The new IT and cybersecurity markets are booming with job openings. Indeed, more vacancies are available in these areas than qualified professionals.
There really is no better opportunity than right now to launch a cybersecurity career. Whether you are out of school or moving from another IT job, starting cybersecurity is a good choice.
In this post, you will know about common cyber security career paths in detail.
There are many different career paths in cybersecurity. Many security professionals want to play roles in white hat hacking and cybercrime thwarting, while others want higher leadership positions.
Regardless of your path, all cybersecurity professions must start with general IT skills and experience. Some of the best known IT positions for cyber security professionals include:
- Network Administrator
- Systems Administrator
- Database Administrator
- Web Developer
- IT Technician
- Security Administrator
- Computer Software Engineer
- Network Engineer
In addition to the skills and knowledge you have developed on the job, you can add your qualifications.
You can do this through IT courses and specific certifications. An introductory course on IT and cyber security is useful to those who are just starting in IT. Some of the beginner certifications offered by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) should be considered from there. CompTIA A+ certification shows that you know the fundamentals of computer repair, maintenance, and technology.
It also gives you ample information to make better decisions on your future in IT. Also, the CompTIA Network + credential should not matter where you end up with your IT job.
This certification indicates that you have the experience required for the efficient management of basic network infrastructure. It also reveals that you can install, customize, run, and repair this infrastructure. The certification of the Cisco Certified Network Association (CCNA) is a vendor-specific qualification, which will also help most IT professionals.
Once you have these main competences under your belt, you can choose to work as a Penetration Tester, Security Architect or Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). This is what these paths would look like.
Common Cyber Security Career Paths
Penetration Tester
The penetration tester or ethical hacker looks for vulnerabilities in IT networks, systems and applications using the same form of techniques and possessing the same knowledge as a criminal hacker.
We use a variety of tools to test cyber attacks, find any vulnerabilities, and then support their organizations.
Penetration testers and ethics hackers may pursue a career path like this: graduate in computer science or related fields or gain equivalent work experience in the IT industry.
- Earn an entry-level IT role.
- Gain advanced experience in ethical hacking with the training and certification of penetration tests.
- Enter in the role of an initial penetration test.
- Advance the position of a security advisor, security architect or other senior penetrators.
Security Architect
As a security architect, you are responsible for the design, installation, and implementation of your company’s network and computer security. You will have to design and manage complex security systems. Usually, the security systems you build are designed to combat ransomware, hackers and DDoS assaults.
Bachelor in computer science or related disciplines or similar work experience in the IT industry.
Security architects should follow such a career path
- Get an IT entry-level position, like a system administrator, a security administrator or a network administrator.
- Advance the position of a mid-level security analyst or engineer.
- Join the position of a security architect.
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
A CISO’s job is to manage a company’s IT security department and its team This is a senior-level position responsible for developing, executing and maintaining an organization’s vision and securing all technology assets and sensitive data. The CISO usually reports directly to the company’s CIO or CEO.
- Get a Bachelor of Informatics or similar field degree or some background in the IT industry.
- Join the industry as a programmer or analyst.
- Progress to a security analyst, consultant, engineer or auditor.
- Obtain more relevant IT certifications and practice.
- Start in an IT management role which oversees an IT security team.
- Accomplish more degrees (for example, MBA) or management-focused certifications.
- Get promoted to the position of CISO.
In the IT and cybersecurity industry, there are many decent career paths you can take and they all need certain abilities, some of them overlap and some of their specific functions. At Hackers Guru, we have industry experts to help you know and certifications for whatever path you prefer.
