These IT professionals often gain and sharpen cybersecurity skills as they get hands-on experience in the workplace over a period of time. Cybersecurity specialist is a fascinating and multi-faceted position in a dynamic, fast-growing field. In addition to certifications and advanced education, cybersecurity job seekers are well-advised to connect with internship opportunities and do plenty of reading, self-learning and networking. If you already have a computer-related degree, the process will be quicker. All you’ll need to do is earn relevant cybersecurity certifications and get work experience in data security to land a job as a cybersecurity specialist. These are common skills listed on cybersecurity specialist job descriptions.
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. Finally, update your resume with all the certifications, skills, and experience you’ve gained. It’s wise to tailor your resume and cover letter to each job that you apply for to demonstrate that you have the specific qualifications they’re looking for in the job description.
Grow your network.
Often times the job of a cybersecurity specialist can be somewhat routine. They are responsible for making sure that networks and computer systems are up-to-date and not vulnerable to software bugs. Examples include incident response analyst or security operations center (SOC) analyst. If you want to become a cybersecurity specialist, you need industry-recognized certifications. Two of the best cybersecurity certifications you can get are CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+).
- Another certification is the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) credential that demonstrates your ability to assess security vulnerabilities and report on compliance.
- It’s not uncommon for cybersecurity specialist job descriptions to call for several years of experience[MOU4] .
- Employers may be willing to lower their experience requirements for job candidates with cybersecurity-focused degrees and/or in-demand cybersecurity certifications.
- Those who don’t have a degree, experience or certifications may need to put several years into becoming a cybersecurity specialist.
They provide ongoing oversight for organizations’ cybersecurity efforts through several methods. Payscale also reports that in 2024, cybersecurity specialist programs will be compensated across a wide range, depending on experience, responsibilities, and geography. These are just a few examples of the dozens of cybersecurity certifications available. When looking at job opportunities in the cybersecurity industry, it’s a good idea to keep notes about what kinds of certifications employers are looking for. A cybersecurity specialist works on the front lines and behind the scenes to protect digital systems and assets from hackers, threats and vulnerabilities.
Job brief
Network+ certifies the essential skills needed to confidently design, configure, manage and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals. Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact… Identify people in your network who could suit your needs and reach out to them for a meeting to see if it would be a good fit.
Relevant certifications can give job seekers a competitive advantage and help them prove to employers that they have in-demand information security skills. Many IT professionals have an IT degree of some sort and experience working at the help desk. Getting their foot in the door to an entry-level cybersecurity specialist job role can be as easy as earning CompTIA Security+. The more cybersecurity certifications they earn, the more job opportunities will open to them.
Develop your skills.
It’s important for current and prospective cybersecurity specialists to earn cybersecurity certifications that will get the attention of hiring managers. They can do this while getting a degree, after they’ve earned a degree or while they are working. A couple of the most in-demand industry certifications are CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+).
Regardless of your degree, it is important to constantly educate yourself on new technologies and threats. Sometimes, this may mean taking additional cyber certifications or classes after you are hired. As a discipline within network engineering, this field covers protection against breaches for interconnected electronics rather than individual databases or devices. Network security professionals use firewalls, physical hardware and education efforts to safeguard against intrusions and retain lost data.
Gain Experience
Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics, education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. That often means that continuing education is required — both in the form of formal, industry-recognized certifications — and the form of informal learning and tracking industry developments.
Use this Cyber Security Specialist job description to advertise your vacancies and find qualified candidates. Feel free to modify responsibilities and requirements based on your needs. Matt Whittle has experience writing and editing accessible education-related content in health, technology, nursing and business subjects. His work has been featured on Sleep.org, Psychology.org and NurseJournal.org.
In addition to connecting with your co-workers, consider joining a professional organization. Infrastructure security covers the protection of physical and digital assets through the architecture itself. 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. Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths.
Keep in mind that most certification exams require significant preparation, and some include experience requirements. 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. Other topics that are covered include implementation and governance, risk and compliance. 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 [+ Career & Salary Guide]
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. Payscale reports an average annual cybersecurity salary of around $97,000, and these wages typically increase with experience.
