Taking The Lead From Issa’s Framework Here’s A Guide To How You Can Map Out A Long And Profitable Career In Cybersecurity
- Steve Zurier,ZFeatures
Cybersecurity career paths have become more formal over the years as security incidents have increased and the skills required to keep companies safe have become more specialized.
Many of the people who entered the field as computer support techs or network administrators with no special training in security have bolstered their skills over time by taking certification courses or going back to college for more education.
The result is that the cybersecurity field now offers distinct career paths with milestones to be met and requirements to fulfill.
One of the best career path diagrams for security professionals has been developed by Information Systems Security Association International. Called the Cyber Security Career Lifecycle , the five-step model helps aspiring and professional security experts chart what education, experience and certifications they will need to progress.
The five designations in the ISSA cybersecurity career path model are big buckets with many discrete job titles and skills to learn about. Here’s how the career path breaks down, with information on the experience of people at each phase, the time period generally associated with mastering each career phase and the salary ranges for the job titles associated with each level.
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Cybersecurity Tester Key Skills
Most importantly, testers need a healthy skeptical attitude. The role of a cybersecurity tester is to question everything, even assumptions. One way to help do this is to learn threat modeling techniques such as STRIDE.4
Like engineers, testers need to be knowledgeable in their technical area. In order to subvert a control or process, it is often necessary to understand the hidden nuances of that technical area. In many cases, they need to use this technical knowledge in unexpected ways, such as chaining together low-severity vulnerabilities to breach a system.
Testers often require many specialized tools and techniques, from hacking tools like Metasploit to effectively wielding a deadly audit questionnaire. Sometimes these tools are self-developed, which means testers should also have some programming skills or statistical knowledge .
Lastly, to communicate their findings in the most impactful way, cybersecurity testers need to double down on their skills in explaining risk in relevant business terms. Nearly all the testing work they do needs to be expressed in written documentation. This writing needs to include detailed citations of evidence, such as screenshots, source code, and compliance regulations.
What Does A Security Analyst Do
As the numbers of cyber-attacks continue to rise, the responsibilities of a system analyst will also increase. Information security analysts strategically develop and carry out plans that include which security measures to take to protect a companys computer systems and networks from unauthorized access. To do this the security analyst will secure both on-premise and online infrastructures while weaving through data and metrics to filter out suspicious activities as well as mitigating risks before security breaches occur.
If and when a security breach takes place, the security analyst will take his place on the front line in an effort to counter the attack and secure the system. It is also their duty to evaluate the efficiency of the security policies and measures in place then generate reports for business managers and IT administrators. Cybersecurity analysts also make the changes necessary to make the network more secure and may even develop training modules and programs to educate users and staff of security protocols.
Other responsibilities may include:
- Performing security audits, both internal and external
- Updating the companys disaster recovery and incident response plans
- Identifying the root cause of breaches by analyzing security
- Collaborating with third-party vendors to reach security clearance then verifying access
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How Cybersecurity Engineers Fit Into The Organization
Cybersecurity engineers are the traditional, most common roles in cybersecurity, so a lot of them exist. Most engineers are found within the IT organization, so they report up through the IT chain of command to the head of technology. However, being embedded in IT can diminish the effectiveness of their security functions. The key problem is the divergent missions: IT is about implementation and maintenance, while security requirements can sometimes mean slowing down an implementation to lower risk. This contributes to the security teams reputation as the Department of No. Since the head of IT is in charge, they have veto power over security, which can be a problem as well. We explored this in detail in our earlier blog: Who Should the CISO Report To?
About The Cyber Security Training Co
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IIT Guwahati is the 6th IIT established in India. Since 1994, the institute has been at the forefront of engineering and technology education globally. This advanced certification program in Cyber Security from Intellipaat is in partnership with E& ICT Academy, IIT Guwahati. E& ICT, IIT Guwahati is an initiative of MeitY and formed with the team of IIT Guwahati professors to provide high-quality education programs.
