“In the context of cybersecurity, it’s networks, and computers and software.” However, for some (but not all) master’s program tracks, you might need a computer science or engineering undergrad degree. Some top programs include Georgia Tech, New York University, Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of California, Berkeley. 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. For data, this field protects information by building structures for backups and encryption. As a discipline within network engineering, this field covers protection against breaches for interconnected electronics rather than individual databases or devices.
This specialty may focus on safeguarding sensitive items using structures like generators, security systems and locks. Digitally, infrastructure security refers to creating and maintaining protected systems from breaches. Cybersecurity workers and information security specialists both protect valuable information and data. However, cybersecurity prevents access by bad actors, and information security considers aspects like the availability and confidentiality of data.
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According to Cyberseek, the average advertised salary for a cybersecurity specialist is $106,265. One useful guide is the Cybersecurity Workforce Framework developed by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), a part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This framework categorizes various specialty areas and can be for learning more about various specialty areas within cybersecurity. That means having a GitHub profile or other repository to show off what you’ve built and how you think. Strong, competitive candidates are intellectually curious and have built their own projects.
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. These companies may hold job fairs, put on conferences and provide resources for connecting with peers and employers.
What is a Cybersecurity Specialist?
Two years ago, Anand took a chance on a candidate with a Ph.D. in criminology to fill a role as cyber threat lead at Imperva. Workers in this specialty area may spearhead organizational efforts to cybersecurity specialist program create stronger passwords or limit web browsing to trusted sites. Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) applies behavioral analytics to the IT security field to improve the overall state of IT security.
In addition to connecting with your co-workers, consider joining a professional organization. Information security shares some overlap with cybersecurity—in fact, cybersecurity is a subset of information security. However, cybersecurity focuses exclusively on protecting digital assets, while information security covers digital and physical information across all mediums. Payscale reports an average annual cybersecurity salary of around $97,000, and these wages typically increase with experience. Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths.
How To Become a Cybersecurity Specialist
One of the primary responsibilities of a cybersecurity specialist is to keep tabs on the systems employed by their organization and report any issues to management. They are also responsible for anticipating future threats and advising on how to deal with them. If you want to become a cybersecurity specialist, you need industry-recognized certifications.
- “You need to understand the technology for you to be able to secure it,” Ahamad says.
- Digitally, infrastructure security refers to creating and maintaining protected systems from breaches.
- One of the primary responsibilities of a cybersecurity specialist is to keep tabs on the systems employed by their organization and report any issues to management.
- Depending on the size of their employer, these cybersecurity experts may work in niche, specialized areas of the field or oversee more general security tasks.
Second, the growing sophistication of cyberattacks means that organizations need more skilled cybersecurity professionals to protect themselves. Third, the global shortage of cybersecurity workers is expected to continue, which will drive up wages and salaries for cybersecurity specialists. Most cybersecurity specialist job descriptions require a candidate to have several years of experience in a data security role.
How to become a cybersecurity specialist
Even those people who aren’t trained in cybersecurity have a shot at a job if they demonstrate motivation to learn. Even for vendor-specific certifications, many skillsets are transferable, so don’t worry about getting pigeonholed. Cybersecurity specialists create and implement security audits across computer hardware and software systems. They make sure that the systems perform the way they are supposed to, and that they are safe from attack. Validate skills in various cybersecurity areas, including offensive operations, cyber defense, cloud security, industrial control systems and more.
Some experts say the fields of cybersecurity, network security, information security and infrastructure security are all different. Others consider these cybersecurity careers to exist under the same umbrella of computer security. The following section explores differences among various subsets of cybersecurity. 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. A cybersecurity specialist is trained in spotting suspicious patterns in computer systems.
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The job often entails coaching and training co-workers on security best practices. Whether you want to be a network engineer, security analyst or CISO, CompTIA can help you get there. The good news is there’s no one education path to become a cybersecurity speciality; you have options. You can choose to get an undergraduate or graduate degree in cybersecurity or a related field like computer science, but you can also get an industry certification instead—or even go the self-taught route. In all professions, networking offers a reliable pathway to finding job opportunities.
The need for cybersecurity specialists will continue to grow, reaching about 234,000 by 2033. The 10-year projected growth for cybersecurity specialists is 242% above the national rate per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), CompTIA State of the Tech Workforce 2023 and Lightcast. “You need to understand the technology for you to be able to secure it,” Ahamad says.
Additionally, cybersecurity specialists are often called on in times of crisis or emergency — or when there are issues with networks or data systems. While the role of a cybersecurity specialist may seem technically daunting, it can entail much more than programming. In fact, some cybersecurity roles don’t require a background in computer science—and can still help drive meaningful business decisions.
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