Cyber Security Career Path

Learn About Cyber Security
Career

Cyber security experts, also known as information security analysts, have a wide range of tasks, but the most important job is to keep internet data secure. As more personal information is stored online, it becomes increasingly vital to strengthen security. Cyber security careers are complex, with numerous roles available with banks, merchants, and government agencies. You might expect to protect an organization's information and network, set firewalls, design security policies, and monitor activities on the job. If a breach happens, you will be responsible for rapidly identifying the issue and providing a remedy.

Cyber security degree pic

Evaluation of Cybersecurity jobs

Public and private, for-profit and not-for-profit, businesses and organisations of all sizes hire cyber security experts. They work for both big and small businesses and organizations.

  1. Technology
  2. Government
  3. Banking and finance
  4. Insurance
  5. Health care
  6. Law enforcement
  7. Telecommunications


A career in cybersecurity can be very rewarding. This fast-paced industry is for those who want a challenge and the exhilaration of solving problems. According to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for information security analysts is predicted to increase by 31% over the next ten years (BLS).

A rise in cybersecurity occupations makes sense when you think about it. First, there is an ever-increasing demand for skilled cybersecurity workers as technology becomes increasingly pervasive in our daily lives.

There are now not enough well-qualified cybersecurity experts to go around, despite forecasts of more openings in the future.

Candidates now have many possibilities due to the tremendous expansion of the cybersecurity employment market in recent years.

Because of the scarcity of qualified individuals in the field, anyone interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity may expect a wide range of job options, high wages, and excellent benefits.

The cybersecurity profession has a wide spectrum of occupations up to executive management and all in between.

A security analyst in a SOC could be an option for an entry-level security professional (security operations center). Senior security analysts and incident response (IR) teams are possibilities as a career path for these professionals.

Responsibilities of a Cyber Security Professional

  1.  Protects information system assets by detecting and resolving potential and real security issues.
  2. System security is provided by specifying access privileges, control structures, and resources.
  3. Problems are identified by finding abnormalities and reporting violations.
  4. Implements security enhancements by examining the present situation, evaluating trends, and forecasting needs.
  5. Conducts periodic audits to identify security infractions and inefficiencies.
  6. Implements and maintains security controls to upgrade the system.
  7. Prepares performance reports and communicates system status to keep users informed.
  8. Maintains service quality by adhering to organizational norms.
  9. Attends educational workshops and reviews publications to keep technical skills up to date.
  10. As needed, contributes to team effort by completing related tasks.

Things to know before choosing Cybersecurity as career

Data is the main thing businesses are trying to keep safe, no matter what kind of business they work in. If you work for a company with different compliance rules or security practices, the controls you have in place are the same. In the end, the goal is to keep data private, secure, and available, experts said in a recent webinar by Analytics India Magazine.

Businesses use people, processes, and technology in this way. The job of a cybersecurity professional is to design, set up, and fix a wide range of technologies and processes. These include encryption, firewalls/IPS, advanced malware protection, network analytics, identity access management, and authentication. People also have to follow the rules to protect their data.

Cybersecurity degree




Eligibility for a job in cybersecurity

People who want to work in cybersecurity usually need to know basic or advanced cybersecurity concepts, have a lot of work experience in the field, have industry certifications, and know about regulatory policies.

There is also no academic requirement for cybersecurity, which means that it could be a career path for you no matter what you study. The rise in cyberattacks makes it more likely for people from all walks of life to work in cybersecurity. Even people who study the humanities can work in cybersecurity and make a good living.

It's time to pick a Cybersecurity job

Cybersecurity is a very big field, and there are many different jobs that you can do. Therefore, when you start a new job in cybersecurity, you need to look at all of the industry’s different job roles.

There are a lot of different jobs in cybersecurity, like GRC auditors, incident responders, SOC analysts, IoT security professionals, security software developers, cloud security experts, cyber forensics experts, and cybersecurity trainers, to name a few. For example, suppose you want to become an auditor or a person who manages Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC). You need to know all the parts of the security infrastructure.

Different Types of Job / Cyber Security Career Path

1. Application security engineer

  1. What they do: Application security engineers can work in any industry to make, install, and maintain computer applications and software. They can also work on their own.
  2. They spend most of their time in an office, writing and testing software for clients.
  3. On the other hand, some companies put their engineers together in teams so that they can work together on projects.
  4. This position requires a bachelor’s degree in an IT-related subject, such as computer science or computer engineering.
  5. C, C#, Java, Python, Ruby, and JavaScript are just some of the programming languages you should know.

According to Indeed, it’s about $126,000 a year, which most people make.

2. Security engineer

  1. Security engineers are in charge of creating and putting in place solutions that keep an organization’s products and systems safe.
  2. They also need to look at how an organization works and think about what might happen in the future.
  3. As a result, they need to be good at responding to incidents and know a lot about computer forensics to be good at their jobs.
  4. A bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or a similar field is needed to get this job.
  5. Having a lot of experience in IT security is also usually required.

