At the app level, infrastructure security professionals develop and deploy effective databases to prevent access by bad actors. For data, this field protects information by building structures for backups and encryption. Organizations hire security specialists to prevent security breaches, which involves identifying any system weaknesses that a cyber criminal might exploit. A security specialist should also research evolving risks (new methods that cyber criminals employ) and implement changes that take all known risks into account. If you’re interested in starting a career in cybersecurity, consider the Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate on Coursera.
According to a recent PayScale questionnaire, most employees with the job title cybersecurity specialists responded that they have a high level of job satisfaction. 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. Security specialists can find employment in a broad range of commercial, governmental, and not-for-profit organizations.
Consider Certifications
Many employers require cybersecurity specialists to obtain prior work experience in information security or a related field. Experience in a particular industry, such as banking, may give aspiring security specialists a leg up on other applicants aiming to work in that specific field. Cybersecurity specialists need to be comfortable in a world that is constantly moving and shifting. They play a crucial role in protecting organizations’ valuable data and ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of information.
- These professionals work with public and private employers of all sizes to ensure the safety of data for customers, government entities and healthcare organizations.
- A cybersecurity specialist might wear many hats depending on the size and shape of his or her company or organization.
- These professionals detect and analyze potential threats, evaluate risks, and respond to security incidents.
Once you’ve gained a security specialist position, you can then start to think about the rest of your career development. If your career goals include obtaining a more senior role in a cyber security team, then you’ll need to deepen your knowledge and refine your skills. Over the next few years, you can continue your education, such as by studying for an online Master’s degree in cyber security or one or more of the above certificates. Given the broad scope of cybersecurity specialist work, not all employers require significant professional experience when hiring.
Explore Technology Topics
You may advance to become a security architect, responsible for your organization’s entire security infrastructure. They are responsible for making sure that networks and computer systems are up-to-date and not vulnerable to software bugs. Review professional expectations, median salaries, typical responsibilities, and required skills for security specialists.
Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact… Another area of incident response involves digital forensics and cybercrime. Digital forensic investigators work with law enforcement to retrieve data from digital devices and investigate cybercrimes. Security engineering and architecture could be a good fit if you enjoy tinkering with technology and like to take a big picture approach to cybersecurity. First, the increasing reliance on technology in all aspects of our lives has created more opportunities for cybercriminals to attack. Program outcomes vary according to each institution’s specific curriculum and employment opportunities are not guaranteed.
Browse bootcamps for IT Security Specialists.
Starting as early as the 1990s, simple antivirus software like the Reaper, created by Ray Tomlinson, became necessary to protect user’s online activity. A freelance cybersecurity expert could have clients across the globe and, as previously mentioned, there’s no telling when a business could become the target of a cyberattack. You will need a vast repository of technical knowledge to understand the existing threat landscape, but you must also be prepared to continue learning throughout your career. Contact recruiters directly to double-check that your qualification will be right for the specific job you’re aiming for. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.
- People seeking a career change into the cybersecurity field and computer scientists looking to specialize can also earn a graduate degree in IT security.
- Earning a master’s degree in a related field shows that you have extensive knowledge in the area and have an even more extensive understanding of IT Security.
- But even if you’re completely new to cybersecurity, you can start developing these skills through online courses, bootcamps, or cybersecurity degree programs.
- Joining professional organizations, college groups, and online communities can help jumpstart a security specialist career.
- To have a good chance of securing a role as a security architect, you will need at least an undergraduate degree, with many employers asking for a postgraduate degree.
A major corporation or organization uses a security specialist to protect its software and network security system. A security specialist is a smart career path to take to begin your career in cyber security, as you’ll be the go-to person responsible for the overall safety of your employer’s data. With the necessary technical skills, you can apply how to become a security specialist for entry-level tech positions. You can also pursue entry-level certifications that prove your expertise without professional experience. Cybersecurity specialists protect sensitive data and analyze vulnerable spots in company networks. These professionals detect and analyze potential threats, evaluate risks, and respond to security incidents.
Cybersecurity Career Paths (and How to Get Started)
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. 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.
