Career opportunities for current and aspiring cybersecurity specialists have never been more plentiful or lucrative. You are probably already well aware that the cybercrime is continually on the rise, fueling a cybersecurity job market that features six-figure salaries and zero percent unemployment. Payscale also reports that cybersecurity specialists are compensated across a wide range, depending on experience, responsibilities, and geography. According to a recent PayScale questionnaire, most employees with the job title cybersecurity specialists responded that they have a high level of job satisfaction.

Suppose we add the fact that the average cost of a cyberattack on an organization is $2.4 million. In that case, it is no wonder that companies are investing in cybersecurity like never before. If you’re planning to become one, you should first learn exactly what type of a job this is, in what ways you can advance your career, and how you can get your foot in the computer security industry door. Cybersecurity specialists need to be comfortable in a world that is constantly moving and shifting. People from IT backgrounds tend to find that a lot of the skills they already have translate well to cyber security. People from software engineering backgrounds, for instance, are used to working with and manipulating data in databases and working with front and backend frameworks. People with IT experience are most times familiar with information systems and networks.

Becoming A Security Specialist: Job Description & Salary Info

See real job descriptions, career prospects and salary information to see if becoming a security specialist is right for you. If you are part of an existing IT team, make sure you’re aware of the internal recruitment process and any openings for security specialist roles.

Refer to the salary section below to find out which companies pay particularly well for security specialist roles. Below are the steps generally required to begin and advance your Security Specialist career.

Cybersecurity Specialist Career Paths

An advanced degree can help you stand out against the competition, and in some cases, they may be preferred or required by certain employers. Consider obtaining an advanced degree in information technology, cybersecurity or computer science. Cybersecurity specialists inhabit an interesting role in the companies and organizations where they are employed. People in this role are often hired as much for their soft skills as their technical ability. Like the job title implies, cybersecurity specialists are expected to have a certain level of training and expertise that allows them to give advice and training on the latest digital best practices. This is a more technically-focused role than the previously mentioned ones.

That often means that continuing education is required — both in the form of formal, industry-recognized certifications — and in the form of informal learning and tracking industry developments. There are a number of network-oriented professional cybersecurity organizations and groups that are specifically designed to alert members about job openings and professional development opportunities. A simple way of thinking about a cybersecurity specialist is as someone who keeps tabs on a company’s or organization’s security while also helping other employees and teammates stay current on best practices. The certification shows you know how to audit, control, and secure enterprise information systems.

A passionate and lifelong researcher, learner, and writer, Karin is also a big fan of the outdoors, music, literature, and environmental and social sustainability. Note that different organizations may have more or fewer qualifications or attach lesser or greater importance to any of the given criteria.

Is Network Security A Good Career?

The best security consultants know how to explain complex concepts in a way that’s digestible and actionable for others in the company. The Cyber Security Specialist creates own tools and actively take part in the security architecture review of client technologies. The professionals conduct risk assessments and business impact analysis on new systems and technologies. It is the Cyber Security Specialist who has to serve as a Program Management Officer when the Cyber Security projects are implemented. The Cyber Security Specialist will execute projects in Dynamic Application Security Testing. They conduct personalized ASP.NET/JAVA application code reviews for clients. The professionals will take care of projects in security code reviews/ Static Application Security Testing of applications.

• We have put together a list of the most relevant programming languages and why they’re used.
• A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can be completed in four years, and some courses may include ethics, criminal law, punishment and rehabilitation in America, criminal procedure, and criminal investigation.
• Instead of performing penetration testing, they look through applications or software for possible weaknesses and data security leaks.
• These individuals identify security threats through background checks and other forms of research.

You can begin by exploring different cybersecurity or IT degree programs at the bachelor’s level. You may need to visit the websites of several universities to find a degree that checks off all the boxes you want. And here we are in 2022, and not only has the Forbes prediction come true, but the situation is also getting worse. The bad news (at least from a business owner’s perspective) is that there will be a corresponding widening skill gap regarding cyber security professionals. “Security is the only area of certified IT skills that has never had a negative quarter throughout this recession,” says David Foote, CEO and Chief Research Officer of leading research firm, Foote Partners. “We’ve never had a three-month period with a loss or decline in premiums for IT security specialists.” Employment of IT security specialists is expected to increase by thirty-three percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the 8% average for all U.S. occupations.

