What is Cyber Security?
Cyber Security consists of technologies and best practices to protect networks, computers, software programs, and data from attack, damage, or unauthorized access. Cyber security is used in everything from mobile apps to web platforms. Entities like governments, banks, healthcare companies, and shopping applications are the biggest users of cyber security, but every company needs cyber security!
Types of Cyber Security Jobs
Common job titles in Cyber Security include:
- IT Security Analyst
- Network Security Engineer
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Security Sales Engineer
- Data Systems Analyst
- Data Security Analyst
- Systems Security Administrator
- Network Security Administrator
- Network Security Engineer
- Information Systems Security Manager
- Chief Security Officer
How to Learn Cyber Security
Many cyber security jobs require some form of degree. If you don’t already have a college degree, you should strongly consider getting a degree in Information Technology, Information Security, or Cyber Security. An associate’s degree is sufficient for some entry-level positions. A master’s degree in Cyber Security opens doors to higher-level Chief roles as well as higher salaries.
If you already have a college degree in any field, and you want to pivot to a cyber security career, consider a bootcamp! We've curated a list of the Best Cyber Security Bootcamps, but it’s still important to do your research: read reviews, talk to alumni, take an intro course, and ask about job outcomes data. Most cyber security bootcamps are not for complete tech newbies, so if you’ve never coded before, you should consider a general full stack coding bootcamp first. Information Security (InfoSec) classes are a big help for beginners, too. Most security bootcamps require one to two years of IT systems or development experience. Bootcamp tuitions cost up to $19,000 and they range in duration from 9-20 weeks, but most bootcamps offer financing options.
What Does a Cyber Security Engineer or Cyber Security Analyst Do?
Depending on the position, cyber security professionals generally safeguard information systems by identifying, troubleshooting, and solving any security problems. They protect the system by building or maintaining firewalls, defining access privileges, and controlling structures. They may be asked to anticipate requirements by evaluating trends and assessing the current state of the security system. The cyber security professional will perform upgrades and regular maintenance. Some cyber security roles will require the Engineer or Analyst to communicate with clients and create performance reports.
The duties of Cyber Security Engineers and Cyber Security Analysts differ from company to company. A Cyber Security Engineer may analyze computer networks and ensure they run securely, try to predict possible security issues, and design computer systems equipped to deal with disruptions and attacks. A Cyber Security Analyst plans and carries out security measures to protect a computer network. Analysts should expect to be evaluating and tracking threats, monitoring network security, and executing plans.
What Kind of Skills Does a Cyber Security Engineer Need?
Depending on your cyber security role and the company you’re working for, you’ll need to know some programming (such as Python), operating systems, and cloud computing systems. You’ll also need a variety of valuable soft skills.
Hard Skills Required by Cyber Security Engineers
Here are the hard skills most cyber security bootcamps will teach:
- Computer Network and Security
- Data Systems Security Protocol
- Hardware/Software Systems, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), VMWare, Linux and Windows
- Knowledge of security trends and government regulations
- Knowledge of Python
For higher level positions, you’ll need deeper knowledge of:
- Networking Architecture
- Authentication Practices
- Security Administration
- Translating security policies/procedures into technical architectures
- Installing, monitoring, and maintaining network security solutions
For a security job at any level, you’ll need to know the OWASP Security Principles:
- Injection
- Broken Authentication
- Sensitive Data Exposure
- XML External Entities
- Broken Access Control
- Security Misconfiguration
- Cross Site Scripting (XSS)
- Insecure Deserialization
- Using components with known variables
- Insufficient logging and monitoring
Soft Skills Required for a Cyber Security Career
Don’t overlook the importance of soft skills as a Cyber Security professional. If you want to progress in your career path and move into a management/officer role, you will need to be able to communicate well with your team, clients, administrators, and engineers, and demonstrate effective leadership. Other important soft skills include keeping up with the news, continuous learning, and problem-solving.
Job Market and Salary Insights
In today’s market, cyber security threats and hacks have created a high demand for Cyber Security Engineers who can keep hackers and other criminals from stealing sensitive data, information, or causing chaos in computer networks. In fact, the employment of Cyber Security Engineers is projected to grow 32% over the next decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations, with 16,800 openings forecasted for each year.
As of May 2023, the median salary for a Cyber Security Engineer was $120,360, depending on the field. Location is less of a salary factor in Cyber Security, as it is possible to work remotely. Education, however, makes a difference in potential earnings, as over 90% of Cyber Security jobs require a degree in IT, Information Security or Cyber Security.
FAQ Section
Is Cyber Security a good career?
Job opportunities are growing for information security and cyber security professionals. According to a 2022 report from Cyberseek, cyber security job demand has increased by 43%, compared to 18% growth in demand across all occupations. It’s safe to say that if you learn cyber security skills, you will be in demand for the foreseeable future.
How to start a career in cyber security with no experience?
According to Manju Mude, a mentor at Springboard, “The only prerequisite for cyber security is that you think and understand risks and threats.” If you’re looking for jobs and not sure if you want to commit to a bootcamp and certifications yet, she recommends starting off with a job on the compliance team of a legal department. You can also consider the following Cyber Security Certifications:
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA A+
- GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
What does a career in Cyber Security look like?
Like most career paths, you start out in an entry-level position in Cyber Security, and then move on to mid- and senior-level roles. Where you start depends on your background and experience. A typical Cyber Security career path might look like the following:
- No cyber security experience: IT roles such as Help Desk.
- Entry-level: Cybersecurity Analyst or SOC Analyst
- Mid-level: Cybersecurity Architect
- Senior-level: Positions such as Senior Manager of IT & Security Compliance, Director of IT Security, Senior Manager, Senior Director, or Chief Information Security Officer
