Between the explosion of AI-related needs, fierce competition from banks, and salary competition with the United States, recruiters and professionals alike must rethink their strategies.
In this environment, companies struggle to fill critical roles, while cybersecurity experts find themselves in an exceptional position of strength. This guide explores the causes of this market tension, offers concrete solutions for recruiters, and highlights opportunities for candidates.
Key Takeaways
- The shortage is intensifying: Canada lacks 25,000 qualified cybersecurity professionals, and 75% of employers confirm a severe talent shortage.
- Salary mismatch: 67% of employers report a gap between their offers and candidate expectations, with professionals seeking 20–40% more than what is offered.
- The cost of inaction: A vacant cybersecurity position can cost up to $54,000 over 90 days (based on a $100,000 salary).
- Rising salaries: Highly qualified experts (CISSP, Cloud Security) are seeing salary increases of 15–20% in 2026.
- Recruitment solutions: Strong tech employer branding, flexibility, and partnerships with specialized firms like Fed IT.
- Opportunities for candidates: CISSP, CISM certifications and Cloud skills are key to accessing top positions.
Market Overview: Why Is the Cybersecurity Job Market in Quebec Under Pressure?
The accelerated digital transformation following the pandemic has created an insatiable demand for IT security professionals. In Canada, 25,000 cybersecurity positions remain unfilled, and 75% of employers confirm a critical shortage of qualified talent. In Montreal, three factors combine to create a perfect storm in the job market.
Among the most in-demand IT roles, cybersecurity specialists now occupy a central position. More than 75% of companies are actively seeking professionals for protection and defense roles, a demand expected to continue through 2028
The “AI Hub” Effect and the Appetite of Montreal Banks
Montreal has established itself as a global hub for artificial intelligence. This position attracts massive technology investments and multiplies cybersecurity needs. Every new AI project requires security architects capable of protecting models and sensitive data.
At the same time, Montreal’s banking sector (historically resource-intensive in IT) is intensifying recruitment. Financial institutions aim to secure cloud infrastructures, mobile applications, and comply with increasingly strict regulations. This dual pressure fuels fierce competition for the same rare profiles.
International Mobility: Immigration as a Safety Valve
Faced with this shortage, immigration represents a partial but essential solution. Quebec relies on attracting highly skilled international talent. However, permanent residence processing times and professional integration challenges slow this strategy.
Companies that invest in supporting foreign professionals, particularly through work permit sponsorship and relocation assistance, gain a significant competitive advantage in the race for talent.
Companies: How to Recruit Cyber Experts Despite the Cybersecurity Talent Shortage
Traditional recruitment strategies are no longer sufficient. Successful companies adopt a holistic approach combining employer branding, salary transparency, and process efficiency.
The numbers speak for themselves: 67% of employers report a mismatch between their salary offers and candidate expectations, with candidates seeking 20–40% more, even for entry-level roles.
The Market: Between Hyper-Specialization and Scarcity
The shortage does not affect all profiles equally. To succeed in recruitment, focus on the three pillars currently saturating the Montreal market:
| Specialization | Current Demand (2026) | 2029 Projection | Acceleration Factor |
| Incident Response | 54% | 65% | Ransomware complexity |
| Cloud Security | 46% | 65% | Massive hybrid cloud migration |
| Governance & Risk (GRC) | 38% | 52% | New regulations (Law 25+) |
Beyond Salary: Your “Tech Employer Brand”
Salary is no longer the only lever. In 2026, a cybersecurity expert receives an average of 3 to 5 LinkedIn outreach messages per week. To stand out, your offer must resonate with their real motivations.
What tips the balance for candidates:
- Modern tech stack: Talents prefer securing Zero Trust architectures or Kubernetes clusters over maintaining legacy systems.
- Radical flexibility: 88% consider remote work (minimum 3 days/week) and flexible schedules non-negotiable.
- Investment in expertise: Guaranteed budgets for elite certifications (CISSP, CISM, OSCP) and access to major international conferences.
- Security-by-Design culture: They want security to be a strategic priority led by leadership, not a budget checkbox.
💡 Fed IT Insight
58% of the most stable hires in 2026 come from internal referrals. We help turn your experts into brand ambassadors who attract their peers.
The Cost of Inaction: Calculating the Financial Impact of a Vacant Role
Every day without a cybersecurity expert is costly. Beyond unpaid salary, companies face indirect losses: delayed projects, unpatched vulnerabilities, overloaded teams, and increased cyber-risk.
