Security Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented by Deployment Modes (On-Premises, Cloud-Based) By Security Solution (Network Security, Endpoint Security, Cloud Security, Application Security), By End-User Industry (Telecom Service Providers, E-commerce, Enterprises, Utilities, Government and Defense, Others), By Region, By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 38.65 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	9.24%
Fastest Growing Segment	Endpoint Security
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 65.68 Billion

Market Overview

The Global IT & Telecom Cyber Security Market will grow from USD 38.65 Billion in 2025 to USD 65.68 Billion by 2031 at a 9.24% CAGR. The Global IT & Telecom Cyber Security Market encompasses the integrated technologies, policies, and safeguards designed to protect telecommunication networks and information systems from unauthorized access and data breaches. The market’s expansion is fundamentally supported by the widespread deployment of 5G infrastructure and the deepening reliance on cloud-native architectures, both of which necessitate heightened security layers to manage expanded connectivity and data traffic. Illustrating this significant financial commitment to network resilience, according to the GSMA, in 2025, mobile operators are investing between $15 billion and $19 billion annually on core cybersecurity functions to address these escalating vulnerabilities.

A significant challenge potentially impeding market expansion is the persistent shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals required to navigate the complexities of modern network defense. This acute talent gap limits the capacity of organizations to effectively deploy, monitor, and maintain advanced security protocols, thereby leaving critical infrastructure exposed to sophisticated threat vectors. Consequently, the scarcity of qualified personnel remains a critical bottleneck that could slow the comprehensive adoption of necessary security solutions across the global IT and telecom landscape.

Key Market Drivers

The surge in advanced cyberattacks targeting critical telecom infrastructure is a primary catalyst propelling the market, as threat actors increasingly exploit network vulnerabilities to disrupt connectivity and steal sensitive data. Telecommunications providers are facing unprecedented volumetric assaults, necessitating robust defense mechanisms to maintain service continuity and subscriber trust. Illustrating this rapid escalation in threat intensity, according to Nokia, October 2024, in the 'Threat Intelligence Report 2024', distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) traffic within telecom networks increased by 166% between June 2023 and June 2024. This drastic rise in malicious activity forces operators to continuously upgrade their security postures, directly fueling the demand for advanced mitigation solutions.

The rapid commercialization of 5G networks and infrastructure further amplifies market growth by expanding the digital attack surface and mandating substantial financial investments in network resilience. As operators deploy standalone 5G cores and integrate cloud-native architectures, they must allocate significant resources to safeguard these complex, software-defined environments from potential breaches. Consequently, organizations are drastically scaling their budgets to address these risks; according to Moody's, June 2024, in the 'Cybersecurity Budgets Rise for Telecommunications & Tech' report, telecom businesses increased their cybersecurity spending by more than 250% over the past five years. This financial surge is also a response to the soaring stakes of security failures, as according to IBM, in 2024, the global average cost of a data breach reached $4.88 million, underscoring the critical economic imperative for enhanced cybersecurity measures.

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Key Market Challenges

The persistent shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals acts as a formidable restraint on the Global IT & Telecom Cyber Security Market. As telecommunication networks transition to complex, software-defined infrastructures and cloud-native environments, the requirement for specialized personnel to manage these systems increases significantly. When organizations cannot fill these critical roles, they are frequently forced to delay the deployment of necessary security layers, effectively capping the consumption of market solutions. This inability to operationalize new technologies due to labor constraints directly slows revenue growth for security vendors, as potential buyers must prioritize maintaining basic operations over expanding their defense capabilities.

Illustrating the severity of this issue, according to ISC2, in 2024, the global cybersecurity workforce gap reached approximately 4.8 million professionals, reflecting a 19.1% increase from the previous year. This substantial deficit specifically creates a bottleneck in the telecom sector, where the intricacy of securing expanded 5G attack surfaces demands a depth of expertise that is increasingly unavailable. Consequently, market expansion is stifled not by a lack of technological innovation, but by the industry's limited capacity to recruit the human capital required to manage it.

Key Market Trends

The Integration of Generative AI for Predictive Threat Detection is fundamentally reshaping how telecom operators anticipate and neutralize risks, moving the industry beyond reactive defense mechanisms. By ingesting vast datasets from network traffic and utilizing large language models, these advanced systems enable predictive threat modeling that identifies zero-day vulnerabilities and anomalies in real-time. This capability is particularly vital for protecting software-defined networks where manual intervention is too slow to counter automated, algorithmic adversaries. Underscoring this operational shift, according to Google Cloud, September 2025, in the 'Google Cloud Study Suggests Early Agentic AI Adopters See Better ROI' report, 49% of surveyed executives identified security as a primary area where they derive significant value from generative AI implementations, highlighting the technology's rapid integration into modern defense strategies.

