First off, what is cybersecurity
?
Simply put, cybersecurity is exactly what the term sounds like. It’s the
practice of protecting computer systems, electronic data, as well as entire
networks and any other type of confidential information.
More specifically, cybersecurity is the means of protecting data content
from hackers and cybercriminals. Typically, cyber-attacks have the end goal
of sabotaging business processes, extorting money from internet users, or
simply accessing, stealing or destroying valuable information.
Why Cybersecurity Matters
From governments and large corporations, through to small businesses and
individual internet users, cybersecurity is important for everyone.
Today, we all have so much information floating around on the internet that
if we were to be targeted by cybercriminals, they would be able to steal
quite a bit of information about us.
With that being said, it’s easy to see why cybersecurity is so important.
Furthermore, the importance of online security has given rise to thousands
of jobs in the field of cybersecurity.
In fact, with the continual evolution of the internet, there is currently a massive amount of cybersecurity jobs and not enough trained professionals to fill the positions. So, let’s take a closer look at the different types of jobs available in the field of cybersecurity.
Job Positions in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is a rather broad industry. This means that there are many
different roles that can be pursued in the field of cybersecurity.
Of course, salaries in these jobs will vary based on the specific role, your training and education, an your experience level. However, you’re not likely to be going hungry with a job in cybersecurity.
Of course, salaries in these jobs will vary based on the specific role, your training and education, an your experience level. However, you’re not likely to be going hungry with a job in cybersecurity.
In fact, a survey on cybersecurity jobs has shown that the average salary for people working in cybersecurity is somewhere around $116,000 per year. That’s roughly three times the national average!
Job titles and roles will vary depending on the company, however, here are a few of the most common positions in cybersecurity:
Cybersecurity Generalist
Essentially, a jack of a trades, typically employed by smaller companies to
manage their cybersecurity efforts.
Cloud Security Engineer
This is a more specialized role and includes providing cybersecurity
measures for cloud-based platforms and systems.
Network Security Engineer
Typically, network security engineers are employed by larger companies. The
job involves managing the security measures that govern the company’s
network software and hardware, as well as firewalls, routers, VPNs, etc.
Application Security Specialist
This role involves protecting applications from cyber threats using a
combination of software and hardware-related skills.
Security Architecture
This job involves designing, building, and managing a company’s network and
computer systems security.
IAM or Identity Access Management Engineer
This is more of a sub-field in cybersecurity, which focuses on digital
identities and access authorization within a company or organization. The
job ensures proper levels of system access for employees and also prevents
unauthorized access.
Malware Analyst
People in this position analyze malware to learn about what it does, where
it came from, as well as anything else they can learn from it.
Penetration Tester
Penetration testers are essentially paid to hack into computer systems and
software platforms in order to test their security measures and identify
any potential vulnerabilities.
Cryptographer
A cryptographer is hired to create new ways for encrypting sensitive
information and ensuring that it is kept private.
Incident Response Analyst
These are the first-responders whenever a data breach or security issue
occurs. They rapidly address the threat by learning what caused it and
limiting its damage.
Security Auditor
These specialists create reports about a security system’s effectiveness
and find ways that it can be improved. This is a similar position to a
penetration tester, however, it is more of a high-level job, where the
auditor uses pre-established standards to evaluate the effectiveness of a
system.
What Skills are Needed for a Career in Cybersecurity?
Essentially, it’s recommended to have some sort of degree related to
cybersecurity. However, degrees and certificates are not necessary in order
to find a job in the cybersecurity industry. In fact, many of the
industry’s pioneers were people with degrees.
With that said, it’s still important to have a variety of skills related to
cybersecurity. This includes, but is not limited, to:
- A solid understanding of IT fundamentals (web applications, system administration, etc.)
- Coding skills (C, C++. Java, PHP, Perl, Ruby, Python)
- Understanding architecture, administration and operating systems
- Certifications
What are the Top Cybersecurity Companies to Work For?
From small local businesses, through to massive multi-million dollar
companies, there are literally thousands of businesses and organizations
currently in search of cybersecurity experts. However, some of the biggest
and best names to work for in the industry include:
- Cisco
- Symantec
- Microsoft
- McAfee
- IBM
- RSA (Dell Technologies)
Keep in mind that these are only the biggest names to work for in
cybersecurity. This means there will likely be a significant amount of
competition looking to work for these companies. So, don’t limit yourself
to only going after positions with these companies. There are plenty of
cybersecurity jobs out there.