Types of Cyber Security Job Roles and Career Paths

There is a growing need to protect organisations from cyberattacks. Therefore, the need for cybersecurity professionals is proliferating. Suppose you have plans to start your career in Cyber Security. In that case, there are various career paths that you can take up with your cybersecurity degree, such as consulting or teaching. However, what matters most is understanding what type of security role best suits you.

The type of role you choose will be largely dependent on your interests and skill set. This blog will discuss job growth, different types of cybersecurity roles, and how you can level up your career through professional learning.

Cyber Security Job Growth

The cybersecurity industry is the fastest-growing sector. This growth has led many companies to hire professionals with security expertise. As a result, the number of cybersecurity job roles now available are more varied than ever before, providing new opportunities for those who specialise in this field.

Cyber Security professionals are scattered across almost all industries and sectors like private, public, non-profit and profit.

As technology is integrated into all aspects of our lives, the need for cybersecurity professionals has increased. By understanding the different types of cybersecurity roles available and taking the necessary steps to grow your career, you can quickly maximise your chances for success in this field.

Some of the well-known fields where cybersecurity professionals thrive are:

• Technology

• Banking and Finance

• Government

• Insurance

• Healthcare

• Telecommunications

• Law Enforcement

• E-Commerce sector

• Security Software

• Defence

Cyber Security Careers

Cyber Security careers diversify through the industry. As an aspiring candidate, you have a pool of job titles to choose from, depending on your interests and skills. Once you have invested in your career and get certified as a cybersecurity professional, build your network and explore the various careers existing in the industry.

Based on your experience, certification and skills, cybersecurity roles may differ. Some of the highly demanded cybersecurity careers that professionals go by are:

• Cyber Security Specialist

• Vulnerability Analyst

• Cyber Security Technical Architect

• Cyber Security Administrators

• Cyber Security Technicians

• Penetration Testers

What are the different roles in Cyber Security?

Cybersecurity professionals can be generalists or specialists. Generalist cybersecurity roles offer various opportunities to learn more about the field and build on strengths. While specialisation in an area provides specific knowledge within that domain.

The career path for any given cyber-security professional also depends heavily upon their employer's size and resources. Large multinational corporations offer specialised positions with many different job responsibilities than smaller businesses. Different cybersecurity roles include:

Incident Responder

When a cyber-attack compromises an organisation’s network or system, the incident responders immediately restore its security using their expert knowledge of cybersecurity policy and procedures for organisations. Then, they swiftly investigate information hacks and emergencies. 

Incident Responders have a large variety of tasks that they must oversee. These may include preventing any significant attacks from occurring, recognising existing vulnerabilities in a computer or network, running penetration tests, risk analysis and audits.

Security Specialist

Protecting a company's software and network security system is so much more than just setting up firewalls. A Security Specialist must conduct internal and external audits and perform vulnerability testing and assessments on the system. He or she must do this to check for potential weaknesses that can compromise data integrity or take down an entire system.

Forensic Expert

Pursuing a career in Cyber Crime as a forensic specialist is more than just analysing the cause of an electronic data breach or conducting extensive research. It requires you to be meticulous with handling evidence and even trains first responders on what to do when they encounter any. Professionals must examine security breaches, provide perspective on how they transpired, and take measures to find the criminals involved.

Security Administrator

Security administrators must take specific measures, including supervising systems for suspicious activity or traffic, running audits and providing policy recommendations to stop a potential breach from happening. In addition, security administrators are charged with understanding a system and keeping it up and running securely.

Cryptographer

Cryptographers are responsible for making sure their scripts can protect data from unauthorised users. They create systems to guard against exposures and certain critical information is protected from being edited, copied or deleted. They are also in charge of checking system vulnerabilities and analysing the data to find any existing safety issues. As a cryptographer, it is crucial for them to stay up-to-date on current research related to coding strategies.

Penetration Tester

With a cybersecurity degree, you can prepare yourself for a career as a penetration tester, also known as an ethical hacker. You will have the responsibility to hack into existing computer systems to assess their security levels.

Penetration testers should equip themselves to write codes and create reports detailing the results of their tests, such as vulnerabilities and operating systems weaknesses on various devices.

Take your Cyber Security career to the next step.

Cybersecurity is a fast-paced field with constantly evolving technology. It means that cybersecurity professionals must be up to date on the latest research and information to stay one step ahead of their adversaries. Spending time networking, attending cybersecurity conferences or taking certification courses can help you better prepare yourself for an exciting career in this growing industry.

Cyber Security career paths transcend through each individual's skill sets. With multiple career options in front of you, you can choose your path depending on your skills and interests.

Take Cyber Security Training and secure valid certifications so that you can stand apart from other candidates and take your career to the next level.

Cyber Security salaries by Different countries

Cyber Security professionals' salaries vary by country. Some of the prominent job roles and their salaries in top countries are:

To Sum Up

Cyber Security is a spare that is ever-evolving and shows no signs of stopping with the advancement of technology. The cyber threat will always prevail, and it is considered to be inevitable. As a cybersecurity professional, you can upskill to withstand a major cyber threat and detect possible vulnerabilities. Furthermore, in response to the growing threat of artificial intelligence, cyber professionals must learn how to harness and counteract artificial intelligence corruption. Hence, pursuing a career in cybersecurity can be extremely rewarding.