Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) applies behavioral analytics to the IT security field to improve the overall state of IT security. 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.
An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. The good news is, the job outlook for IT security specialists is exceptionally strong—and only getting better. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment in this sector is projected to grow 31% from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Plus, demand for this role continues to be exceptionally high with no signs of slowing. If you’re not yet qualified to be a Security Engineer, you can aim for a Security Analyst position. Moving up to the position of Security Engineer will most likely result in a raise for a Security Analyst.
Vulnerability Management in Cybersecurity: The Basics
Since 1990, our project-based classes and certificate programs have given professionals the tools to pursue creative careers in design, coding, and beyond. IT Security Specialists might find the job search competitive but understanding what experience is needed can aid in their search. Candidates for the IT Security Specialist position are expected to have some IT job experience. They can gain experience through positions, like Systems Administrator, Network Administrator, or Network Engineer. Junior positions, like Junior Cybersecurity Specialist, are easier to land and provide a generous amount of on-the-job training.
PenTest+ is for intermediate level cybersecurity professionals who are tasked with penetration testing to manage vulnerabilities on a network. 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.
Learning Threat Modeling for Security Professionals
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. If the above description of a security specialist’s role and skill set appeals to you, what steps should you take to get started on this career path? Below is a five-stage process that will take you from a point of being inexperienced in cyber security to getting hired as a security specialist.
- The need for cybersecurity talent is growing as organizations struggle to find balance in the post-COVID business landscape.
- As experts in cybersecurity, these specialists help to create, analyze and deploy organizational security systems.
- Having soft skills like problem-solving, leadership, teamwork and adaptability are also important.
- It’s never too late to get a degree that will support you in your pursuit of a cybersecurity specialist career.
- Examples include incident response analyst or security operations center (SOC) analyst.
- However, the qualifications required for a cybersecurity job can vary from employer to employer.
But being a key component of a company’s information technology needs can be a rewarding responsibility. 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+. Security+ provides a global benchmark for best practices in IT network and operational security, one of the fastest-growing fields in IT. Network+ certifies the essential skills needed to confidently design, configure, manage and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks. Workers in this specialty area may spearhead organizational efforts to create stronger passwords or limit web browsing to trusted sites. CASP+ is an advanced certification that validates critical thinking and judgment across a spectrum of security disciplines in complex environments.
What skills are required to become a security specialist?
Many large corporations are also setting up their own cybersecurity taskforces and are increasingly hiring cybersecurity specialists. By monitoring, detecting, investigating, analyzing, and responding to security events, cybersecurity specialists protect systems from cybersecurity risks, threats, and vulnerabilities. The actual job description of a security specialist can be hard to pin down, because these specialists may have varying duties based on their actual position. But typically these specialists are expected to install, configure, and maintain security software designed to prevent outside attacks on the company’s internal network. IT security professionals are also be expected to monitor the company network for any breaches or vulnerabilities, devising plans for further safeguarding as needed. Having soft skills like problem-solving, leadership, teamwork and adaptability are also important.
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. Cybersecurity specialists perform crucial work in protecting sensitive digital information and cybersecurity specialist program communications. These professionals work with public and private employers of all sizes to ensure the safety of data for customers, government entities and healthcare organizations. Cybersecurity specialists work on IT teams that are dedicated to protecting the integrity of the business’s network and data. Traditionally, network operations and IT technology supplemented the core business.
Get a Computer-Related Degree (If Necessary)
To get hired as a security specialist, you always want to develop your skills and knowledge as much as possible, and certificates help you to do exactly that. For this reason, security specialists are necessary to maintain the overall operations and credibility of a company. 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.
Cybersecurity specialists perform similar work to information security specialists but may focus more on hardware. 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. Information Security Specialists typically work full-time or as consultants, working onsite or remotely.
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. Becoming a cybersecurity specialist could be a short, long or somewhere-in-the-middle journey. It all depends on what you currently bring to the table in terms of cybersecurity education, skills, work experience and certifications. It’s never too late to get a degree that will support you in your pursuit of a cybersecurity specialist career.
Make sure that you have your certifications and they are up-to-date before you apply for any positions. If you need time to study or save money for your certifications, aim for a junior role first. Fortunately, being an adept security specialist makes you a prime candidate for roles in computer forensics, penetration testing, security consulting, security management, and security architecture. These professionals also educate co-workers on best practices, as breaches may occur accidentally or deliberately by bad actors within their companies. Cybersecurity specialists must remain up to date with changes in the field by researching emerging threats and fixes. Cybersecurity specialists are problem-solvers, analytical thinkers, leaders and cybersecurity experts.
Consider some of the following professional organizations for cybersecurity workers. In addition to creating structures to protect interconnected devices, professionals in this sector safeguard sensitive assets for applications and data. At the app level, infrastructure security professionals develop and deploy effective databases to prevent access by bad actors.