Achievements- IIT Guwahati
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Security Leader: 8+ Years
Security leaders — often called a chief information security officer, or CISO, at large companies with a C-suite — are seasoned cybersecurity veterans with an ability to manage people and projects. The best CISOs have diverse backgrounds and can come from strong IT training or even the risk departments of banks. While some have worked in risk and compliance, others may have managed a few racks of Windows servers and then worked in network management.
The most traditional path for someone who wants to become CISO would be to earn a computer science degree or a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in IT management. A master’s in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity also helps but is not required for those with many years in the field.
Candy Alexander, president at ISSA International and CISO at NeuEon, said the best CISOs also understand business at a deep level. Alexander, chief architect of ISSA’s CSCL model, said the industry needs people who can talk to senior management in ways they understand instead of talking about network logs and threat pattern. Effective CISOs can explain what the risks are to the business and how security incidents will impact sales, profits, future growth and the company’s reputation.
Other security leader jobs that pay top salaries include the following:
Job titles: CIO, chief cybersecurity architect, chief cybersecurity strategist, CISO
Salary range: $150,000-$250,000
Dig Deeper on Careers and certifications
Four Steps To Becoming A Security Analyst
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Where To Find Government Cybersecurity Jobs
Candidates can find jobs within the federal government at any agency. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Energy are two examples of agencies that often look for cybersecurity professionals to join their ranks. However, job seekers can find many cybersecurity positions at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency .
CISAs purpose is to build the national capacity to defend against cyber-attacks and work with the federal government to provide cybersecurity tools and incident response services to safeguard the .gov networks that support government departments essential operations and agencies.
A search of CISA open positions will likely yield over 100 jobs. Most CISA positions are for grade levels GS-13 to GS-15. They include roles such as:
- Information Technology Specialist
- Chief of Strategy, Policy, and Plans
Many of these CISA positions are needed at multiple locations, and some are telework jobs where the candidate can live anywhere in the US.
Each year CISA participates in a variety of career fairs, webinars, and hiring events. They seek to hire candidates with a background in cybersecurity, human resources, infrastructure security, and risk assessment.
Why Become A Cyber Security Analyst
With a need for new security talent becoming ubiquitous across many industries, its a great time to get into cyber security. Even for those in an unrelated career, numerous avenues for becoming a cyber security analyst are available.
If youre wondering how to become a cyber security analyst, you can make your dream a reality. Consider the case of Soheil Mirzaei, who moved from Tehran to Denver, Colorado, where he pursued his passion for cyber security in a bootcamp and ultimately managed to leverage his skills into a successful career.
You can make the same switch all it takes is passion and the willingness to commit to your education. Dont wait start today! University of Denver Cybersecurity Boot Camp offers learners a means of building the foundational skills they need to get started in the field. All you need to do is enroll.
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Attention To Detail And Problem
Having a keen eye for minor changes in the status quo is a useful skill for defending your company against cyberattacks. A detail-oriented person will be able to detect risks and loopholes swiftly and effectively. Being vigilant is an important skill for situations where you are continuously monitoring systems and need to identify security concerns quickly.
Once you identify a risk or concern, having strong problem-solving skills will be needed to implement the right solution at the correct time. This is especially important because the data youre analyzing will not always be straightforward. You will need to choose your next course of action based on the analysis of complex metrics and parameters.
Top Colleges For Cyber Security Analysts
1. California State University – Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA Private
3. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA Private
8. SUNY College at Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh, NY Private
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC Private
10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC Private
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Where Might You Work
Cyber risk analysts work in almost every industry imaginable. Because nearly every industry in the modern age relies on IT to keep their operations running, companies need cyber security professionals to protect their data from competitors, among other threats.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the departments where the most cyber security professionals work in private companies and government agencies:
- Computer systems design – 26%
- Company and enterprise management – 9%
- Administration – 6%
Cyber risk analysts often work with other IT professionals such as network security administrators, software engineers, electrical engineers, and computer systems analysts, among others. Youll find that your job requires you to adapt to different techniques of computer system analysis depending on who you work with at the time.
Attend Events And Conferences:
Cyber Security mostly indulges insensitive and potentially harmful materials, building trust relations is a vital part as it is not adequate to just know the craft well. As the cyber security career path is complex and challenging, attending various events and conferences helps you gain more knowledge about cyber security from experts who have years of experience in this field.
