These professionals work with public and private employers of all sizes to ensure the safety of data for customers, government entities and healthcare organizations. According to a recent PayScale questionnaire, most employees with the job title cybersecurity specialists responded that they have a high level of job satisfaction. The employment of information security analysts, which includes cybersecurity specialists, is predicted to grow 32 percent by 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. These are just a few examples of the dozens of cybersecurity certifications available. When looking at job opportunities in the cybersecurity industry, it’s a good idea to keep notes about what kinds of certifications employers are looking for. Security+ is a CompTIA certification that is considered a basic cert among cybersecurity professionals.
Many IT professionals have an IT degree of some sort and experience working at the help desk. Getting their foot in the door to an entry-level cybersecurity specialist job role can be as easy as earning CompTIA Security+. The more cybersecurity certifications they earn, the more job opportunities will open to them.
Job Outlook and Salaries for Cybersecurity Specialists
Cybersecurity specialists handle a broad set of technical responsibilities related to safeguarding sensitive digital information and data. Depending on the size of their employer, these cybersecurity experts may work in niche, specialized areas of the field or oversee more general security tasks. They provide ongoing oversight for organizations’ cybersecurity efforts through several methods. This guide offers information on how to become a cybersecurity analyst, along with details on other cybersecurity roles such as information security specialist. If you’re wondering how to get into cybersecurity, read on to explore salaries, job outlooks and available certifications in the field.
In general, cybersecurity specialists are often required to have several years of experience in a cybersecurity-focused job. More experience is required for advanced roles cybersecurity specialist program and less is needed for early-career roles. Having industry credentials and higher-level degrees could shorten the experience requirements some potential employers have.
How To Become a Cybersecurity Specialist
Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics, education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. That often means that continuing education is required — both in the form of formal, industry-recognized certifications — and the form of informal learning and tracking industry developments. Cybersecurity specialists are also responsible for continually monitoring security systems and networks for anomalies and tracking those activities in documents and reports. It makes sense to start thinking about what kinds of certifications are required by an employer, or what kinds of certifications make job applicants competitive within the field.
First, the increasing reliance on technology in all aspects of our lives has created more opportunities for cybercriminals to attack. 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. Network+ certifies the essential skills needed to confidently design, configure, manage and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks. Certifications like ITF+, CompTIA A+ and Network+ give you the background you need if you don’t already have it, and CompTIA Security+ is recommended to begin your career as a Cybersecurity Professional.
Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Education
Cybersecurity specialists need to be comfortable in a world that is constantly moving and shifting. The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is a more advanced certification designed for cybersecurity professionals with at least five years of work experience. The certification covers topics such as architecture, engineering, and management.
Cybersecurity specialists are also known as information technology specialists, operations specialists, information security specialists and security specialists. The term applies to a skill set that a variety of cybersecurity professionals use to prevent cyberattacks and mitigate data breaches. Some of these roles include but are not limited to security administrator, systems administrator and security analyst.
Get a Computer-Related Degree (If Necessary)
They work to prevent cyber attacks, detect security breaches, and respond to security incidents. Those who don’t have a degree, experience or certifications may need to put several years into becoming a cybersecurity specialist. This includes the time it takes to get a degree, earn certifications and get work experience. Getting their start in cybersecurity may seem overwhelming to a career changer but it is achievable. There are numerous opportunities for highly technical roles, like cybersecurity specialists and developers, at cybersecurity companies. Many large corporations are also setting up their own cybersecurity taskforces and are increasingly hiring cybersecurity specialists.
- The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is a more advanced certification designed for cybersecurity professionals with at least five years of work experience.
- Even those people who aren’t trained in cybersecurity have a shot at a job if they demonstrate motivation to learn.
- Sometimes, IT professionals work in IT networking, systems engineering, security intelligence and financial and risk analysis prior to moving into a cybersecurity specialist role.
- CASP+ is an advanced certification that validates critical thinking and judgment across a spectrum of security disciplines in complex environments.
Additionally, cybersecurity specialists promote network security by taking measures to block unauthorized access to the computer network. They also run diagnostics on any change that takes place in the IT infrastructure. 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. Good communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills are also important for a cybersecurity specialist.
CompTIA Security+ is a foundational cybersecurity certification that can help an IT professional begin a cybersecurity career. It covers attacks, threats and vulnerabilities, operations and incident response and architecture and design. Other topics that are covered include implementation and governance, risk and compliance. Having soft skills like problem-solving, leadership, teamwork and adaptability are also important. Professional skills like these help cybersecurity specialists prevent and mitigate security breaches by effectively leading cybersecurity teams and protecting IT infrastructures. By monitoring, detecting, investigating, analyzing, and responding to security events, cybersecurity specialists protect systems from cybersecurity risks, threats, and vulnerabilities.
These technicians also create and enforce security policies, carry out threat and risk analyses and perform vulnerability assessments. A computer science degree provides a foundation in information technology (IT), including understanding TCP/IP protocols that are at the core of all networking. Further educational certification may help professionals get a job in cybersecurity. The CCNA Cyber Ops certification program provides practical, relevant, and job-ready curricula that aligns closely with the specific tasks expected of cybersecurity professionals. However, the qualifications required for a cybersecurity job can vary from employer to employer. A cybersecurity specialist is a professional who is responsible for protecting computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, theft, or damage.
Consider Certifications
As experts in cybersecurity, these specialists help to create, analyze and deploy organizational security systems. Cybersecurity specialists test for areas of potential exposure in interconnected computer networks, document their findings and provide solutions for vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity specialists perform crucial work in protecting sensitive digital information and communications.
