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Like it or not, data breaches are part of our digital world and can happen due to a number of factors. According to IBM's Cost of a Data Breach 2020 report, more than half, 52%, of data breaches are caused by malware attacks and on average it takes 280 days to identify a cyber attack. With statistics like these, it's no surprise that the average cost of a data breach is around $ 3.86 million.
With the rise in cybercrime and vulnerabilities constantly exposed, it is imperative that organizations take a proactive stance to protect assets and employ skilled cybersecurity professionals. In this regard, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of jobs in the information security sector will increase by 31% from 2019 to 2029, making it one of the fastest growing sectors.
4 CYBER SECURITY CAREER PATH
Cybersecurity professionals, or information security analysts, have a wide range of responsibilities, but the crux of their job is to protect online data that can be compromised. The more we share our personal information online, the more important it becomes to increase security.
Careers in the cybersecurity sector are complex and diverse, and many job positions in this area can be found within companies, multinationals, banks, retailers and government organizations. The main tasks entrusted to an IT security expert are safeguarding an organization's files and network, installing firewalls, creating security plans and monitoring their activity. In the event of a breach, it will be your responsibility to identify the problem and quickly find a solution.
Four popular careers in the security industry:
- Security Architect
- Security Consultant
- Penetration Tester / Ethical Hacker
- Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
HOW TO START YOUR CAREER IN THE COMPUTER SECURITY INDUSTRY
There is no linear path to a successful career in cybersecurity. Some people enter the security field right after college, while others transition from another IT role.
No matter where you start, all cybersecurity careers start with a general IT experience. You have to understand how technology works before you can learn how to protect it.
Entry-level IT jobs that pave the way for a career in the cybersecurity industry include:
- Systems administrator
- Database administrator
- Web administrator
- Web developer
- Network administrator
- IT technician
- Security administrator
- Network engineer
- Computer software engineer
Usually those who work in the field of cybersecurity should constantly update themselves and integrate their job training with external training and certifications. 35% of jobs in the cybersecurity sector require industry certification, compared to 23% of overall IT jobs.
THE SECURITY ARCHITECT
If you're passionate about problem-solving and long-term strategy building, the Security Analyst career path is for you.
The Security Analyst is responsible for designing, building and implementing network and computer security for an organization. These individuals are responsible for building complex security structures to combat malware, hacker intrusions, and DDoS attacks and ensuring they function properly.
In the United States, the median salary for this position is $ 118,681.
Specifically, as a Security Architect, you will be required to:
- Plan, research and design durable security architectures for various IT projects.
- Develop requirements for networks, firewalls, routers, and related network devices.
- Perform vulnerability tests, security assessments and risk analyzes.
- Research and implement the latest security standards, systems and best practices.
SECURITY CONSULTANT
A security consultant is a universal cybersecurity expert. Evaluate cybersecurity risks, problems and solutions for different organizations and guide them in protecting their physical assets and data. The location may also be referred to as an information security consultant, computer security consultant, database security consultant, or network security consultant.
Security consultants need to be flexible and experienced - they deal with a wide range of variables when evaluating the security systems of different companies and industries.
The salary range for IT security consultants is wide depending on experience, but senior security consultants earn an average of $ 106,190 in the United States.
As a security consultant, your daily activities may include:
- Determine the best way to protect computers, networks, data and information systems from potential attacks
- Performing vulnerability tests and security assessments
- Interview staff and department heads to uncover safety concerns
- Testing of security solutions using industry standard analysis methods
- Provide technical supervision and guidance to a security team
PENETRATION TESTER / ETHICAL HACKER - Medium-high level
Penetration testers (also known as ethical hackers) look for weaknesses in IT systems, networks and applications using the same knowledge and tactics as criminal hackers. Penetration testers use a variety of tools to simulate cyber attacks, identify vulnerabilities, and help organizations improve their security status.
The median salary for a penetration tester is $ 79,000.
As a penetration tester, you will need to:
- Perform penetration tests on web applications, networks and computer systems
- Uncover security holes and identify methods attackers might use to exploit system weaknesses
- Research, document and discuss results with management and IT teams
- Design and implement new tools and penetration tests
- Recommended training for penetration testers
Cyber attacks are constantly evolving, so your knowledge should be too!
CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER (CISO) - SENIOR LEVEL
If you aspire to lead a security and IT initiatives team for a business, becoming a CISO is a profitable and rewarding career path.
The role of chief information security officer has great responsibilities: They create security teams and oversee all initiatives that affect the security of an organization. The CISO reports to the CIO or CEO.
The median salary for a CISO is $ 156,000. Usually, the years of experience required to reach this level in IT and security range from 7 to 12 years. At least five of those years should be devoted to managing operations and security teams.
As an IT security officer, your daily activities will include:
- Hiring and leading a team of IT security experts
- Creation of strategic plans for the implementation of information security technologies and the improvement of existing programs
- Oversee the development of corporate security policies and procedures
- Collaborate with key stakeholders to establish a security risk management program
- Conduct IT security investigations and provide recommended courses of action in the event of a breach
THE GEEKS ACADEMY
In an interview with dunp, Antonio Venece director of the Geeks Academy explains how Geeks was born in 2016 with the aim of being at the forefront and providing, through various study programs lasting 6 months, courses ranging from acquisition basic, intermediate and specialized knowledge of Cybersecurity, thus obtaining an all-encompassing preparation on issues inherent to the various paths and an immediate job opening.
The Geeks Academy has activated a course dedicated to Cybersecurity, opening the doors of the world of work to future experts in web and data security.
The CyberSecurity Junior Expert course trains people capable of responding to the security needs in the cyber security field required by the market, providing basic skills of analysis, recognition and first intervention of cyber threats that attack sensitive company data.
Don't wait to see the future as a spectator ... be the protagonist! Sign up for the Geeks Academy paths to work in the new professions of the Data Economy!
Discover here all the courses related to Cybersecurity!