Cyber security Career

Cyber Security Auditor

How to become a Cyber Security Auditor

Cyber Security Auditor must study a variety of skills to analyze a company’s computer security systems to ensure that they are protected from cybercriminals. Security auditors often create extensive reports that evaluate the efficiency of a system and make recommendations for improvements.

What is Cyber Security Auditor?

A cyber security auditor is critical to the safety of an organization’s computer systems and security components, ensuring that all computer systems and their security components stay secure. A significant portion of the position entails continual communication with all information technology departments within the firm to maintain security compliance and efficacy of the organization.

What does a Cyber Security Auditor do?

It may be worthwhile for anyone pursuing a career in the technology sector to look into cyber auditing as a possible alternative. Users and businesses alike can benefit from cyber auditing, which provides an ideal opportunity to outwit criminals in cyberspace while also averting assaults and privacy hazards to users and businesses. However, in many ways, cyber security auditors are generalists in information technology because they must be knowledgeable about various technological topics.

These information technology specialists plan and manage audits for their respective corporations or organizations. An audit is a process in which a professional thoroughly examines every part of the system and network and every possible access point to identify any hidden vulnerabilities. After completing the audit, the cyber auditor analyses the results, which is a long and complex procedure. Cyber audits, on the other hand, are beneficial since they demonstrate to management where system strengths and weaknesses exist at any particular time. In addition, any recommended system enhancements should be accompanied by a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed changes.

Cyber Security Auditor Roles and Responsibilities

It is incumbent upon security auditors to undertake a tremendous deal of responsibility. A firm or government entity must be protected from criminal and terrorist activity, which they must do through security measures. Because most corporations and government organizations store the vast majority of their records in digital databases, these databases must be adequately protected using firewalls, encryption, and other security measures. In addition, these databases must be tested regularly to guarantee that they are up to date with the newest information technology standards and practices.

After that, the security auditor is responsible for designing and managing an audit for the organization. Audits may be conducted at the departmental level, depending on the organization’s size; however, some businesses are small enough that the entire system can be audited at the same time. In this case, the auditor must make the determination, as only they can analyze the entire structure of the organization’s systems.

Once the audit is completed, the auditor must be able to evaluate the data that has been collected. In this very comprehensive and analytical process, the professional must comb through hundreds of reports with a fine-toothed comb to find the information they seek. First, they will need to examine the logs to determine whether, when, and where a SQL database has been breached or otherwise compromised in the case of a suspected security breach. After then, the problem and its solution must be evaluated and documented in detail.

A company’s management team will receive a copy of the audit report once written and distributed to them. A demonstration of where the system is doing effectively and areas that can be improved will be made during the presentation by the auditor. In addition, the report will outline best practices for information technology professionals and other team members. If the report recommends upgrades, it is the company’s responsibility to produce a cost-benefit analysis to establish the worth of the upgrade recommendation. For example, allocating extra staff to strengthen security protocols can pay off in the long run by ensuring that corporate operations can continue securely and cost-effectively without interruption.

Qualifications and criteria for the position of Cyber Security Auditor

It combines hard talents and soft capabilities that distinguish the greatest cyber security auditors. They will possess a thorough understanding of all aspects of technology and general business procedures.

Some of the most in-demand abilities are as follows:

  1. Ability to work under pressure, in a fast-paced environment
  2. Strong attention to detail
  3. Ability to work both independently and as a team player
  4. Good oral and written communication skills
  5. Leadership
  6. Analytical mind

How to become a Cyber Security Auditor?

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

The typical way to become a cyber-security auditor is to earn a bachelor’s degree in cyber security, perhaps the quickest and most straightforward path. However, those interested in pursuing a security auditor job can select from a range of degrees, including computer science, information technology, computer architecture or engineering, information assurance, or another technology-based field closely connected.

In some areas of expertise, it is feasible to find entry-level work in cyber security auditing with as little as an associate degree. However, given the desperate need for competent cyber security specialists among businesses, you may be able to discover a plethora of chances with only an associate’s degree or less at this point. Those who find work without a degree can anticipate being required to obtain a degree in their careers to grow in their positions. This can be completed online while gaining significant experience.

Cyber security Career

Step 2: Obtaining Work Experience

To become a cyber-security auditor, you will need to have previous work experience. In most circumstances, these occupations are not entry-level employment in the first place. On the other hand, some security auditor positions are utilized to assist more experienced security auditors. So many people will prefer to work as systems or network administrators before applying for auditing positions due to this. This is especially true given that most firms prefer employees with three to five years of relevant work experience.

Pursuing job experience while pursuing degrees in cyber security can be beneficial for students who wish to get full-time employment after completing a degree program in cyber security. You will have a competitive advantage over individuals in cyber security who have no prior work experience in any IT industry if you have any form of job experience in any IT field. This expertise can also assist you in increasing your pay scale throughout your whole career and increasing the speed with which you qualify for and earn promotions in your current position.

Step 3: Get Certifications

Continuing education will be an essential component of any successful cyber security professional’s career, particularly since hackers and bad actors continue to break past measures at a rate that appears to be faster than they can be implemented. In addition, in this industry, risks, threats, technological advancements, compliance requirements, and so on change regularly. Because of this, an individual must be prepared to constantly learn new abilities in order to survive and progress. Certifications are one technique of achieving this goal, among others.

