4 Cybersecurity Career Paths
This blog was originally published on ReviewNPrep.
If you want a career in an exciting field with good salary prospects, consider working in emerging technologies. Some of the most in-demand skills today involve AI and data analytics. Yet cybersecurity weaves through all these new technologies, making it one of the most sought-after jobs of all.
We’re currently experiencing a shortage of cybersecurity professionals. In 2021, more than 67% of companies had difficulty keeping their code and infrastructure safe. And remote work has only exacerbated the challenge, resulting in a 300% increase in cyberattacks. Thus, if you wish to help remedy the shortage, you will find ample opportunity –– and possibly your calling –– in this field.
BLOG
However, the decisions don't stop with just getting into the field! There are many kinds of cybersecurity professionals, all of whom work to address different concerns. Below, we'll discuss some of the specific career paths you can take and give a brief rundown of the work you need to do to get there.
1. Security Administrator
This is a great entry-level job you can use to jump-start your cybersecurity career. In this role, you'll be in charge of implementing security solutions for a particular organization's daily operations. You'll also constantly be on the lookout for cybersecurity threats that may arise — like data breaches and malware attacks — and will be in charge of mitigating their risks to the organization. Finally, you'll work independently to come up with cybersecurity policies that will be followed by others employed by the organization.
2. Cybersecurity Consultant
If you prefer freelance work, consider this occupation. Instead of working for just one employer, you can take on a host of organizations as clients and assess their cybersecurity measures independently. This will involve checking the viability of their systems and testing for any potential breaches. You'll then work to implement improvements by tweaking their infrastructure and even training their employees in the best cybersecurity practices. Employers may require you to have 3-5 years of prior experience in the field before contracting your services.
领英推荐
3. Cryptographer
When looking for a flexible career path, cryptography is a great option to consider. Cryptographers call on a range of programming skills to encrypt and decrypt sensitive information in corporate, military, health, and banking applications. You may find yourself working with an organization's security systems to solve cybersecurity threats with mathematical models. You'll find yourself to be in demand among employers wishing to keep a tighter lid on their data, especially in light of the fact that highly-advanced quantum computing methods may be used to conduct data breaches soon. Essentially, you'll be organization's way of staying ahead.
4. Security Architect
If you like to work on a larger scale, you may want to become a security architect. In this position, your primary task will be to construct, test, and roll out security infrastructure for various organizations. You'll also be reviewing any existing infrastructure your clients may have. Finally, you'll be in charge of detecting and mitigating any cybersecurity threats the system may encounter. For this, you need strong problem-solving and leadership skills gleaned from at least 5-10 years of prior experience in the field.
Beginning your cybersecurity journey
As you can see, there are many kinds of careers you can build in this field. However, they all require a common educational foundation. You can take any number of majors to build your expertise, the most all-encompassing of which is a bachelor's degree in computer science. This is a flexible, dynamic program that will teach you basics in things like programming and computer architecture, while allowing you to earn certifications in future-focused fields like AI, cybersecurity, and data science.
This brings us to the next important cornerstone of your career: certifications. These will give you access to more senior-level positions with better salaries, because employers use them as metrics for hiring and promotions. We've previously listed some of the most popular cybersecurity certifications on our site, like those for certified ethical hacking and CompTIA Security+. From here, furthering your career is all a matter of gaining experience.
Related Blog: Popular Cybersecurity certifications
As our world goes digital, cybersecurity continues to be crucial for organizations across the globe. Hopefully, this guide helps you determine how you can fit into this exciting and dynamic field.
Further Reading: Recipe for success in IT field - Important skills you MUST HAVE!!