The Future of Cyber & Information Security in Israel – What to Expect in 2026
The demand for security talent in Israel is not just high – it’s relentless. New roles in cyber and information security are opened every day, many of them “under the radar” and never even reach the standard job boards. As the world becomes more connected, the need for skilled security researchers and defenders keeps growing, and Israel is one of the most important hubs in this space.
One of the core tools security teams still rely on is penetration testing (PT) – simulated cyber-attacks designed to evaluate how well an organization is protected. Around PT grew an entire ecosystem of vulnerability research, offensive security, and red-team services – and this ecosystem will only expand as we move into 2026.
1. Where Cybersecurity Is Heading by 2026
From IT to “Everything Is Connected”
The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the increasing interconnection between devices, OT systems, and cloud environments have created an entirely new attack surface. Security researchers are forced to stay ahead of the curve, not just respond to yesterday’s threats.
This led to new sub-disciplines such as embedded security research, which focuses on securing:
- Embedded devices and controllers
- Automotive systems
- Medical and industrial equipment
- Consumer IoT devices
By 2026, organizations will expect researchers who understand both low-level systems and large-scale distributed architectures.
AI & Machine Learning in Defense – and in Attack
A central trend shaping the future of cyber in 2026 is the deep integration of machine learning and AI into security tooling:
- AI-driven intrusion detection and anomaly detection
- Automated triage and prioritization of alerts
- Pattern discovery in huge volumes of logs and telemetry
On the flip side, attackers are also using AI to automate phishing, evade detection and generate new attack variants. This arms race means that researchers who understand both security and data/ML will be in particularly high demand.
The Power of Open Source & Community
Another strong trend is the continued growth of the open-source security community. Researchers increasingly:
- Publish write-ups of vulnerabilities
- Release tools, PoCs and frameworks
- Collaborate across countries and organizations
This community effort significantly improves the overall security of systems and networks and accelerates knowledge-sharing. For Israeli researchers, being active in global communities (GitHub, conferences, CTFs) is becoming almost a baseline expectation.
2. Hiring Trends in Israel’s High-Tech Ecosystem
2026 will remain an excellent but highly competitive year for experienced security researchers – especially in Israel.
- Product companies, startups, defense contractors and global corporates all compete for the same people.
- Offensive security experts (red-team, exploit researchers, reverse engineers) are particularly scarce.
- Many strong roles never reach generic job boards; they are filled quietly via networks and specialized headhunters.
For employers, this means that traditional “post and pray” recruiting simply doesn’t work anymore.
3. Why Hiring Security Researchers Is So Difficult
Recruiting security researchers has become one of the toughest challenges in the tech hiring landscape.
Shortage of Skilled Talent
- The number of qualified researchers (low-level, cloud, application, infrastructure, embedded, etc.) is limited.
- The barrier to entry is high: deep technical knowledge, hands-on research experience, understanding of real-world threats.
- Many of the best people are already employed in attractive roles and are not actively looking.
Complexity of the Evaluation Process
Screening and assessing candidates for research roles is time-consuming and requires expertise:
- Designing practical challenges and technical interviews
- Evaluating exploit quality, code, methodology and creativity
- Staying up-to-date with the latest attack techniques and tools
For many companies, especially early-stage startups, it is hard to even define what “good” looks like in a security researcher, let alone run a full hiring process.
A Constantly Moving Target
The security landscape changes fast:
- New CVEs and attack vectors appear all the time
- Cloud, containers, OT/ICS and AI introduce new vulnerabilities
- Regulations and compliance frameworks evolve
As a result, the skills required from researchers in 2026 are not identical to those of 2021–2022. Companies need people who are able to keep learning continuously, not just rely on past experience.
4. How Executive Search & Headhunting Help
To deal with these challenges, many Israeli and global companies turn to:
- Headhunters & executive search firms
- Specialized security recruitment agencies
- Talent acquisition experts who understand cyber in depth
These partners:
- Map the market and identify relevant companies, units and teams
- Approach passive candidates who are not applying to jobs
- Pre-screen and technically evaluate researchers before presenting them
- Help structure offers and manage expectations on both sides
For security roles, this can make the difference between an endless, frustrating search and closing a key hire who will influence the company’s entire security posture.
5. Conclusion – The Future of Cybersecurity Hiring in Israel
Finding and hiring the right security researchers is a complex and demanding mission. With the shortage of skilled talent and the constantly evolving threat landscape, companies cannot rely only on generic job ads or internal HR.
In 2026, organizations that succeed in cyber will be those that:
- Treat security research as a strategic function, not a “nice to have”
- Invest in ongoing learning, tooling and collaboration with the research community
- Partner with expert headhunters, executive search firms and niche recruitment agencies to reach the best talent in Israel and abroad
Security Researcher and Looking for a New Opportunity?
If you’re an information security researcher and want your next challenge:
- For unique roles in security research and cyber in Israel and abroad – click here.
- If you’re a junior researcher or just starting out, you can explore the OctoSource high-tech job board and look for security roles that match your level.
The future of cyber & information security in Israel is bright, demanding, and full of impact. The question is not whether there will be work in 2026 – the question is which team you want to be part of when the next wave of threats arrives.