Team members that hold professional and skill-based certificates are in high demand among employers. Achieving such feats demonstrates that a person is, in fact, skilled and qualified in the fields in which they claim to be experts. It also gives certification holders a higher level of experience in their profession than those who do not hold the certification. These certificates can also increase your earning potential and provide more options for growth in your current position. The types of certifications sought are numerous and include cyber security, information systems auditing, systems controls, compliance, detection, and other related fields.

Step 4: Advancement in one’s professional life

Complete a master’s degree if you want to grow in your career in the shortest amount of time and with the greatest amount of profit. Top organizations frequently demand or prefer candidates with advanced degrees to hold positions in cyber security decision-making. In order to be considered for higher-level roles, such as a position in the C-suite, a master’s degree will almost likely be required.

It is feasible for those pursuing a master’s degree to complete a more broad degree with a cyber security emphasis, such as an MBA or a master’s degree in computer science, before pursuing a cyber security-specific degree. At this point in your educational career, though, it may be more profitable and enjoyable to specialize in a particular field, such as a master’s degree in cyber security, information systems auditing, or information assurance.

Cyber Security Auditor Sample Job Description

The types of positions available in cyber security auditing range from generalized to highly specialist. The majority of people will choose a certain industry. In contrast, some will choose a specialized niche within the security auditing profession, such as cloud applications, network infrastructure, and other areas of specialization. Therefore, it’s critical, to begin with, administrative positions such as system, network, and security administrator positions to get experience.

Possible Career Paths

These entry-level positions can pave the way for more established positions in the field of cyber security auditing, such as those listed below:

IT Security Auditor: An IT security auditor is a professional that performs regular audits on computer systems for companies of all sizes and industries. The knowledge and expertise of these professionals in information and computer technology are wide and sophisticated, with a focus on policy development, pen testing, and cyber security.

Information Security Analyst: An information security analyst is responsible for protecting computer networks and systems by installing software and developing strategic plans. It is the responsibility of these cyber security professionals to put in place a variety of security precautions. The functions and responsibilities of these professionals are constantly evolving in response to the changing nature of cyber-attacks.

Cyber Security Expert: The security measures implemented during the development stages of data centers, software systems, and network infrastructure are of interest to a cyber-security specialist. Specialists in cyber security examine all software and hardware to identify risks and vulnerabilities and monitor and manage cyber incidents.

Internal Auditor: An internal auditor examines the existing control system, including processes, procedures, and policies, to reduce the likelihood of misuse, waste, and fraud in the organization. These experts devote considerable effort to obtaining, investigating, and analyzing relevant information to identify flaws and make recommendations for improvement.

Security Consultant: Security consultants are responsible for evaluating and analyzing existing security systems and measures. Whether working with several clients or for a single client or business, these consultants scrutinize all aspects for potential breaches and areas of weakness.

Penetration Tester: A pen tester is also referred to as an ethical hacker or a white-hat hacker, depending on the context. Attempting to break various corporations’ network and computer security systems is the crucial responsibility assigned to these highly skilled professionals. In essence, they attempt to hack a corporation in good faith to aid in preventing successful attacks by bad actors.

Audit Director: An audit director is in command of numerous cyber security auditors, and a senior audit manager is in charge of a team of cyber security auditors. These managers build the team and departmental strategies and accountability standards, controls, and risk assessments. They also coach and mentor team members, monitor plan development, and perform various other tasks and responsibilities.

How to get into Cyber Security Auditor Job?

The need to be aware that positions classified as “entry-level” in cybersecurity often demand a greater degree of education and experience than those in many other industries should be kept in mind while applying for cybersecurity opportunities. As a result, demonstrating considerable previous work experience is one of the most effective ways to draw attention throughout your job hunt.

Advanced education, such as a master’s degree and industry certifications, can also give job hopefuls a competitive advantage in the job market. In addition, job seekers in the cybersecurity field, particularly those with less experience, are urged to connect with internship possibilities and engage in reading, self-education, and networking.

On its Cyber Blog, the University of San Diego, a highly renowned industry thought leader and education provider, offers regular reports on the state of the cybersecurity employment market.

It also offers two cybersecurity master’s degree programs, one of which is entirely online, and the other is online and on-campus. The Master of Science in Cybersecurity Operations and Leadership can be completed wholly online, while the Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering can be completed both online and on campus. These two programs offer a hands-on, cutting-edge curriculum taught by industry experts who share insights from years of relevant industry experience in their classes.

What is Cyber Security Auditor Salary 2022?

Cyber Security Auditor Salary

Jobs as a cyber-security auditor are well-compensated. Cyber security auditors earn an average of $86,000 per year. Still, their salaries can range from roughly $71,000 per year for a quality assurance auditor to $120,000 per year for an IT security specialist, depending on their experience. Jobs in major cities will pay significantly more than jobs in smaller towns and rural areas of the country. For example, IT security specialist positions in the New York City area may be found on Indeed.com, with salaries averaging over $125,000 per year.

Aside from experience level, certifications obtained, educational degrees, and the industry in which the cyber security auditor is employed, other factors that influence income include the following.