However, these professionals often hold at least one postsecondary degree in cybersecurity or a related field along with certification from a private agency. Security specialists, also known as cybersecurity specialists, develop and implement security measures that protect computer networks and systems. Companies often hire security specialists to secure data networks, prevent security breaches, and make changes to improve security.
- Doctoral learners can concentrate their work in areas such as information security, machine learning, cybersecurity theory, or cybersecurity policy.
- Look for entry-level jobs that might not be what you want right now, but that will be your first step towards building your cybersecurity career.
- Earning CISSP certification starts with gaining experience and passing the exam.
- According to Payscale, security specialists with 10 or more years of experience earned an average annual salary of $98,389 as of September 2021.
- Security+ is a CompTIA certification that is considered a basic cert among cybersecurity professionals.
Careers in cybersecurity are growing quickly, and with the right education and training, you can get into this exciting, lucrative field. If you’re wondering how to get into cybersecurity with no experience, you’ve come to the right place. This could refer to experience in a related occupation, such as a network administrator or a systems administrator. For example, if you are searching for a job in database security, you could benefit from database administration experience. For system security, a former computer systems analyst might be the perfect candidate.
Cybersecurity Salary Outlook
Although a degree is not always required to work in cybersecurity, most employers still prefer to hire professionals with cybersecurity degrees. The National Security Agency recommends majoring in computer engineering, data science or cybersecurity itself. If your school does not offer a cybersecurity degree, majoring in computer science, information systems or management information systems are also good options. Receiving undergraduate training in any of these disciplines will prepare you for entry-level cybersecurity jobs and important industry certifications. Requirements to enter the field vary by job and employer, but cybersecurity professionals usually need extensive knowledge and certifications.
Before you spend your money and time on a certification, it’s important to find one that will give you a competitive advantage in your career. Here are the number of US job listings across three job sites that require these cybersecurity certifications. As of September 2021, https://remotemode.net/ the cybersecurity field employs about one million Americans, with more than half a million jobs in the field still open. Cybersecurity professionals work in both the public and private sectors, helping protect valuable financial, healthcare, and national security data.
Cybersecurity Career Paths (and How to Get Started)
Maybe you enjoy the thrill of incident response, or perhaps you’d prefer to hone your hacking skills to stay one step ahead of bad actors. Look for internship opportunities in companies for which you’d like to work. Working a full-time job for no money isn’t ideal, but if you use your internship well, it will only be a matter of time before you are hired as a regular employee. how to become a security specialist Learn from your coworkers and managers and absorb anything they want to teach you. Be curious, ask questions, and offer insights to demonstrate how well you understand the subject matter and how you can think outside the box. Choose your certificate program based on what type of work you’d like to do, how much time you have at your disposal, and the size of your budget.