According to Indeed, the typical yearly compensation in this field is around $56,000.

3. Network security engineer

Security Administration

Network security engineers play a big part in the process when it comes to setting up, configuring, and managing network- or security-related hardware and software.

  1. Network monitoring tools, such as firewalls and routers and VPNs, are also part of this group (virtual private networks).
  2. Another thing they have to do is check for network security risks, and they might also be asked to help design network infrastructure.
  3. You’ll usually need a CISSP® (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) certification to do this job.
  4. When someone has at least five years of experience in two or more of the eight CBK domains, they can take the CISSP exam.


People make about $112,000 a year, according to Indeed.

4. Information security analyst

  1. What they do: Information security analysts are in charge of looking at security problems and solutions.
  2. They research the industry, look for security threats, and develop ways to keep their company safe.
  3. The job requires a wide range of skills and requires people to work with a wide range of people, from analysts inside and outside the company to senior employees.
  4. A bachelor’s degree in IT or network security is needed, and some real-world experience.
  5. Like those related to ISO 27001, additional information security skills are good.
  6. It’s about $85,000 a year on Indeed, so that’s the average salary.

5. IT security specialist

  1. What they do: IT security experts examine an organization’s cybersecurity posture and previous breaches to determine how they occurred and what needs to be done to prevent them from occurring again.
  2. Because IT and cybersecurity are so wide-ranging, most businesses have a lot of people who work on IT security. Each person focuses on a different part of the field.
  3. For example, one person might work only on web applications, and another person might work on the company’s network.
  4. You’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or another field in most cases.
  5. As you move into a more specialized field, you must pass the right exams.

According to Indeed, the typical yearly compensation in this field is around $56,000.

Which Cybersecurity Career Is Right For Me?

Here are some popular jobs based on how much experience you have:

  1. Some of the first jobs are systems engineer, systems administrator, web developer, IT technician, network engineer, and security specialist.
  2. Security technicians, security analysts, incident responders, IT auditors, cybersecurity consultants, and penetration testers are middle-level jobs.
  3. Cybersecurity managers, cybersecurity architects, cybersecurity engineers, and chief information security officers are all high-level jobs.

People who work in cybersecurity are more in demand than ever before because cybercriminals are getting better at their attacks, and there are fewer barriers to entry. People who work in security are becoming more difficult to find and more expensive to hire. By 2021, there could be 3.5 million open jobs in the industry.

The next cybersecurity expert could be you. Do you think you’re up for the job?

To learn more ways to improve your skills, check out our guide to which IT certification is right for you.

How to Start a Career in Cybersecurity?

In the wake of many cyberattacks, cybersecurity experts are in high demand. People in private, public, and government sectors are scrambling to protect their systems and data. Cybersecurity Ventures says that cybercrime will cost the world $6 trillion a year by 2021.

So many people want to work as cybersecurity experts that U.S. News & World Report ranked Information Security Analyst as the fifth-best technology job in 2019 (and #38 of its 100 Best Jobs) based on salary, employment rate and more.

You can see why: Information security analyst jobs pay an average of $98,350, and there are no job openings in the field as a whole. That is not a better time to start a new career in cybersecurity because there is such a high demand for those with the right education and experience.

Cybersecurity Career Paths

Decide which job is best for you. Before spending money on education and training, you should think about which career path you want to go down. Once you decide your career path, there are a lot of different jobs and careers to choose from, depending on your interests and skills.

  1. Chief Information Security Officer
  2. Information Security Analyst
  3. Global Information Security Director
  4. Cybersecurity Consultant
  5. Lead Software Security Engineer
  6. Cybersecurity Architect
  7. Cybersecurity Engineer
  8. Penetration Tester
  9. Network Administrator
  10. Cybersecurity Analyst
  11. Cybersecurity Specialist
  12. Security Auditor

Cyber Security Engineering

Second, you can become a cybersecurity engineer. This job is best for people who have some engineering experience and want to learn how to build safe systems to protect against threats.

Information security engineers who know what it takes to build a safe system can work for:

  1. Lead Software Security Engineer
  2. Cybersecurity Architect
  3. Cybersecurity Engineer

It’s often the first step to getting a job in cybersecurity is to get a college degree. And if you have a degree and a lot of experience in information security, there are a lot of different jobs you can do.

Most people who want to be cybersecurity leaders start with a bachelor’s degree in information technology, information systems, or computer science. After getting a bachelor’s degree and working in the field, the next step is to get a master’s degree in cybersecurity operations and leadership or information technology. This will help you get more jobs and make you more attractive to employers who want to hire you for higher-level jobs.

If you want to be a cybersecurity engineer, you should first get an undergraduate degree in engineering. Then, you should get specialized experience in cybersecurity either through years of direct experience, a master’s degree program that focuses on cybersecurity engineering, or both.

