Perhaps the biggest advantage of living in the 21st century is easy access to technology. Technology has taken over every aspect of our lives, making our routine activities more organized and streamlined.
However, due to our growing reliance on technology, malicious actors such as malware and hackers have also increased their activities. They’re often responsible for data breaches and technological disruptions. Furthermore, digital threats pose significant dangers to businesses and industries and can leave devastating after-effects such as financial loss, emotional distress, and compromised individual security.
For this purpose, cybersecurity personnel are required to counter such threats and keep our digital ecosystem safe. Reports show that by 2025 the expected losses incurred as a result of cybercrime would cost over $10.5 trillion annually. Such staggering stats have prompted businesses to be more vigilant, increasing the overall demand for cybersecurity experts and technicians.
The tech industry offers lucrative careers and holds significant growth prospects. With an estimated growth rate of 13.8%, the cybersecurity field alone is poised for more than 1 million new openings in 2023.
Let’s discover the top four career choices in cybersecurity and how they hold the key to shaping the future of the tech world:
- Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
A chief information security officer is a C-suite executive who oversees the development and implementation of security policies, assesses and identifies risks, and maintains compliance with industry regulations. This advanced role also involves managing security budgets, coordinating security awareness training, and communicating security-related issues.
Academic Requirements and Skills
The following are the qualifications and skillset required for this role:
- An advanced degree, such as an MBA in cyber security, is preferred by most organizations. Apart from instilling essential cybersecurity skills, this advanced degree enables you to make business decisions surrounding data network and information system security, utilize techniques to protect the organization’s privacy and software, and tackle security breaches.
- Additional certifications like CISSP, CISM, and CIPP can be beneficial.
- Strong understanding of business operations, technology, and industry-specific security challenges.
- Exceptional leadership and communication skills and strategic thinking.
- Expertise in cybersecurity principles, risk management, and governance.
- Experience in incident response, crisis management, and board-level engagement.
Job Description
These are the responsibilities of a CISO:
- Developing and implementing a comprehensive information security strategy
- Establishing and maintaining an effective security governance framework
- Overseeing the application of incident response plans, including monitoring, detection, and response to security incidents
- Assessing and managing security risks associated with third-party vendors, suppliers, and partners who have access to the organization’s system or data
- Collaborating with senior executives, IT teams, and legal and compliance departments to align security initiatives and drive a unified approach to cybersecurity
Expected Paycheck
- The estimated annual salary is $230,204 yearly.
- Security Architect
A security architect is integral to the smooth functioning of any organization. This role requires designing and implementing robust security systems that protect the digital infrastructure. Other important aspects are developing strategies, policies, and procedures to ensure information confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Skills and Certifications
- Bachelors or master’s in computer science, IT, or related field
- Additional certifications like CISSP, CISM, CISA, and CISSP-ISSAP can be beneficial
- Proficiency in security architecture design and coding practices
- Knowledge of network and infrastructure security, application security, and identity and access management
Job Description
Here’s the list of responsibilities this role entails:
- Develop comprehensive security architectures that address network security, data protection, and secure software development.
- Conduct risk assessment and develop risk mitigation strategies.
- Establish risk management frameworks to monitor, control, and minimize security risks.
- Research, evaluate, and recommend security technologies, tools, and products that align with the organization’s security objectives.
- Contribute to incident response planning and conduct investigations.
- Promote security awareness within the organization and educate employees on best security practices and policies, for example, by conducting training sessions and creating content for awareness.
Expected Paycheck
- You can expect hefty paychecks ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 annually.
- The national average salary is $125,000 annually or about $65 an hour.
- Ethical Hacker
Ethical hackers, commonly called penetration testers or white hat hackers, are professionals who use their hacking skills to identify system vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them. As an ethical hacker, you would be required to find loopholes in networks, applications, or infrastructure and provide recommendations.
Skills and Certifications
The following are the qualifications and skillset required for this role:
- Bachelor’s or higher degree in information security, computer science, or related field
- Practical experience in penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, or related fields
- Accredited certifications like CEH, GPEN, OSCP, and CPTE can be beneficial
- Exceptional documentation and reporting skills
- Incredible understanding of security controls, cryptography, and coding practices
- Proficiency in various hacking techniques, tools, and methodologies
Job Description
As an ethical hacker, you’re responsible for the following:
- Leverage techniques and methodologies such as vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, social engineering, code review, security audits, and wireless network assessments to unearth security flaws that malicious hackers could exploit.
- After performing assessments, prepare detailed reports and recommend best practices to mitigate the system vulnerabilities.
Expected Paycheck
- The average earning potential ranges from around $51,000 to $130,000, but it can differ based on years of experience.
- Cloud Security Specialist
A cloud security specialist is proficient in cloud infrastructure and cloud environment landscape. This role entails implementing and managing security measures to protect cloud-based systems and data from potential threats.
Skills and Certifications
The following are the qualifications and skillset required for this role:
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, cloud computing, or related field
- Additional certifications like CCSP, CISSP, AWS Certified Security, Microsoft Certified Azure Security Engineer Associate, and Google Cloud Certified – Professional Cloud Security Engineer can be beneficial.
- Expertise in cloud security technologies, such as identity and access management, encryption, and network security
- Knowledge of cloud service provider offerings
- Familiarity with cloud compliance and regulatory requirements
Job Description
As a cloud security specialist, you’re JD entails the following:
- Identify potential vulnerabilities and risks in deployment.
- Examine their impact on the overall organization’s security posture.
- Devise and implement security measures such as encryption mechanisms, intrusion detection systems, and firewalls.
- Monitor cloud systems for any apparent security breaches.
- Promptly respond to cybersecurity incidents and investigate their root causes.
- Ensure cloud deployments comply with relevant security standards.
Expected Paycheck
- Entry-level salary ranges from $50k-$60k per year, while experienced individuals can expect something in the range of $90k-$110k per year.
Conclusion
Given today’s tech-reliant era, the demand for cybersecurity professionals is ever-increasing. These professionals are at the forefront as every business wants an in-house tech expert who can deal with potential threats. If you are a cybersecurity graduate or opting for a tech degree, you can leverage this opportunity wisely. The cybersecurity careers shared above offer a broad range of challenging opportunities for those passionate about protecting digital assets and playing a critical role in building resilient and secure systems. Moreover, these career opportunities are quite lucrative and offer several long-term growth prospects.