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They also help develop standards and protocols to not only respond when a threat occurs, but also to prevent incursions from getting through the system and causing damage. Information security analysts must anticipate information security risks and implement new ways to protect their organizations’ computer systems and networks. As a cybersecurity specialist, you’ll enjoy a competitive salary, job security and opportunities. Companies and organizations will often quick to promote cybersecurity positions from internally available candidates first rather than finding new hires. While working for an organization, you’ll gain valuable information about their programs and infrastructure. This information will make you more desirable for promotions so the company doesn’t have to invest in training someone new. Within cybersecurity, you can almost always count on many opportunities.

• As you gain experience, you’ll have more and more opportunities for work in the field, including roles, positions, and industries.
• We have compiled all the relevant information about the security specialist role, so you can decide whether this is the ideal career path for you.
• Meanwhile, many Physical Security Specialists also have previous career experience in roles such as Police Officer or Security Specialist.
• We have a dedicated career service team that will work with you in accomplishing landing a job in networking or cyber security.

The How to Become One tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. This tab can include information on education, training, work experience, licensing and certification, and important qualities that are required or helpful for entering or working in the occupation.

What Is A Security Consultant?

The most commonly held qualification amongst information security specialists, the CISSP is often essential for career development in this industry. Individuals will need to have around four or more years’ experience and tend to be of consultant or managerial level.

The ASIS includes the Certified Protection Professional , the Physical Security Professional and the Professional Certified Investigator certification. The CPP requires nine years of security experience or seven years of experience with a bachelor's degree. The PSP requires six years of security experience or a bachelor's degree with four years of security experience. Finally, the PCI requires five years of security work with two years working in the management end. The continued expansion of the duties that the world expects computers to perform will mean additional jobs in cyber security. Hackers work 24 hours a day to find ways to infiltrate networks and systems, and either harm them or steal sensitive data. This reality means there will be an increased need for cyber security specialists, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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A person in this role needs to be multi-disciplinary and adaptable to a wide variety of situations. Cybersecurity specialists need to be able to communicate well and be comfortable in team roles. The job often entails coaching and training of co-workers on security best practices. Security+ is a CompTIA certification that is considered a basic cert among cybersecurity professionals.

• Analysts need to research the most current security technology and deicide which will be best for their company.
• Group pricing is also available to organizations with 15 or more employees planning to sit for the exam.
• The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations.
• The goal of an ethical hacker certification is to be able to understand how cyber attacks unfold in order to improve threat assessment and mitigation skills.

Even earning an industry certification requires that you possess a specific skill set. Selecting specific titles gives you information about that role, as well as the framework categories. 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. I recommend that you can have a look at LinkedIn and see what certificates employers seek according to the requirements of their job postings. A security specialist works both individually and in teams with others within an organization. Students interested in the field of site security may pursue a bachelor's degree program in computer science to gain a foundation in the field of computing.

It Security Specialist Salary

Maximize efficiency in protecting data and information systems, networks, and software against hacker attacks. This security specialist tests systems for vulnerabilities, much in the same way penetration testers do. Instead of performing penetration testing, they look through applications or software for possible weaknesses and data security leaks. The area in which you live and work will dictate an overall standard of pay. In addition, your education, certifications, and work experience will form a platform for what you make. Learn how to become a Security Specialist, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.

Cyber security specialists are responsible for identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring they’re safeguarded. Corporations, organizations and governments alike are desperate to keep their infrastructure protected. They’re so desperate in fact that cyber security has a high employment rate.

Reasons To Start A Career As A Cyber Security Specialist

This program prepares graduates to become employed as IT security specialists, firewall and VPN specialists, and data assurance specialists. Additionally, the program concentrates on industry-specific requirements in the health care and financial areas, as well as other institutions that currently use electronic commerce. Moraine Valley's program prepares graduates to become employed as IT security specialists, firewall and VPN specialists, and data assurance specialists. A security specialist can provide protection for people and organizations or the data owned by businesses. Varying licensing standards by state are required for security guards, personal bodyguards and specialists.

We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four. Taking a cybersecurity certificate course is a great way to learn about cybersecurity, the current threat landscape, and the related technology and tools used to detect and protect against threats. These tell employers that you are serious about learning more in your field. Using the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education , you may be able to narrow down the field where you want to work. However, this also shows you that this field doesn’t consist of jobs which have a specified list of responsibilities.

• Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems.
• If you’re at the start of your professional career, one of the best ways to get into the information security sector is to take a relevant degree subject.
• There are many online cybersecurity training labs available that simulate workplace environments.
• Taking a course or program in cybersecurity will give you foundational knowledge about systems and security.

However, check beforehand whether an employer does want you to have a cyber security certificate, and which specific one they have in mind. After all, you don’t want to waste your time, effort, and money on a qualification you don’t need or that won’t come in handy for your chosen career path.