Vacancy Cost Formula:
C_total = (Salary × 1.5) × (Vacant days ÷ 250)
Example: A Network & Security Administrator role ($100,000 salary) vacant for 90 days costs approximately $54,000 in direct and indirect losses.
This reality should push organizations to accelerate hiring processes and invest in partnerships with specialized firms like Fed IT, capable of quickly presenting qualified profiles.
Candidates: The Most In-Demand Certifications and Skills in 2026
For cybersecurity professionals, 2026 is an exceptional year. Demand is exploding, and salaries follow. To maximize opportunities, the right skills are essential. Beyond technical expertise, 88% of employers highly value communication skills and problem-solving, sometimes more than certifications.
CISSP, CISM, Cloud Security: Your Passport to Top Salaries
The most sought-after IT certifications remain the strongest career accelerators in 2026:
- CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional): The gold standard for leadership and security architecture roles. Boosts salary by 15–20%.
- CISM (Certified Information Security Manager): Highly valued for security program management and IT governance roles.
- Cloud Certifications (AWS Security, Azure Security Engineer): Essential amid massive cloud migration. Cloud-security experts rank among the highest paid.
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker): In demand for penetration testing and vulnerability analysis roles.
Beyond certifications, skills in DevSecOps, Zero Trust architecture, and incident response are particularly valued by Montreal employers.
Note: Women currently represent 25% of the global cybersecurity workforce, and 35% of Canadian employers report difficulties recruiting diverse talent in this sector.
Cybersecurity Salary Benchmark - Greater Montreal 2026
| Role | Entry-Level | Intermediate | Senior |
| Network & Security Technician | $65,000 | $70,000 | $75,000 |
| Network & Security Administrator | $80,000 | $100,000 | $110,000 |
| Cloud Architect | $120,000 | $135,000 | $145,000 |
| DevOps (Security-Focused) | $90,000 | $120,000 | $145,000 |
| Security Director (CISO) | $125,000 | $145,000 | $160,000+ |
Source: Fed IT - Salary Guide 2025, adjusted for 2026.
Why Entrust Your Talent Search to a Specialized Firm Like Fed IT?
In such a tight market, internal hiring becomes long and costly. Specialized firms like Fed IT offer a decisive advantage: dual technical and HR expertise.
- Rigorous technical validation: We understand the difference between a junior network admin and a senior cloud architect. We only present truly qualified profiles.
- Time savings: We significantly reduce hiring timelines through our active cybersecurity network.
- Tailored support: From defining needs to onboarding, we guide you at every step.
- Local market expertise: Rooted in Greater Montreal, we understand Quebec’s market specifics and candidate expectations.
Fed IT has supported dozens of Montreal companies in critical cybersecurity hires—from network technicians to security directors.
Accelerate Your Recruitment
The cybersecurity talent shortage in Quebec is not a temporary fluctuation, it is a structural reality that will persist. Companies that adapt quickly, by rethinking employer branding, accelerating hiring processes, and partnering with experts like Fed IT, win the talent race.
For professionals, now is the ideal time to invest in the right certifications and negotiate working conditions aligned with their aspirations. The market is in their favor.
Whether you are a recruiter seeking an expert or a professional looking for your next challenge, Fed IT supports you with the expertise and proximity that make the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main causes of the cybersecurity shortage in Montreal?
Accelerated digital transformation, Montreal’s rise as an AI hub, and salary competition with the United States create demand far exceeding supply. Banking and tech sectors absorb a large share of available talent.
Is it better to hire a freelance or permanent cybersecurity expert?
It depends on role criticality and duration. Outsourcing offers immediate flexibility for urgent projects or temporary overloads. For strategic roles (CISO, security architect), permanent hires ensure continuity and cultural alignment.
What is the average salary of a cybersecurity analyst in Montreal in 2026?
A cybersecurity analyst with 3–5 years of experience can expect $90,000 to $110,000. With certifications like CISSP or CISM, this can exceed $120,000.
How can companies address the IT workforce shortage?
By investing in internal training, offering attractive work conditions (remote work, flexibility), strengthening tech employer branding, embracing immigration, and partnering with specialized firms like Fed IT.
Which cloud skills are most in demand in cybersecurity?
AWS Certified Security - Specialty, Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate, and Google Cloud Professional Cloud Security Engineer are highly sought after. Skills in Zero Trust architecture, IAM, and container security (Kubernetes) are also critical.
Sources
Cyber Talent Crunch: Canadian Employer Perspectives on Cybersecurity: https://cybersecurecatalyst.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/RU-CyberTalent-Full-FRE-Final-ua.pdf
