How to become a cybersecurity specialist

Regardless of what entry-level job you obtain, ensure you maximize the opportunity to refine the essential hard and soft skills of a cybersecurity specialist before applying for the position. Hard skills refer to the specific technology and computer skills expected of someone in this position. There are also a few certifications that an IT security specialist could choose to obtain. Some employers prefer to hire those who are certified, as it proves they have the necessary knowledge and experience required.

This is the procedure that all IT employees have to follow if there is an emergency of any kind. Doing so ensures that the department can continue to function at all times and does not experience downtime.

Cybersecurity Specialist Employment Outlook

In the early 2000’s the continued growth of internet usage led to a rise in internet crime and a call for further internet security. Now, major breaches, like LinkedIn’s data leak in June 2021, threaten to affect a shocking amount of users.

The purpose of cybersecurity is to protect systems and data from cyber attacks. Individuals and organizations use cybersecurity to ensure that their data is safe from unauthorized access. A Cybersecurity Analyst enacts cybersecurity measures designed to protect and secure IT infrastructure including networks, hardware, and software from threats, attacks, and malicious actors. BrainStation’s Cybersecurity Analyst career guide is intended to help you take the first steps toward a lucrative career in cybersecurity. The guide provides an in-depth overview of the skills you should learn, the best training options, career paths in cybersecurity, how to become a Cybersecurity Analyst, and more. A security specialist should understand the security requirements of the implemented networks or systems inside an organization and further analyze and establish such requirements if there should be any more of them. Explore the training requirements and experience you will need to start a career in the site security field.

Cybersecurity Engineer Salary

Campbellsville University offers programs for every professional in multiple areas and levels of study. Pay attention to the most significant factors that determine how much you will be earning in a particular position. The good news is that IT professionals, in general, earn twice as much as the national median wage in the US. It is almost a given that you will have a decent income wherever you find employment in the IT security sector. Aside from taking a course to obtain a certification at the end, you can also choose to sharpen your skills by yourself. 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.

• The good news is that IT professionals, in general, earn twice as much as the national median wage in the US.
• The Certified Ethical Hacker certification is also considered a more advanced cert because it generally requires that applicants have multiple years of work experience.
• Let us learn how to become a cyber security engineer with the following career path.
• Those who work for several clients also have to sometimes travel from one physical location to another, when they can’t perform operations remotely.
• If the job is an entry-level one, then there is a need of 1 to 2 years in the field.

On the other hand, if it is a senior level job, then experience for at least 5 years in the field of IT security is required. Looking at the PayScale figures, there are mainly two categories of security specialists for which the salaries vary. Furthermore, security audits are also performed by the security specialist within an organization.

Outlook for cybersecurity specialists

Also, the gap between the minimum and maximum salaries for this position is really huge. The following list aims to give you a bullet points of the main responsibilities that you should expect to hold after taking the job as a security specialist. Learn about the education and preparation needed to become an Internet security specialist. Candidates lacking formal education must have nine years of experience, and at least three of these years must have been in an administrative capacity. The certification exam has 200 multiple-choice questions covering eight major areas of security management. Some of these subject areas include physical security, personnel security, practices and principles of security, investigations, and emergency practices.

• After intermediate, you should start up a bachelor’s degree program in cybersecurity.
• While many IT jobs are specific to departments within a company, a security consultant’s work typically spans multiple departments because of the enormous amount of data they are responsible for protecting.
• 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.
• Cybersecurity is a relatively new field compared to other technology careers.

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. Career opportunities for current and aspiring cybersecurity specialists have never been more plentiful or lucrative. You are probably already well aware that cybercrime is continually on the rise. In fact, cybercrime is forecasted to amount to $10.5 trillion by 2025 — which is just a few short years away.

Earn an Advanced Degree

Even if you have no experience in cybersecurity, you can become a Cybersecurity Analyst by equipping yourself with the right knowledge and training. Taking a course or program in cybersecurity will give you foundational knowledge about systems and security. You should also build your knowledge around operating systems, databases, and network architecture and administration. Still, if someone is interested in the field but she did not earn a computer science degree nor a cybersecurity one, she still can join a master’s degree and specialize in IT security. Also, earning professional certificates and trainings would be really desirable for an employer who would really appreciate the experience. In fact, security specialist is a term or category that includes a variety of entry to intermediate level IT security jobs. The main core of the job is mostly to perform some designing, testing, implementation and monitoring of security measures for the system of an organization.

Earlier, most companies wouldn’t require a candidate to have such a degree if they are skilled enough, but the rise in competition has led to an increasing number of organizations adopting this requirement. IT security specialists need strong communication skills, as they are responsible for educating technical and non-technical staffers on computer security protocols and raising information security awareness. Cybersecurity specialists need to be comfortable in a world that is constantly moving and shifting. Additionally, cybersecurity specialists are often called on in times of crisis or emergency — or when there are issues with networks or data systems. According to Payscale, major companies paying security specialists well above the national average include the Boeing Company, the Walt Disney Company, and American Express Co.

Strong thinkers have a higher chance of being hired despite an atypical background. Two years ago, Anand took a chance on a candidate with a Ph.D. in criminology to fill a role as cyber threat lead at Imperva.

This experience could include protecting proprietary information or property, assessing security systems or protocols, or training other security personnel. Qualifying for these security specialist positions might require passing background checks and random drug testing. If carrying a firearm is ever necessary, additional licensure will likely also be required.