Simultaneously, the Widespread Adoption of Zero Trust Network Architecture is replacing legacy perimeter-based defenses to secure the increasingly decentralized IT and telecom infrastructure. As 5G networks and edge computing dissolve traditional boundaries, operators are implementing identity-centric security models that mandate continuous verification for every user and device access request, regardless of network location. This architectural transformation is essential for mitigating lateral movement by attackers within complex, cloud-native environments and ensuring granular access control. Validating this pervasive industry pivot, according to StrongDM, June 2025, in the 'The State of Zero Trust Security in the Cloud Report', 84% of organizations are actively pursuing Zero Trust strategies specifically for cloud security, reflecting a decisive departure from static, trusted network zones.

Segmental Insights

The Endpoint Security segment is positioned as the fastest-growing category within the Global IT & Telecom Cyber Security Market. This expansion is primarily driven by the extensive shift toward remote work models and the integration of personal devices into corporate networks, which significantly increases the vulnerability landscape. Attackers frequently target these decentralized endpoints as gateways to breach critical telecom infrastructure. Consequently, organizations are prioritizing device-level defenses to secure these entry points. Furthermore, adherence to security frameworks from institutions like the National Institute of Standards and Technology necessitates continuous endpoint monitoring, thereby sustaining the strong demand for these specific security measures.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the global IT and telecom cyber security market, primarily driven by the strong presence of major technology corporations and security vendors within the United States. This dominance is supported by the extensive implementation of cloud services and digital infrastructure which requires constant protection. Additionally, strict compliance mandates regarding data privacy and critical infrastructure security compel organizations to invest in network defense. The focus on establishing standardized security protocols further accelerates the integration of protective measures across the regional telecom sector.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, CrowdStrike announced the acquisition of Adaptive Shield, a specialist in SaaS security posture management. This strategic transaction allowed the acquiring company to integrate comprehensive SaaS security capabilities into its flagship Falcon platform, providing end-to-end protection against identity-based attacks in hybrid cloud environments. The deal addressed the critical need for visibility and control over the growing ecosystem of software-as-a-service applications used by global enterprises. By adding these new capabilities, the company aimed to stop adversaries from exploiting misconfigurations and compromised identities across complex IT and telecom infrastructures.
• In October 2024, CyberArk Software completed the acquisition of Venafi, a prominent provider of machine identity management solutions, for an enterprise value of approximately $1.54 billion. This acquisition expanded the company’s identity security platform to comprehensively cover both human and machine identities, addressing the rapid proliferation of IoT devices and cloud workloads. The combination integrated Venafi’s certificate lifecycle management with existing privileged access management capabilities to secure machine-to-machine connections. The unified offering aimed to help organizations mitigate risks associated with the exponential growth of non-human identities in modern digital infrastructure.
• In May 2024, Palo Alto Networks and IBM announced a broad strategic partnership to deliver AI-powered security outcomes for enterprise customers. As part of this collaboration, Palo Alto Networks agreed to acquire IBM’s QRadar Software-as-a-Service assets, while IBM Consulting became the preferred managed security services provider for the partner’s platforms. The agreement focused on integrating IBM’s Watsonx large language models into the Cortex XSIAM platform to enhance threat detection capabilities. This alliance was designed to streamline security operations and accelerate the adoption of precision AI technologies across the IT and telecom cybersecurity landscape.
• In March 2024, Cisco Systems completed the acquisition of Splunk, a leader in data analysis and cybersecurity, for a total equity value of approximately $28 billion. This strategic move combined the networking giant’s extensive security portfolio with Splunk’s advanced observability capabilities to create a comprehensive digital resilience solution for global enterprises. The integration aimed to provide organizations with unified visibility across their entire digital footprint, enabling faster threat detection and response. By merging their technologies, the companies sought to address the complexities of modern IT environments and support the growing demand for AI-driven security operations in the market.

Key Market Players

• Cisco Systems
• International Business Machines Corporation
• Symantec
• Trend Micro
• FireEye
• Check Point Software Technologies
• Juniper Networks
• Sophos
• Rapid7
• Micro Focus International

By Security Solution	By End-User Industry	By Region
Network Security Endpoint Security Cloud Security Application Security	Telecom Service Providers E-commerce Enterprises Utilities Government and Defense Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global IT & Telecom Cyber Security Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• IT & Telecom Cyber Security Market, By Security Solution:

• Network Security
• Endpoint Security
• Cloud Security
• Application Security

• IT & Telecom Cyber Security Market, By End-User Industry:

• Telecom Service Providers
• E-commerce
• Enterprises
• Utilities
• Government and Defense
• Others

• IT & Telecom Cyber Security Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE