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While individual hackers or bad actor groups fail to discriminate on the basis of industry, geography or company size, a recent study by ShareVault found that some U.S. cities face a much greater combination of breach activity, exposed industries, and demand for cybersecurity workers.
ShareVault analyzed 58 major U.S. cities using cybersecurity job availability, workforce density, data breaches and the concentration of high-risk industries to identify where cyber threats could have the greatest impact.
California dominates the ranking, accounting for five of the 10 most at-risk cities. Oakland ranks first with 102.25 breaches per 10,000 residents, the second-highest rate studied. San Francisco follows in second, with 40 percent of its industries considered high risk, while San Jose ranks fourth with a 39 percent high-risk industry concentration and the 10th-highest breach rate.
Boston ranks third and records the second-highest concentration of high-risk industries at 41 percent. It also has the eighth-highest cybersecurity vacancy rate, suggesting businesses are competing heavily for protective talent. Jersey City takes fifth place, recording more cyber job postings per 10,000 residents than any other city studied. Its 40 percent concentration of high-risk industries also places it among the country’s most exposed business centers.
Long Beach ranks sixth with the third-highest breach rate and fifth-highest cyber vacancy rate. Sacramento follows in seventh after recording 84.12 breaches per 10,000 residents, the fourth-highest level nationally. Arlington ranks eighth, standing out for the third-highest rate of cybersecurity job postings and sixth-highest breach rate.
Pittsburgh and New York City complete the top 10. Pittsburgh combines the eighth-highest breach rate with a 33 percent concentration of high-risk industries. New York City has a comparatively low breach rate, but 42 percent of its industries are classified as high risk, the largest share in the study. Its position therefore reflects the number and economic importance of potential targets rather than breach volume alone.
At the safer end of the ranking, Albuquerque has the lowest recorded cyber risk. Its breach rate of 2.17 per 10,000 residents is the lowest in the study, while high-risk industries represent only 24 percent of its economy. Las Vegas follows with 3.58 breaches per 10,000 and the same relatively small concentration of high-risk industries.
Tulsa, Wichita and Tucson round out the bottom five. All three have fewer than 18 cybersecurity job postings per 10,000 residents and some of the lowest concentrations of high-risk industries. Their limited cyber workforces may eventually create challenges, but lower breach activity and fewer high-value industry targets currently keep them well below the country’s largest technology and financial centers.
