If you’re trying to advance your cybersecurity career, there’s good news.
There are many different job roles in cybersecurity, and organizations are in desperate need of cybersecurity professionals, with more than 4 million unfilled positions around the globe.
But what cyber security roles are you most likely to have success in? Here are the five most sought-after job titles:
1. Application Security Engineer
What they do: Application security engineers can work in any number of industries to create, implement, and maintain computer applications and software.
They spend almost all their time in an office environment, with most of their work involving writing and testing software.
However, some organizations put their engineers in teams, enabling them to collaborate on projects.
Necessary qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in an IT-related subject, such as computer science or computer engineering, is expected.
Knowledge of multiple programming languages, including C, C#, Java, Python, Ruby, and JavaScript, is also essential.
Salary: According to Indeed, the average annual salary is about $126,000.
2. Security Engineer
What they do: Security engineers are responsible for creating and implementing solutions that ensure an organization’s products and systems are secure.
They also need to be able to assess an organization’s workflows and anticipate future issues.
As such, they must be adept at incident response and have a strong understanding of computer forensics.
Necessary qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or a similar field is essential.
Significant experience in IT security will typically also be necessary.
Salary: According to Indeed, the average annual salary is about $98,000.
3. Network Security Engineer
What they do: Network security engineers play an essential part in the deployment, configuration, and administration of network- and security-related hardware and software.
This includes firewalls, routers, network monitoring tools, and VPNs (virtual private networks).
They are also tasked with performing network security risk assessments and might be asked to help design network infrastructure.
Necessary qualifications: You will typically need a CISSP® (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) qualification.
To be eligible to take the CISSP exam, applicants must have five or more years of experience in two or more of the eight CBK domains.
Salary: According to Indeed, the average annual salary is about $112,000.
4. Information Security Analyst
What they do: Information security analysts are responsible for examining security problems and finding solutions.
Their duties include researching the industry, finding security threats, and developing strategies to ensure their organization remains secure.
The job demands a wide skillset and requires individuals to work with a broad range of people, including analysts inside and outside the organization and senior personnel.
Necessary qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in IT or network security is required, as is practical experience.
Additional information security qualifications, such as those related to ISO 27001, are beneficial.
Salary: According to Indeed, the average annual salary is about $85,000.
5. IT Security Specialist
What they do: IT security specialists analyze an organization’s cybersecurity to identify past breaches and devise measures to prevent future ones.
Given that IT and cybersecurity are such broad topics, organizations will usually have many IT security specialists, each one focusing on a specific area.
For example, one person might work exclusively on web applications while another works on the organization’s networks.
Necessary qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field will usually be necessary.
As you move into a specialist area, you will need to pass relevant exams.
Salary: According to Indeed, the average annual salary is about $56,000.
6. Cybersecurity Analyst
What they do: Cybersecurity analysts are responsible for developing and implementing security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems.
They may also conduct security audits, investigate security breaches, and provide incident response support.
Necessary qualifications: Cybersecurity analysts need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field.
Salary: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), The median annual wage for information security analysts is $99,730.
Map your career path with IT Governance USA
If you’re thinking about a career in cybersecurity, IT Governance USA is the perfect place to start.
With our learning pathway, you can see which types of cyber security roles are right for you and what cybersecurity skills you need.
We are also a certified cybersecurity training provider, offering a wide range of courses across a range of specialties.
Our experts will teach you all you need to know about your chosen subject, helping you pass the included exam and get a cyber security role.
A version of this blog was originally published on February 14, 2019.