How Long Does It Take To Get A Degree In Cybersecurity?

Bureau of Labor Statistics , security guards protect people from a variety of physical dangers, such as theft, property damage, fire and even terrorism (). Usually, they are employed by private companies to protect a business or event, though some work for the government. In contrast, many private inspectors and bodyguards protect an individual person.

The fact that more and more businesses are relying on cloud computing, technology, and remote work presents further reasons to prioritize security infrastructure. We have compiled all the relevant information about the security specialist role, so you can decide whether this is the ideal career path for you. We reveal the essential aspects of the position, how to get hired, data on salary expectations, and the best companies that are hiring.

Familiarity with IT security practices and effective strategies for safeguarding electronic records is helpful. The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical https://remotemode.net/ hours worked. It may also discuss the major industries that employed the occupation. This tab may also describe opportunities for part-time work, the amount and type of travel required, any safety equipment that is used, and the risk of injury that workers may face.

Employers may want people with degrees, but they may not be able to find them. The security field is so new that a degree hasn’t yet become a regulated requirement, so you’re unlikely to need a master’s degree and should be able to get into the field without a bachelor’s degree. However, the lower your degree level when you enter the field, the longer it will take you to move up to a supervisory or higher position, unless you are willing to earn a degree while you work. Site security specialists are usually not hired directly out of their degree programs. As these are considered extremely important positions because of the possible impacts of cyber attacks, experience in related roles is often helpful, if not always necessary, when applying for these jobs.

And here we are in 2022, and not only has the Forbes prediction come true, but the situation is also getting worse. The bad news (at least from a business owner’s perspective) is that there will be a corresponding widening skill gap regarding cyber security professionals. Students can attend university job fairs, ask professors about internship opportunities, and join IT security organizations. Groups like the Information Systems Security Association International host conferences and seminars that provide ample networking opportunities. The security specialist role best suits people who enjoy new challenges and want to protect data. Professionals in this industry also need strong problem-solving skills. Finally, holding the position of security specialist might require helping co-workers adopt new technologies and security software as it develops.

The best states for people in this position are New Jersey, New York, Illinois, and Washington. Physical Security Specialists make the most in New Jersey with an average salary of $108,993. Whereas in New York and Illinois, they would average $108,735 and $99,441, respectively. While Physical Security Specialists would only make an average of $97,691 in Washington, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country.

Now that you know how to get started in cyber security, if you are interested, do not let your current education background or career path limit your options. As long as you develop your cyber security skills, opportunities will arise. The key to a successful career in cyber security, or any field for that matter, is simply working for it. Security specialists with experience in law enforcement or the military may have an advantage in getting promoted to supervisory or managerial positions.

How Much Does The Program Cost?

They also engage in continually testing and monitoring these systems, making sure that all the system’s defenses are up to date and working correctly. 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. The CISSP is particularly popular, as are those that focus on specific areas of work such as systems auditing or penetration testing.

The Python certificate course provides individuals with fundamental Python programming skills to effectively work with data. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that demand for Information Security Analysts will grow 28% between 2016 and 2026, which is roughly an increase of 28,500 jobs. With proper cybersecurity measures in place, employees can work efficiently on computer equipment that runs free of viruses, Adware, and Ransomware. A good example of the need for cybersecurity experts is one particular massive cyber-attack on the U.S.’ government agencies. As of early 2021, one of these attacks was still being investigated for its breadth and severity.

Information security analysts also may advance within the occupation as they gain experience. For example, they may lead a team of other information security analysts or become an expert in a particular area of information security. If you’re interested in government, that sector is one of the biggest in need of cybersecurity workers. If you’re an avid traveler, your goal may be to find a desirable position with a multi-city corporation. At each location, they ensure the programs and infrastructure are in line with security goals. Education is crucial to entering the cybersecurity field, but luckily there are many options to choose from.

Cybersecurity Specialist Job Responsibilities

A CISO must have excellent security management and organization skills because they essentially run the entire cybersecurity department. Because of their long list of responsibilities, security architects are among the highest-paid cybersecurity professionals – their annual salary averages from $106,362 to $124,051. 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.

In 2021, the average annual salary for a security consultant is around $99,000 with some Principal Security Consultants making more than $158,000 per year. A network engineer has a crucial job when it comes to protecting critical business and consumer data. Security consultants tend to make more money as they gain certifications and years of experience. While working to gain the experience you need, focus how to become a security specialist on jobs that dovetail closely with the cyber security specialist skill sets. Generally speaking, you should gain five years of related work experience before applying to move into a security specialist position. These cyber security experts use their in-depth understanding of security threats, technologies, and countermeasures to ensure that an organization has robust computer security systems.