This role is critical because oftentimes data breaches come from inside the organization, either intentionally or accidentally. CompTIA certifications establish a baseline foundation of skills that you can build upon with other vendor or technology-specific certifications. While a security expert will likely have a high income regardless of the industry type they’re in, they’re more likely to earn more in any of those fields. An architect’s primary responsibility is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a company’s defensive systems.
If you have enough expertise, good connections, and are keen on entering the entrepreneurial world, you might consider becoming a systems security consultant. They are independent contractors who offer their knowledge and advice to various organizations about their network security. At a cross-section between law enforcement and cybersecurity lies the title of an information security crime investigator or a computer forensics expert. These professionals work on investigating cyberattacks, determining what (or who) caused them, and how exactly the network or computer system was infiltrated. This list of the top 50 cybersecurity networking groups and professional organizations from Digital Guardian is a good place to start. 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.
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Many large corporations are also setting up their own cybersecurity taskforces and are increasingly hiring cybersecurity specialists. By monitoring, detecting, investigating, analyzing, and responding to security events, cybersecurity specialists protect systems from cybersecurity risks, threats, and vulnerabilities. According to MIT’s Technology Review, by 2021, approximately 3.5 million jobs in the cybersecurity industry will be vacant. Out of all the candidates that apply for these positions, fewer than one in four are qualified. This means that there is no better time than today to start training and searching for cybersecurity specialist jobs. Cybersecurity specialists need to be comfortable in a world that is constantly moving and shifting.
Security engineer jobs require continuing education and staying up to date with all the latest technology advancements. The cybersecurity field is moving at a rapid pace, and a security professional could easily fall behind if they don’t keep up with it all. Regardless of your degree, it is important to constantly educate yourself on new technologies and threats. Sometimes, this may mean taking additional cyber certifications or classes after you are hired. In addition, security specialists are also responsible for making sure that other co-workers are kept up-to-date on security best practices, which means they might take on the role of a trainer or an advisor. Adding certifications like CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) can validate your skills in the cybersecurity field and prepare you for a more advanced role within your organization.
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During this process, no information is stolen or lost – pentesters are careful not to harm the organization they’re infiltrating. They are merely creating a controlled simulation of a cyberattack that exposes the organization’s security systems’ weaknesses. Other cybersecurity certifications to consider include Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). In all professions, networking offers a reliable pathway to finding job opportunities. In addition to connecting with your co-workers, consider joining a professional organization. Information security shares some overlap with cybersecurity—in fact, cybersecurity is a subset of information security.
A person in this role needs to be multi-disciplinary and adaptable to a wide variety of situations. Cybersecurity specialists play 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. One of the primary responsibilities of a cybersecurity specialist is to keep tabs on the systems employed by their organization and report any issues to management.
FAQs About Cybersecurity Specialists
The best candidate for this certification has at least four years of experience in information security plus CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA Network+. Payscale reports an average annual cybersecurity salary of around $97,000, and these wages typically increase with experience. One of the top online resources for cybersecurity job seekers and those interested in pursuing a career in information security is CyberSeek.org. On its Career Pathways page, CyberSeek lists Cybersecurity Specialist as an entry-level position (one that pays an average annual salary of $99,652). To be a successful cybersecurity specialist, one should have knowledge and skills in areas such as network security, cryptography, risk management, compliance, incident response, and threat analysis. They must stay up to date with the latest trends and threats in the cybersecurity industry and be able to adapt to evolving security risks.
Given the broad scope of cybersecurity specialist work, not all employers require significant professional experience when hiring. Some organizations employ these specialists in entry-level roles, allowing them to develop on-the-job experience. Though certification is not required to work in this role, formal credentials cybersecurity specialist program can boost your job opportunities and cybersecurity specialist salary. Certifications demonstrate expertise in cybersecurity to potential employers, and they indicate a dedication to the field. Keep in mind that most certification exams require significant preparation, and some include experience requirements.
What jobs are available in cybersecurity?
IT professionals work in practically all other industries; protecting sensitive information isn’t only relevant to the technology sector. In fact, the highest average salaries for IT employees are in the defense, aerospace, PR, communications, advertising, medical, pharmaceutical, biotech, military, and homeland security industries. With CompTIA Security+, you’ll gain knowledge and skills related to cyberattacks, threats and vulnerabilities, as well as operations and incident response. Additionally, you’ll learn about architecture and design, implementation and governance, risk and compliance. Infrastructure security covers the protection of physical and digital assets through the architecture itself. This specialty may focus on safeguarding sensitive items using structures like generators, security systems and locks.
- Specific fallout from security breaches can vary depending on the type of work an organization does.
- There are hundreds of free and paid course options online that might not lead to a desirable certification, but that will provide you with more theoretical and practical knowledge.
- A person in this role needs to be multi-disciplinary and adaptable to a wide variety of situations.
- Choose the job that plays into your strengths, one that you will love doing day in and day out.
- If you’re wondering how to get into cybersecurity, read on to explore salaries, job outlooks and available certifications in the field.
Cybersecurity specialists can anticipate strong employment growth over the coming decade. For example, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 32% projected employment growth rate for information security analysts from 2022 to 2032. This title encompasses roles like cybersecurity analyst and information security specialist. Cybersecurity specialist is a fascinating and multi-faceted position in a dynamic, fast-growing field. In addition to certifications and advanced education, cybersecurity job seekers are well-advised to connect with internship opportunities and do plenty of reading, self-learning and networking. Some organizations require a master’s degree to become a cybersecurity specialist, but not all.
Security specialists take responsibility for their organizations’ computer-related security, protecting company data against cyberattacks. Companies hire these professionals to prevent security breaches by analyzing current systems, researching ever-evolving risks, suggesting improvements, and implementing changes. 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. All you’ll need to do is earn relevant cybersecurity certifications and get work experience in data security to land a job as a cybersecurity specialist.
All of the salary averages in the list above should be taken with a grain of salt. Your specific salary in the information when you become a cyber security specialist will vary depending on a few different factors. The main goal of all IT professionals who become cyber security specialists is to protect information. This information can be anything from a list of a company’s clients and their contact information to highly sensitive and confidential data on which entire governments depend. A specialist may protect the information directly, but they may also be in charge of protecting entire information systems as well as networks through which that information spreads. It’s important for current and prospective cybersecurity specialists to earn cybersecurity certifications that will get the attention of hiring managers.
Cyber Security Specialist
CASP+ is an advanced certification that validates critical thinking and judgment across a spectrum of security disciplines in complex environments. Project+ gives technical and non-technical professionals the basic concepts to successfully manage small- to medium-sized projects. Security+ provides a global benchmark for best practices in IT network and operational security, one of the fastest-growing fields in IT. Network+ certifies the essential skills needed to confidently design, configure, manage and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks. They collaborate across sectors to inform best practices, research, and funding opportunities for ethical data sharing.