How to Become a Cybersecurity Specialist Career Path and Job Description

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. Aspiring cybersecurity specialists may also find ample opportunities in companies like CACI International Inc, American Electric Power, and IBM. Industrial security specialists work in a variety of settings, including office buildings, factories, and warehouses.

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.

School can help you hone your skills so you can thrive

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. Let us learn how to become a cyber security engineer after understanding the salary stats. Before we learn how to become a cyber security engineer, let us look at the required qualifications. Search“cyber security specialist $100,000”on LinkedInand you find a cornucopia of high-paying jobs from across the country. One of the top online resources for cybersecurity job seekers and those interested in pursuing a career in information security is CyberSeek.org. On itsCareer Pathways page, CyberSeek lists Cybersecurity Specialist as an entry-level position (one that pays an average annual salary of $99,652).

• Information security analysts may need to have work experience in a related occupation.
• They should also have the ingenuity needed to anticipate and get ahead of risks and devise new ways to protect websites.
• Time spent as a computer systems analyst or similar position in the computer field may provide needed experience.
• It also involves plans to restore proper IT functioning after a disaster.
• University Headquarters is your #1 resource for finding top rated colleges, scholarships, potential salaries and helping you find the right career.

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. However, there is a great gap between the minimum and maximum salaries for this job again according to how difficult the position is. The minimum is $45,481 while if you work for an organization that how to become a security specialist relies heavily on cybersecurity and accordingly on you as the security specialist there, you should expect up to $114,105 to have annually. 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.

Cyber Security Specialist Career & Salary

The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $61,520, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $165,920. Most information security analysts work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

• These tell employers that you are serious about learning more in your field.
• With proper cybersecurity measures in place, employees can work efficiently on computer equipment that runs free of viruses, Adware, and Ransomware.
• This makes them responsible for staying up to date with existing best practices and responses to novel threats.
• According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency , ransomware attacks occur about every 11 seconds in 2021, up from every 39 seconds in 2019.
• They commonly work for private companies that operate in heavily regulated industries, such as manufacturing or pharmaceuticals.

It’s a good idea to let your employer know about your plans to study, as they might be willing to help with the funding. After all, the knowledge and skills you gain will benefit your career and, in turn, the organization. As an Security Specialist, you may be required to choose a specialty within your field. Determine which part of the Security Specialist field you feel strongest in, and continue taking active steps toward growing in your chosen Security Specialist specialty. You can also tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for by including keywords from the job description and highlighting the most relevant transferable skills. University Headquarters is your #1 resource for finding top rated colleges, scholarships, potential salaries and helping you find the right career. Our goal is to become one of the best online resources helping students navigate through the higher education process.

Average salary

Cybersecurity specialists will most likely work with other tech experts. You will need to interact with other team members, share opinions on the best solutions for problems, and resolve any disagreements with others. Cybersecurity experts often have to write technical reports on the status of the organization’s security. Although https://remotemode.net/ certification is not needed for all entry-level cybersecurity roles, having one can boost your resume and demonstrate competencies to potential employers. Cybersecurity specialists who expand their skill set and are up-to-date with the latest frameworks and regulations are typically more valuable in any organization.

• By doing so, you’ll also be learning the material that each certification requires, putting you ahead as you get ready to graduate and land your first job in this exciting field.
• Whether it is something you are striving for before college, or making a job transition, be prepared by garnering as much knowledge as possible toward what companies are looking for in potential employees.
• A security or cybersecurity consultant could work directly for an organization, or, as the name suggests, work for client organizations that provide consulting services.
• Furthermore, sometimes, the role of a cyber security engineer is rolled into a different IT position, especially in smaller companies that can’t afford a cyber security specialist.

Going back to school will give you the chance to connect with professors who understand the cyber security industry and with classmates who are going to be looking for opportunities as well. Finding a job is easier when it’s a community effort, and education provides just that. Passing third party certification exams is essential if you want a career in cyber security. Certification exams prove to prospective employers that you have expert-level knowledge in specific aspects of cyber security. Some certifications, like CompTIA Security+, demonstrate your deep and thorough knowledge of core cybersecurity functions. A Virginia federal government institution needs a physical security specialist who can consult and advise on improvements to security systems.

Average Amount Of Time At Training

They must also be able to make decisions in high-stress situations and communicate effectively with other team members. To join our team to work closely with the stakeholders to ensure that cyber security projects meet objectives across our organization. They are responsible for various tasks, including process re-engineering and documentation of activities related to this area. The median annual wage for information security analysts was $102,600 in May 2021.

• Cyber Security Specialists ensure that a company’s systems are safe from attack.
• Probe and provide security solutions referencing business-standard analysis criteria.
• The US News report states that an information security analyst’s title is number five on the best technology jobs list.
• You may need to visit the websites of several universities to find a degree that checks off all the boxes you want.
• Applying for a CISA certificate requires five years of experience in IS or IT audit, assurance, security, or control.

Strong job performance over time, ongoing refinement of hard and soft skills and obtaining additional education are the most effective ways to advance within your career as a cyber security specialist. Individuals may choose to pursue a master’s degree in cyber security, a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in cyber security or additional specialized certifications.

History of Cybersecurity Specialists

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. 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.

Work with managers, engineers, and other security analysts to decrease risks for an organization. Read about program requirements, course topics, and degree levels, and… Some companies prefer applicants who’ve earned a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in management information systems. As an alternative, some schools also offer Master of Information Systems programs that may focus directly on information security. These programs may offer a mix of computer and management classes, while allowing students to focus on specific platforms. The following list that is provided here works fine as a guideline for the certifications that one should seek to convince any employers with her skills. Nevertheless, this does not mean that these are the only certificates that one should shoot for.

The element of danger (battling hackers!) makes this profession riveting. And full disclosure—the responsibilities of this job can be high pressure, so it’s not for every employee. But because consulting involves protecting everyone and everything, from client to consumer, the rewards are far more likely to outweigh the rigors. Explore the training requirements and experience you will need to start a career in the site security field. While not all Cybersecurity Analyst roles require coding skills, it can be helpful to learn to code enough that you have a basic understanding of some languages, like C, C++, JavaScript, Python, PHP, and SQL. This will be especially helpful down the line as you advance in your cybersecurity career. The purpose of cybersecurity is to protect systems and data from cyber attacks.