Instead of searching for jobs, candidates create a profile and Whitetruffle matches them with employers. Businesses like Postmates, Venmo, GoPro, and Netflix use Whitetruffle to find tech employees. Matt Whittle has experience writing and editing accessible education-related content in health, technology, nursing and business subjects. His work has been featured on Sleep.org, Psychology.org and NurseJournal.org. This can take the form of other, related work experience, or it can take the form of a structured internship or other formal hands-on learning.
Certifications
According to a 2021 CompTIA job report, information security analyst positions were in the top ten for the most remote job listings — with about 4,400 postings. It makes sense to start thinking how to become a security specialist about what kinds of certifications are required by an employer, or what kinds of certifications make job applicants competitive within the field. Professionals who want to demonstrate hands-on skills in IT systems security can use GSEC to prove readiness for hands-on security roles.
Applicants should explore which certifications match their skills and desired career path. Some cybersecurity certifications cater to entry-level candidates while others prepare workers for advanced positions. A cybersecurity specialist is a professional who is responsible for protecting computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, theft, or damage. They work to prevent cyber attacks, detect security breaches, and respond to security incidents. A cybersecurity specialist might wear many hats depending on the size and shape of his or her company or organization.
They monitor all aspects of the computer infrastructure for threatening activities. These cybersecurity professionals also construct, install and operate firewalls and set and implement security standards. Candidates may spend 3-5 years gaining technology experience, often in non-security IT roles. These “cyberenabled” positions focus on technical support, network engineering, or project management, but still require workers to handle minor security issues. Gaining industry experience in such roles can prepare candidates for core security positions. Cybersecurity specialists perform similar work to information security specialists but may focus more on hardware.
However, cybersecurity prevents access by bad actors, and information security considers aspects like the availability and confidentiality of data. Information security specialists may handle aspects like multifactor authentication and access to physical information storage areas. In terms of skills, experience, and general mindset, a cybersecurity specialist needs to be like a Swiss Army knife of the digital world. A person in this role needs to be multi-disciplinary and adaptable to a wide variety of situations. They are responsible for making sure that networks and computer systems are up-to-date and not vulnerable to software bugs.
However, to become an expert in the field, you may need certification and years of experience. Before investing in higher education or certifications, explore salaries in cybersecurity and learn about the projected career outlook for the coming decade. These companies may hold job fairs, put on conferences and provide resources for connecting with peers and employers. Consider some of the following professional organizations for cybersecurity workers.
Your Career Path in Cybersecurity
The 10-year projected growth for cybersecurity specialists is 242% above the national rate per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), CompTIA State of the Tech Workforce 2023 and Lightcast. Networking is another critical part of how to become a cybersecurity specialist. Joining professional organizations, college groups, and online communities can help jumpstart a security specialist career. To become a cybersecurity specialist, you should complete a formal education—like a degree or a cybersecurity bootcamp—in information security or a related subject. The following section explores the requirements for becoming a cybersecurity analyst.
What is the salary of a cybersecurity expert?
- They are responsible for protecting clients with network security, cybercrime investigations, and digital forensics.
- Cybersecurity specialists perform crucial work in protecting sensitive digital information and communications.
- To become a cybersecurity specialist, you should complete a formal education—like a degree or a cybersecurity bootcamp—in information security or a related subject.
- Many IT professionals have an IT degree of some sort and experience working at the help desk.
- These professionals work with public and private employers of all sizes to ensure the safety of data for customers, government entities and healthcare organizations.
AI – Artificial intelligence (AI) is the next level of technology innovations that developed machines capable of accomplishing tasks that generally require human intelligence. Though AI is considered one of the young innovations, it has been widely used to bring consistency and reliability to various technologies. Earning CompTIA Network+ in combination with two years of experience in IT administration with a security focus ensures candidates are prepared to earn CompTIA Security+.
Certification
Security specialists also collaborate with other departments to ensure that colleagues are aware of how to practice good IT security. Understanding programming languages can help you to build a stable career in the field of cybersecurity. Network security control refers to the various methods used to improve, identify, and confidentiality of network security and is another fundamental skill that every cyber security expert should possess.
- You will need to look for hazards and vulnerabilities in a company’s software and hardware because this is a demanding industry.
- Cybersecurity specialists protect sensitive data and analyze vulnerable spots in company networks.
- A cybersecurity specialist is a professional who is responsible for protecting computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, theft, or damage.
- In this guide, you’ll learn how to get into cybersecurity without a degree and build a rewarding career that fulfills your professional goals.
- “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.
A security specialist, also known as an IT security specialist or a cyber security specialist, is responsible for developing and implementing security measures for an organization. As a security specialist, your overarching goal is to analyze current security procedures and suggest changes to upper management for improving efficiency and overall security. As a cybersecurity specialist, you must be able to use a firewall to filter and prevent unauthorized traffic from entering the network. In addition, you must be familiar with virtual private networks, remote access, intrusion detection systems, and intrusion prevention systems. Linux is widely used by cyber security experts and is equipped with several tools. Set up virtual machines, or VMS, and experiment with them to learn about operating systems.
This IT expert will conduct threat and risk analysis and examine the business effect of new and existing systems and technologies to remove risk, performance, and capacity issues. They are responsible for protecting clients with network security, cybercrime investigations, and digital forensics. The cyber security specialist salary ranges between $88,325 to $164,861 per annum in US. Most cybersecurity specialist job descriptions require a candidate to have several years of experience in a data security role. These IT professionals often gain and sharpen cybersecurity skills as they get hands-on experience in the workplace over a period of time. Additionally, cybersecurity specialists promote network security by taking measures to block unauthorized access to the computer network.
This makes them responsible for staying up to date with existing best practices and responses to novel threats. A big challenge for aspiring security specialists is getting their first job without years of experience. Networking, internships, and certifications can help individuals land entry-level security positions.
They will be able to clarify which items a company deems necessary, preferred, or desirable. Security specialists will also use a range of tools to assess the level of security in an organization’s computer and network systems. As mentioned in the list of daily responsibilities, you might be expected to carry out penetration testing. Software that can assist you in this task includes Kali Linux, nmap, Metasploit, Wireshark, and John the Ripper. All of these will help you to identify weaknesses in a system, ideally before a cyber criminal finds them.
Cybersecurity technicians play an important role in protecting organizations from threats and reducing the potential impact of breaches, should they occur. Learn more about skills to help you succeed in this growing field with a beginner-level Professional Certificate on Coursera. The Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate can help you understand the importance of cybersecurity practices and gain hands-on experience with Python, Linux, and SQL. Once you’ve gained a security specialist position, you can then start to think about the rest of your career development.
People seeking a career change into the cybersecurity field and computer scientists looking to specialize can also earn a graduate degree in IT security. As a discipline within network engineering, this field covers protection against breaches for interconnected electronics rather than individual databases or devices. Network security professionals use firewalls, physical hardware and education efforts to safeguard against intrusions and retain lost data. This certification covers the basics of security, compliance, and identity management across Microsoft services. It is designed for beginners looking to gain foundational knowledge in these critical areas, making it an ideal starting point for those pursuing a career in cybersecurity or IT management.
