Your Guide to Starting a Career in Cybersecurity

The cybersecurity industry remains a promising area of growth when it comes to career paths in tech and beyond. During the last year, while many industries saw decreases in opportunity due to the economic volatility and uncertainty that came with navigating an unprecedented global pandemic, the cybersecurity industry continued to grow. Remote work security risks, increasing ransomware attacks, and more all contributed to the increased need for cyber professionals. In fact, cybersecurity job postings saw a 65 percent increase during the pandemic.

Why cybersecurity career paths matter

Becoming a well-rounded cybersecurity professional requires having well-rounded experience. Exposure and experience are critical building blocks of a cybersecurity career early on and will also become valuable (and make you more effective) as your career progresses and you become a senior cybersecurity leader. More importantly, exposure and experience allows you to learn which domains in cybersecurity you want to work in and you can then focus your career path more on those. Before committing to a domain of cybersecurity as a career path, it’s important to get exposure to different areas.

How to Start a Career in Cybersecurity

Invest in Your Education
Earning a degree in cybersecurity is often the first step toward starting a career in this lucrative and in-demand field. And if you have a degree and experience in information security, the options are plentiful and diverse.

Most prospective cybersecurity leaders start with an undergraduate degree in information technology, information systems and/or computer science. After obtaining an undergraduate degree and gaining experience in the field, a master’s degree in cybersecurity operations and leadership or information technology is the next step toward expanding your career opportunities and increasing your appeal to employers hiring for higher-level positions.

Get Certified
In order to land a job in cybersecurity, you will also want to consider earning industry certification in a specific area or subject matter that you are interested in. Some of the most popular and sought-after cybersecurity industry certifications include:

CompTIA Security+
CISSP — Certified Information Systems Security Professional
CISM — Certified Information Security Manager
CISA — Certified Information Systems Auditor
CEH — Certified Ethical Hacker

Advance Your Education

Perhaps the most important step is to pursue higher education. Although some jobs only require a bachelor’s degree, many prefer a master’s degree and industry certifications. A master’s degree will open more job opportunities and position you to earn a higher salary. When considering master’s degree programs, look for a program that includes lab work and hands-on learning in addition to intensive academics.

Cybersecurity career options

Chief information security officer

This is an executive-level position tasked with developing and overseeing a company’s cybersecurity architecture, policy/planning, and execution. This position requires technical chops and management acumen.

Chief privacy officer

A chief privacy officer is a new executive-level position that is becoming increasingly more common at large companies, institutions, and organizations — including municipalities and governmental organizations. This new role was created to ensure the protection of critical data such as personal details and financial information.

Computer forensics

These experts are detectives that work with company officials or law enforcement after a data, network, or security breach to paint a picture of how a computer or computer system was compromised.

Computer security incident responder

The responsibilities for this job are very much aligned with the job title itself. Incident responders are usually the first call within an organization or company if a data breach or hack is detected. The role requires documenting the attack and developing a response.

Cryptanalysts

Today’s codebreakers, cryptanalysts use mathematics, computer science, and engineering to analyze different methods of concealing data. This career name is sometimes used to mean cryptographer, but there is a distinction within the industry.

Cryptographer

A cryptographer working in cybersecurity is a modern spin on an ancient discipline. Cryptographers use algorithms and computer code to create (and decipher) encrypted software and related services.

Cybercrime investigator

Digital crimes are unique in that they are undertaken remotely, or that they can happen in virtual realms, or require sophisticated coordination among many nodes or hubs. Cybercrime investigators act as digital detectives to help bring cybercriminals to justice after a hack or cyberattack.

Data protection officer

The data protection officer (DPO) is a relatively new position created to meet the requirements set by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe. Since the regulation affects all companies doing business in Europe, a DPO helps develop and implement data privacy strategies within a company or organization.

Ethical hacker

An ethical hacker, also known as a penetration tester, is tasked with trying to find vulnerabilities in a computer system or network. The goal is to find these vulnerabilities and suggest fixes or defenses before cybercriminals or black-hat hackers are able to exploit the systems.

Malware analyst

An important and rapidly growing role within the cybersecurity hierarchy is that of a malware analyst. Part security engineer, part digital forensics expert, and part programmer, this crucial function provides in-depth intelligence after a cybersecurity event.

Security analyst

A security analyst is responsible for monitoring security procedures and making sure that best practices are implemented and followed. The role of a security analyst might vary widely depending on the size and industry of the employing company, but the career is definitely becoming more popular across all sectors.