Guide for Creating Cybersecurity Resume

Managers are looking for people who have a good mix of education and real-world experience. Easy to read: Your most recent work should be at the top of your resume, and your name should be at the top. Here are some things you can do to help you start building your cybersecurity resume:

Tips for a good resume

  1. Use numbers when you can to show how well you did.
  2. Write a short history of your work.
  3. Include the most recent contact information.
  4. Double-check everything.
  5. Tips for a cybersecurity resume

Including relevant education experiences, such as self-paced courses and certifications.

  1. List your most important IT and cybersecurity skills.
  2. Show off any IT-related accomplishments or success stories.
  3. There has never been a better time to start a job in cybersecurity than now.

Every company today needs experts who know how to build and protect systems to protect them from ongoing and even dangerous cyber threats.

Cybersecurity jobs are available now worldwide, in all sectors and industries. If you have the skills and education to show that you are good at information security, jobs are available right now.

Cybersecurity Jobs in the Federal Government

The US federal government hires many cybersecurity workers because it wants to keep the country safe. In the next section, we’ll talk more in-depth about getting a job with the government.

OPM is the Federal Government’s main human resources and personnel policy administrator. The US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is in charge of this job.

People who work for the federal government are thought to number about 2.1 million. Walmart is the largest employer in the United States, which is about the same size as them. The next largest employer is Amazon, which has about 1.3 million employees worldwide.

Make a big difference.

Working for the federal government gives you opportunities that aren’t available anywhere else. Environmental protection, national security, safety in the sky, and helping kids get a good education are all government jobs. They also look into federal crimes. They want to make a big difference in these areas, so they want a job with a government agency like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Transportation Security Agency (TSA), the Department of Education (ED), or the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) (FBI).

Security and benefits

While the federal government has a good pay scale (see the General Schedule section below), many people want to work for the government because of job security and better benefits. People who work for the government get laid off, but the government isn’t nearly as vulnerable to market forces as private businesses are.




People who work for the government get the following benefits, too.

  1. Health Insurance covers employee, their spouse, and their children under the age of 26 are covered by many health plans offered via this program.
  2. People who work for the government can choose from various dental and vision insurance plans that cover them and their families up to the age of 22.
  3. People who work for the company can get life insurance that starts at one year’s salary and goes up to more than six times their salary. They can also get coverage for their spouse and eligible children.
  4. It’s called long-term care insurance, and it helps pay for care when an employee can’t do things like eating, dressing, or bathe themselves because of a chronic illness, injury, disability, or aging.
  5. Flexible spending accounts, Federal employees who are new or already have flexible spending accounts can set up healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts and other types.

Easy way to Find & Apply for Government
Jobs in cybersecurity

This is the best place to look for government jobs. This government website is a one-stop-shop for all GS jobs. An online application process is one of the things it has. It also advises on finding a job that is right for each person.

Find government cybersecurity jobs

Candidates can find jobs in the federal government at any government agency. FAA and the Department of Energy are two government agencies that often hire cybersecurity experts. They both look for people to join their teams. However, job seekers can find many cybersecurity jobs at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Safety Agency (CISA).

A search for CISA jobs will likely turn up more than 100. Most CISA jobs are for people who earn between GS-13 and GS-15. They have roles like:

  1. IT Specialist
  2. IT Management Student Trainee
  3. Management and Program Analyst
  4. Information Technology Specialist
  5. Chief of Strategy, Policy, and Plans

Many of these CISA jobs need to be done in more than one place, and some of them are telework jobs where the candidate can live anywhere in the United States.

Cybersecurity Job Requirements
& Salary Information

As long as a security professional is trying to get hired by the federal government or a company in the private sector, they will likely have to pass a background check and drug test. Therefore, there is always a good idea to be upfront with the person who wants to hire you if you have a bad record.

Sample job descriptions

Some businesses will ask for certain certifications, while others will say that having them is good. However, because there is no such thing as having too many certifications, this is what you should do:

IT security analyst

  1. The person chosen for the job must know how to protect networks and the cloud and how to use virtualization and VMware.
  2. The candidate must also look at assets and find and fix problems.
  3. This person must be able to do many different things simultaneously, using their motivation and good planning, organization, and scheduling skills.

Examiners of digital data forensics:

  1. Work well as part of a team and on your own with little supervision or guidance.
  2. People who are good at talking and writing
  3. People know how to use forensic techniques and tools
  4. Experience with scripting languages so that routine and investigative tasks can be done automatically.
  5. Microsoft, Apple, and Linux-based operating systems are some things I know about.
  6. There should be jobs for people who work in cybersecurity near me.

I think it’s safe to say that there is a need for cybersecurity wherever there is a lot of technology around.

Explore Our CYBER SECURITY DEGREE & CAREER GUIDE  To Shine In Security Field.

Explore Our CYBER SECURITY DEGREE & CAREER GUIDE
To Shine In Security Field.

We provide resources on colleges that offer cyber degrees, as well as information on career options, professional qualifications, and free online courses in security themes, among other things, to assist you in finding your dream job.