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How To Become A Security Analyst: A Complete Career Guide
A security analyst is a pretty broad job description that refers to people responsible for monitoring computer infrastructure and information networks to ensure the are protected.
The job responsibilities for a security analyst can range from controlling file access and credentialing, to maintaining firewalls and network updates, to proactively trying to hack systems to look for vulnerabilities and weaknesses.
Is Cyber Security Analyst A Hard Job
Yes, being a cyber security analyst is a hard job. Even though a job in cyber security can be highly rewarding and satisfying, it can also be very challenging and stressful.
A cyber security analyst is a hard job because they are responsible for keeping an organization’s sensitive and proprietary information secure. This can be a highly stressful role that requires a significant amount of knowledge and proactive thinking.
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Prerequisites For A Cyber Security Career
There is a notable lack of skilled cybersecurity professionals who can tackle daily cybersecurity challenges. Hence, a career in cybersecurity is demanding and equally rewarding. Several companies are looking for skilled cybersecurity professionals. Philips, Siemens, Google, Microsoft, and GE, to name a few.
- There are definitely a handful of prerequisites for a career in cybersecurity. The basic one is a bachelor’s degree in a technical domain. However, if you don’t have a relevant degree, you can always take up relevant cybersecurity certifications and kick-start your cybersecurity journey.
- A few other skills like networking and knowledge of operating systems are required to start and grow your cybersecurity career.
Cybersecurity jobs vary from entry-level to executive management and everything in between. There are several cyber security career paths available today. It is best to start with entry-level and then move on to the next level with the help of relevant experience and certifications.
Before you look at the different job roles in the cyber security career path, understand the essential skills required to grow your career in cyber security.
Where The Cybersecurity Jobs Can Be Found
Cybersecurity is a rapidly growing field filled with tons of exciting job opportunities. As the threat of cyberattacks looms larger than ever before, companies are scrambling to fill their ranks with professionals who can safeguard their data and networks. From cybersecurity analysts to penetration testers and cybercrime investigators to cybersecurity architects, theres a role in the field for everyone.
Cybersecurity professionals are found in almost every industry imaginable: government agencies, corporations, universities, financial institutions and even defense/aerospace firms. Any company that handles private data or classified information relies on highly trained specialists to protect their business and customers.
Thanks to the critical nature of the work, cybersecurity jobs salary are highly lucrative: Cybersecurity professionals report an average salary of $116,000, or approximately $55.77 per hour. Thats nearly three times the national median income for full-time wage and salary workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, wrote CIO Magazines Kenneth Corbin in 2013.
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Cybersecurity Jobs A Growth Story
Cybersecurity jobs are exciting. The fast-paced field that is perfect for anyone who loves a challenge and the thrill of problem-solving. According to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statics , the demand for cybersecurity jobs like information security analysts will grow by as much as 31 percent over the next ten years.
When you think about it, the above average growth in cybersecurity jobs makes sense. As technology becomes more and more intertwined with everyones day to day lives, the need for experienced cybersecurity professionals increases.
And while the future cybersecurity jobs projections forecast more openings, the truth is that even today there are not enough well-qualified experts to go around.
The cybersecurity job market has grown so rapidly over the past several years, that applicants usually have lots of options.
Due to the lack of trained professionals, those who pursue a career in cybersecurity can expect plenty of opportunities, high paying salaries, and great benefits.
The cybersecurity field includes a wide range of different jobs from entry-level up to executive management and everything in between.
An entry-level security professional may find themselves working as a security analyst in a SOC . As their career progresses they may become a senior security analyst or work on an incident response team.
Those interested in programming and software design can pursue a career as a security software developer.
Cyber Security Analyst Career Paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what’s a career path you ask? Well, it’s practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of information assurance officer you might progress to a role such as manager, information assurance eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title lead program manager.
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Get Started In Information Security
Being able to keep organizations safe from ill-intentioned players can make a career as an information security analyst deeply rewardingâand not just financially. Start building job-ready skills with the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate on Coursera. Learn from top industry experts at IBM as you earn a credential for your resume.
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