5 Cybersecurity Career Paths and How to Get Started

The ability to learn and adapt to newer technologies is, therefore, a crucial skill for any cybersecurity professional. Cybersecurity specialists design and enforce various security standards, policies, and procedures for enterprise systems. They evaluate organizational security and resilience through simulated cyberattacks such as penetration testing. Additionally, they look for vulnerabilities and risks in hardware and software and make recommendations that can help mitigate any risk. As a cyber security specialist, one of the many hats you may wear is that of an information security crime investigator.

A security specialist’s exact duties may vary by company, but they can expect to complete the following tasks in the course of their work. Some companies may accept as little as 1-to-2 years of experience while some may require over five years of IT security experience. 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. The comprehensive IT curriculum is enhanced with specialized instruction in cybersecurity.

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A strong foundation of education, combined with internships and professional experience, set candidates up for success. Qualified cybersecurity specialists need a strong foundation of soft and hard skills to complete their https://remotemode.net/ daily tasks. Some of those skills include communication, collaboration, malware prevention, and computer forensics. Specific fallout from security breaches can vary depending on the type of work an organization does.

As an ethical hacker, you can try out even more attack vectors (like social engineering) to reveal security weaknesses. Digital forensic investigators work with law enforcement to retrieve data from digital devices and investigate cybercrimes. Security engineering and architecture could be a good fit if you enjoy tinkering with technology and like to take a big picture approach to cybersecurity.

Cyber Security Specialist Overview

As cybersecurity continues to grow in importance, more specialized roles are emerging. Starting as a cybersecurity analyst creates opportunities to follow your interests within the world of information security and create a career path that’s right for you. You can pursue a variety of cybersecurity certificates, which will almost certainly be part of your continuous education as a cyber security professional. To better your chances for career growth, a relevant master’s degree provides the education, learning community, and professional network certificates that less rigorous training options don’t offer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 32 percent increase in job outlook for cybersecurity roles such as information security analysts. Cybersecurity specialists are responsible for performing investigative analysis and diagnosis of cyber threats to identify the loopholes in a system.

Moreover, they also exercise various security audit practices along with log analysis. PenTest+ is for intermediate level cybersecurity professionals who are tasked with penetration testing to manage vulnerabilities on a network. In addition to creating structures to protect interconnected devices, professionals in this sector safeguard sensitive assets for applications and data. At the app level, infrastructure security professionals develop and deploy effective databases to prevent access by bad actors. For data, this field protects information by building structures for backups and encryption. These professionals also educate coworkers on best practices, as breaches may occur accidentally or deliberately by bad actors within their companies.

Cyber Security Specialist Jobs By Company

A cyber security consultant is responsible for the safety and security of an organization’s computer systems and data. They work with businesses to identify and assess risks and recommend and implement solutions to protect against threats. Cybersecurity consultants also develop and maintain policies and procedures to ensure the security of an organization’s systems and data. Additionally, they may be responsible for training staff on cybersecurity best practices. The cyber security specialist role is critical in today’s increasingly digital world.

Information security specialists may handle aspects like multifactor authentication and access to physical information storage areas. Newbies in this industry typically spend three to five how to become a security specialist years in entry-level cybersecurity jobs to acquire foundational experience. You’ll see from the figures below that an entry-level position in cybersecurity doesn’t equate to low pay.

Cyber Security Specialist responsibilities include:

As of August 2022, Cyberseek lists the figures below as the average income levels of cybersecurity professionals in various positions. A Cyber Security Specialist typically needs a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field. Some employers may also require a master’s degree in cybersecurity or a related field.