Cybersecurity is one of the leading fields in the world. Companies are connected to the Internet virtually everywhere. Connecting to the Internet makes data breaches a major risk. Companies are hiring cybersecurity professionals to fill their ranks and make their operations safer.
Certification is a highly sought after skill in the IT industry, especially when it comes to cybersecurity. A CISM certification course teaches people how to secure companies and organizations with plans and policies. When you have a certification, it is internationally recognized and is often used as a sign of your expertise.
The top five, leading cybersecurity professions to know about are:
1. Information Security Analyst
An information security analyst is one of the most desired positions in the technology industry. These professionals can earn as much as $90,000 to $100,000+, depending on the city they live in and their experience.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median pay in 2019 as being $99,730.
Entering the field requires a Bachelor’s degree, and the job outlook expects a 32% rise in demand for these professionals. You’ll have to:
- Plan security measures
- Carry out plans
- Protect sensitive information
You’ll be in charge of implementing strategies that prevent attacks and monitor organizations against attacks.
2. Software Security Engineer
Software engineers play a vital role in cybersecurity. If the software that’s developed is riddled with bugs and vulnerabilities, hackers can exploit these issues. Lead software security engineers, those that have been in their field for years, earn between $125,000 and $150,000.
These individuals may assess the risk of desktop software testing by desktop application testing services, analyze the risk and also develop secure software.
Engineers may be in charge of proprietary and will have to find and correct major vulnerabilities. and be on the look out for cybersecurity threats and attacks.
A Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or computer science is recommended.
3. Chief Information Security Officer
A prestigious position in the cybersecurity industry. The role of a Chief Information Security Officer is to:
- Develop security processes that must be followed by the entire organization. These security processes will include protocols that ensure that the best security practices are in place to lower the risk of a cybersecurity threat.
- Implement all of the recommended security processes to ensure that they’re properly in place. The implementation process may include assessing current security measures, making changes to current measures and training staff.
- Maintaining security measures will also be part of the Chief Information Security Officer’s role. The maintenance process will ensure that the current measures, systems and hardware are all maintained and running properly.
The Chief is the leader in the organization, so they will have to delegate tasks and work alongside owners and managers.
And for this immense responsibility, the Chief Information Security Officer will earn a salary between $150,000 and $300,000 a year.
Education will include a bachelor’s degree in a related field, but most individuals will only enter this position after decades of experience.
4. Penetration Tester
Organizations rely on their networks to share data between multiple systems, and with the rise of collaboration, it’s becoming even more important to have penetration testing to be performed to discover vulnerabilities in a system.
Those seeking a position in this career will have either extensive experience in a computer-related or cybersecurity-related field. Educational requirements will be, in most cases, a bachelor’s degree or higher in a computer-related field.
These ethical hackers will spend their day trying to simulate cyber crimes and break into an organization’s network. While this is a vital role, these individuals will work alongside others in the cybersecurity field to strengthen weaknesses that they find within an organization’s system. Learn advanced skills about ethical hacking by attending international cybersecurity bootcamps and earn Ethical Hacking Certification that would be a great boost to your IT portfolio.
The average salary ranges from $80,000 to $130,000 per year.
5. Information Security Forensic Expert
When a cyber attack does occur, it is up to the forensics expert to determine how the attack was carried out. There is fault in every system, and it is the job of the forensics expert to recreate the attack on the network and find any clues that may have been left behind by the attackers.
There are always new and exciting opportunities in this field, and the forensic expert will spend the majority of their time learning about new vulnerabilities. These security experts will work with others inside of an organization to strengthen their security.
Estimated salary in this position is $75,000 to $110,000 per year, with the average person earning around $85,000 per year.
Cybersecurity is a growing field in the computer industry. These professionals are a vital cog in an organization’s operation to keep their data from getting in the hands of their competitors, or from massive data breaches that can cost tens of millions of dollars or more.