Content
After all, the knowledge and skills you gain will benefit your career and, in turn, the organization. Both Master’s degrees and certificates can often be completed fully online, in the evenings, on the weekends, or on a part-time basis. This level of convenience and flexibility means many students manage to complete their studies while holding down a full-time job.
- Major job requirements can widely vary among employers and you might miss the opportunity to build up your work experience and knowledge before making the leap toward a senior or management position.
- The median annual wage for network security specialists is $84,810 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Public safety officers tend to earn a lower pay than security specialists by an average of $13,296 per year.
- On its Career Pathways page, CyberSeek lists Cybersecurity Specialist as an entry-level position (one that pays an average annual salary of $99,652).
- Contact recruiters directly to double-check that your qualification will be right for the specific job you’re aiming for.
Information security requires employees to possess hard skills, such as programming languages, and engage in complex technological solutions. Security specialists should begin by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or a related area, such as computer science. Specific fallout from security breaches can vary depending on the type of work an organization does. Cyberattacks can result in the loss of consumer confidence, sensitive information leaks, network failures, stalled production, and compliance infractions, giving security specialists a crucial role in their company’s overall health.
Training
Employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 35% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for information security analysts is expected to be very high, as these analysts will be needed to create innovative solutions to prevent hackers from stealing critical information or causing problems for computer networks. SNHU provides affordable online technology degrees that are respected by employers and universities nationwide.
This program is designed to provide a comprehensive program to develop a skilled workforce in the emerging field of information technology security. Managing information security programs consists of preserving information confidentiality and protection, risk management, data and system integrity, availability, authenticity, and utility. The program is based on information security concepts, principles, methods, techniques, practices, and procedures that guide today’s IT security professionals. This program prepares graduates to become employed as IT security specialists, firewall and VPN specialists, and data assurance specialists. Additionally, the program concentrates on industry-specific requirements in the health care and financial areas, as well as other institutions that currently use electronic commerce.
Typical Qualifications to Become a IT Security Specialist
If selected, the applicant must supply a transcript or certification of degree. If the above description of a security specialist’s role and skill set appeals to you, what steps should you take to get started on this career path? Below is a five-stage process that will take you from a point of being inexperienced in cyber security to getting hired as a security specialist. Workforce demand for computer security specialists is high in all verticals, including corporations, schools, medical practices, and government agencies.
Backing up your employer’s information is another duty you’ll need to perform to ensure that in the worst case scenario, you don’t lose everything you’re working to protect. Always inquire with a potential employer for their specific job requirements. Some companies may accept as little as 1-to-2 years of experience while some may require over five years of IT security experience.
Program Information
In fact, patrol officers are 2.1% less likely to graduate with a Master’s Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree. We looked at the average security specialist salary and compared it with the wages of a patrol officer. Generally speaking, patrol officers are paid $14,271 lower than security specialists per year. Aspiring security specialists should gain as much experience as possible in using SIEM, programming languages, firewalls, and threat protection software.
Some smaller companies combine the role of Security Engineer and Security Analyst and this would be a simple way to move into this position without making a big leap. IT Security Specialists should be able to make recommendations to upper-level management for improving and optimizing their systems. They should have a thorough knowledge of antivirus and malware protection systems, and be able to determine the most appropriate one for their organization.
Cybersecurity Specialist – Skills Needed
A Cyber how to become a security specialist is an expert in the field of information technology security. They work to make sure that networks are safe from external threats like hackers or crackers who want access for malicious purposes. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts cyber security specialist opportunities will grow 33 percent between 2020 and 2030, which is on a much faster pace than average for all US professions.
- If you’re in the former career, then you’ll work with banks to transport and protect money as it’s transported from one location to another.
- Check out CompTIA’s Tech Job Report video series now premiering on CompTIA Connect.
- The program is based on information security concepts, principles, methods, techniques, practices, and procedures that guide today’s IT security professionals.
- As a security specialist, your overarching goal is to analyze current security procedures and suggest changes to upper management for improving efficiency and overall security.
- An employer might offer training in the form of familiarizing you with specific software or hardware the company uses.
- However, check beforehand whether an employer does want you to have a cyber security certificate, and which specific one they have in mind.
They should be prepared to continue business as usual even during disaster recovery, which means maintaining backups for business continuity. IT Security Specialists must stay up-to-date on the latest security systems trends, hack methods, and systems updates to keep their system running smoothly and safely. Information Technology (IT) Security Specialists develop and implement the security measures their organization needs to protect their information assets in a secure system.
Job details
It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties should not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty. Welcome to ITCareerFinder, a world-class web portal designed to help IT pros advance their careers. According to ZipRecruiter, the cyber security specialist annual base salary is $111,052 in the US, and Glassdoor lists the annual salary as $103,746 per year. Learn more about the responsibilities, duties, and daily tasks of security specialists and how they make a difference in their companies. The good news is, the job outlook for IT security specialists is exceptionally strong—and only getting better.
