A Guide to Career in Cybersecurity

Did you know that you give away plenty of data to major corporations with a single click or swipe? And what happens to this data once captured? If you are curious to seek answers to such questions and find solutions, a career in cybersecurity can be the perfect answer for you. 

With the digitalization of most services and the widespread use of social media, the need for enhanced cybersecurity is more significant than ever. In this battlefield of digital space, only a cybersecurity expert can reduce the magnitude of threats. 

From building firewalls to protecting government websites and forums, you will work with cutting-edge technology. Does working on complex security issues and collaborating on finding innovative solutions excite you? If so, you’re in the right place! 

This blog will shed light on the details of a career in cybersecurity. Head on to the following sections to understand the benefits, job opportunities, and top recruiters in cybersecurity.   

Why Choose Cybersecurity

The growing prevalence of cybersecurity careers is mainly because of the volume of cyber threats. Data is power – and considering the data breaches and increasing cases of hacking, many organizations feel the need to protect their data. 

Here are the rewards involved when you choose a career in cybersecurity: 

Creatively Challenging: 

Nearly 20% of internet users are prone to cybersecurity threats. Since many basic needs like electricity, transportation, and payment gateways are coordinated online, it is critical to maintain a safe infrastructure. You have the opportunity to identify potential risks and fix them using your expertise.  

Rise in Job Opportunities: 

Cybersecurity job opportunities are on the rise, given the increasing reliance on technology for day–to–day processes. According to reports, these opportunities will only continue to grow across multiple sectors – by 18% in 2024.   

Industry Choice: 

Considering the omnipresence of cybersecurity, you need not restrict yourself to a particular industry. From the government sector to healthcare organizations – you can build your trajectory in an industry you would like to contribute towards. 

Diverse Skillset: 

A career in cybersecurity welcomes skill sets from different backgrounds like IT, administration, and accounting. Hence, you can fully utilize your expertise while working in this niche.  

Cybersecurity Specializations

If you want to start your career in cybersecurity as a fresher, you might be redirected to entry-level roles such as help desk associates, software developers, or networking engineers. However, if you already have core IT skills, there are 5 broad directions to choose from depending on your interest. 

• Engineering and Architecture: You can work as a security engineer to tackle threats and implement defense systems. If playing with technology is your thing, you can advance to a security architect in an organization. This field requires skills like IT networking, risk assessment, and system administration. 
• Management and Administration: Is management your core skill? You can work as a cybersecurity manager. Your core responsibilities here would be project management, risk management, and collaboration. 
• Testing and Hacking: Do you love the thrill and rush of cybersecurity? Testing and hacking are made for you if you want to defend the entire infrastructure from the bad guys. Ethical hacking, penetration testing, and computer networking are core skills you need for this sector. 
• Consulting: Don’t let your cybersecurity knowledge go in vain. If you are good at helping people, consultancy is a good fit. Thus, you can work with threat managers and strengthen cybersecurity systems. 

Incident Response: Despite your best efforts, security breaches can happen unexpectedly. Hence, an incident responder’s work is to find the loopholes in cybersecurity and fix them. It is a mysterious field that requires attention to detail and technical documentation. 

Top Career Opportunities After Cybersecurity

The nature of jobs in cybersecurity varies depending on your skill set. The top opportunities include: 

Cybersecurity Engineer: 

With the proper knowledge of programming languages like C, C++, Python, and Java, you will be a great fit in technical positions related to cybersecurity.

Chief Information Security Office (CISO): 

It is a senior or C-level position that requires years of experience. Hence, this is one of the best cybersecurity job opportunities if you are well-versed in IT, communications, incident management, and business expertise. It is also one of the highest-paying jobs in cybersecurity. 

Malware Analyst: 

Does working with computer systems excite you? A malware analyst identifies and tackles threats using different protection tools. Knowledge of C and C++ is essential alongside a certification in reverse engineering malware. 

Computer Forensics Analyst: 

You work head-on with cyber threats as a forensics analyst. In addition, your responsibility will be to recover the lost or deleted data. This career option also requires you to understand law and criminal investigation. 

Cloud Security Specialist: 

Since the reliance on cloud storage is increasing, there is a need for cloud security specialists. 

Apart from these cybersecurity job opportunities, there are roles like database administrator and application security engineer. 

Top Recruiters for Cybersecurity

You would be surprised to know that unfilled cybersecurity jobs grew by 350% in 2021. The main reason was a lack of awareness about the top recruiters in cybersecurity careers. However, below is a list of top companies you can work for and get fair idea of cybersecurity jobs salary. 

• Palo Alto Networks: One of the leaders in cybersecurity solutions, Palo Alto offers positions that involve next-generation products. Moreover, internal upskilling equips you with the necessary certifications to grow in your career. 
• McAfee: McAfee has been dominating the globe for more than three decades. It offers a highly competitive space to work with perks like paid time off, retirement planning, and paternity leaves. 
• CyberArk: This company leads information security solutions and develops intelligent anti-malware products. 
• Fortinet: Fortinet has touched the lives of more than 6,00,000 customers with its effective cybersecurity solutions. They are popular for offering competitive salaries and equity programs to their employees. 

While there are so many cybersecurity recruiters in the market, choosing the one that suits you is essential. Many recruiters work in a specific niche; you must research well before applying. 

Cybersecurity Jobs and Salaries 

The average range of salary, when you choose a career in cybersecurity, starts from $88,325 to $164,861. Multiple companies offer bonuses to their employees depending on their work performance. 

Here are some cybersecurity jobs salary based on different positions:

*As per Glassdoor

In addition, the salary in cybersecurity varies depending on the following factors:

• Skill sets
• Years of experience
• Certifications
• Industry 
• Size and type of the organization

Final Thoughts

As we come to the end of this exploration into the world of cybersecurity, the demand is quite clear. The digital landscape is ever–evolving, and you could put your passion for computer science to good use. Are you ready to defend the database of millions of people? Go ahead and take the leap of faith!