Median Hourly Pay With Bachelor’s Degree

According to the BLS, most positions require a bachelor’s degree, while some require individuals to hold a Master of Business Administration in information systems or a related area. Cyber security specialists make an average salary of $88,085 per year, or $42 per hour. It is possible to earn more money once a cyber security specialist moves past entry-level roles, as the range around that average varies from $66,000 to $115,000 each year.

In India, a cyber security engineer’s salary averages ₹600,000 a year, while a similar engineer in Australia earns A$95K and an engineer in the UK can make £47,048 annually. Let us learn how to become a cyber security engineer after understanding the salary stats. There is an overlap, however, since many cyber security engineers routinely conduct stress tests and attempt to predict the weak spots and test them out. It’s not unusual to see job listings for a Security Engineer/Analyst, effectively rolling both positions into one. Before exploring how to become a cyber security engineer, let us learn more about the role. Don’t forget to list both the hard and soft skills you excel at on your resume. Even if you don’t have a relevant college degree or a certification, clearly showcasing what you’re good at might be enough to land you an entry-level position at a cybersecurity firm.

Knowledge of advanced persistent threat management, which includes phishing, social engineering, and network access control. Penetration testing and measuring the vulnerability rating of cyber programs and software to understand risk. Attention to detail.A security consultant must take pride in exploring every detail of a company’s security architecture. Even the smallest vulnerabilities could lead to a devastating security breach. If you’re looking to further your career, why not find out if you could progress quicker in a new position?

Network Security Specialist, Certificate

Our independent educational organization has created resources for students who have an interest in pursuing a higher education and employment in the cyber security field. A cyber security analyst maintains networks and fix issues that come up during normal operation. They may also identify threats and neutralizing them as quickly as possible. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts cyber security to be one of the fastest growing fields in the near future. The demand for these positions is on the rise and all business is going to need to keep their data safe from potential external and internal threats. There are certain soft skills-sets that will work well in a security specialist career.

The cyber security engineer must know how computers and networks work, how data is shared in a network, as well as Intrusion Detection Systems, configuring firewalls, and also how to manage people and projects. As you’re already a bit behind when compared to people with IT experience, you’ll need to dedicate time and resources to your learning journey. One option will be to go to college and pursue a cyber security degree. This will get you up to date on the theory behind it and give you some solid grounding in cyber security concepts.

Earning a Graduate Degree in computer science can take 4 years to complete. People that have earned their Graduate Degree typically make $108,481 compared to $39,262 for those without that https://remotemode.net/ type of degree. The certificate is designed for professionals returning to upgrade skills or students who are interested in obtaining employment skills in IT security professions.

A consultant may check messages first thing in the morning to make sure there aren’t any pressing security concerns. Though How to become a Security Specialist this isn’t necessarily an “on-call” type of position, a consultant may be contact after hours in the event of an emergency.

If you are already a graduate in another field, you can opt to continue your education by earning a master’s degree in a field closely related to cyber security. This will be especially crucial if you want to become a Senior Cyber Security Engineer. You can also get certified in similar fields to get a leg up in your career. Let us learn how to become a cyber security engineer with the following career path.

What Are Some Other Top Cybersecurity Careers?

Up to date knowledge of the latest cybe rsecurity trends and hacker tactics. Conducting testing and scans to identify any vulnerabilities in the network and system. Keep accurate and current backup files of all important data on the shared corporate network. Modify security files to incorporate new software, correct errors, and change user access status. Security architects are in charge of the security budget, staff, and other resources.

How To Become A Cyber Security Specialist

Among the many cybersecurity jobs that companies are hiring for across all industries is the position of cybersecurity specialist. Like many roles within the wide-ranging, fast-growing field of cybersecurity, the responsibilities of the cybersecurity specialist can vary greatly depending on the company or organization and its specific needs. Many security specialists begin training in the armed forces as military police or other types of law enforcement or in positions dealing with security. Military law enforcement training provides the necessary defensive combat techniques that may be helpful to those looking to work in civilian law enforcement and security specialist jobs. Security specialists trained in the military may have received specialized training in working with K-9 units, surveillance, and criminal investigation.