Internships and entry-level IT positions will help you gain hands-on experience with security tools and protocols. Learning how to prevent and counteract threats and attacks efficiently takes practice and experience. Any knowledge you can gain from working with systems and networks as well as with others in the field will make you more marketable to https://remotemode.net/ employers. IT security specialists are knowledgeable about cybersecurity and have the tools needed to ensure a company’s computer systems remain secure. They create and implement security plans for businesses and remain up to date on the latest trends in the field. Networking is another critical part of how to become a cybersecurity specialist.
- Zippia helped me think outside the box and find a position that was definitely a good fit.
- Reach out to cybersecurity professionals on LinkedIn for informational interviews—or send a message to hiring managers to reiterate your interest after applying for a job.
- Ultimately, passion and the ability to continually improve are of the utmost importance in professional development.
- Though certification is not required to work in this role, formal credentials can boost your job opportunities and cybersecurity specialist salary.
- Payscale reports an average annual cybersecurity salary of around $97,000, and these wages typically increase with experience.
If you receive such a code or a request to enter it when you aren’t logging in, it may be an attempt to hack into your account. Why cybercriminals want to attack PR and marketing staff and, crucially, how to protect your company from financial and reputational harm. It can be overwhelming to determine what area of cybersecurity to specialize in. That means having a GitHub profile or other repository to show off what you’ve built and how you think. Strong, competitive candidates are intellectually curious and have built their own projects. In the Google IT Support Professional Certificate program, I learned skills to assist customers with end-to-end support, ranging from identifying problems to troubleshooting and debugging.
Job outlook and salaries
Whatever option you choose, a security specialist role may be a career that offers many opportunities. To help protect organizations from online attacks, cybersecurity specialists employ a wide number of safeguards, tests, and compliance policies. Those who are drawn to the field of digital security may gravitate toward this role. To become a cybersecurity specialist, developing the right skills through a combination of advanced education and on-the-job training is imperative. While graduate-level degrees aren’t always required for cybersecurity jobs, they can provide great opportunities to cultivate high-level skills and ultimately command more competitive salaries.
Start your journey to becoming a security specialist by earning one of these certifications. InfoSec specialists with real life experience argue that educational institutions in any case don’t provide enough practical knowledge – and don’t have access to modern how to become a security specialist technologies and equipment. Thus, to work in the InfoSec field and to fight real cyberthreats, some additional education is required anyway. Of course, in technology there’s always something new to learn – and when fighting cybercrime, it’s even more true.
Grow your network.
Virtually every organization depends on internet connectivity for communication, collaboration, and efficiency. While digital technology has undoubtedly enhanced business operations across the board, it has also led to some significant vulnerabilities. Cyber attacks can compromise sensitive data, making it impossible for teams to do their work. In other cases, online attacks may result in the payment of hefty “ransoms” or result in reputational damage and significant legal expenses.
Employers add ten jobs per second on Indeed, attracting over 250 million visitors each month. Input your desired job title and location and explore hundreds of tech positions. With training and experience, candidates can also pursue other security specialties, such as computer forensics, penetration testing, and governance, risk, and compliance. Our colleagues conducted a study in which, among other things, they assessed how education in the field of information security relates to a career in that field. These are some primary duties you can expect to take on, but your specific tasks may vary depending on your position and expertise.
