How to Become IT Security Specialist, Salary & Degree Requirements

It is also recommended for IT security specialists to work in the field in which they want to specialize, such as databases or firewalls. These companies may hold job fairs, put on conferences and provide resources for connecting with peers and employers. Consider some of the following professional organizations for cybersecurity workers. In addition to creating structures to protect interconnected devices, professionals in this sector safeguard sensitive assets for applications and data. At the app level, infrastructure security professionals develop and deploy effective databases to prevent access by bad actors. For data, this field protects information by building structures for backups and encryption.

A cybersecurity specialist might wear many hats depending on the size and shape of his or her company or organization. As the job title implies, cybersecurity specialists are expected to have a certain level of training and expertise that allows them to give advice and training on the latest digital best practices. IT security specialists and cybersecurity specialists perform similar jobs. However, cybersecurity specialists usually focus on analyzing, monitoring, and responding to threats, while IT security specialists research, monitor, and install protective software. Cybersecurity specialists protect sensitive data and analyze vulnerable spots in company networks. These professionals detect and analyze potential threats, evaluate risks, and respond to security incidents.

Top Certifications For IT Security Specialists

Due to the industry’s evolving nature, security specialists’ responsibilities are complex and ever-changing. Second, the growing sophistication of cyberattacks means that organizations need more skilled cybersecurity professionals to protect themselves. Third, the global shortage of cybersecurity workers is expected to continue, which will drive up wages and salaries for cybersecurity specialists. A security specialist is an excellent way to jump-start your career in cyber security. Whether it is something you are striving for before college, or making a job transition, be prepared by garnering as much knowledge as possible about what companies are looking for in potential employees.

You protect your home with locks or alarm systems; you protect your car with insurance, and you protect your health by going to the doctor.

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These will give you the relevant experience you need before you can be considered for a security specialist job. On the other hand, if you already have relevant experience working in a cyber security team, then you will how to become a security specialist stand a much better chance of getting hired as a security specialist. The problem is that every new technology brings with it new vulnerabilities and, inevitably, a new wave of cybercriminals prepared to exploit them.

The NICCS Education and Training Catalog helps cybersecurity professionals find over 6,000 cybersecurity-related courses. In terms of skills, experience, and general mindset, a cybersecurity specialist needs to be like a Swiss Army knife of the digital world. A person in this role needs to be multi-disciplinary and adaptable to a wide variety of situations. The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is a more advanced certification designed for cybersecurity professionals with at least five years of work experience.

Types of Cybersecurity

Always inquire with a potential employer for their specific job requirements. Some companies may accept as little as 1-to-2 years of experience while some may require over five years of IT security experience. According to a 2021 CompTIA job report, information security analyst positions were in the top ten for the most remote job listings — with about 4,400 postings. Analysts often report to upper administration and may have to present findings and recommendations before management. Security analysts sometimes work with multiple departments to ensure their colleagues understand the organization’s best practices for information security.

• This is the procedure that all IT employees have to follow if there is an emergency of any kind.
• The national average salary estimate for IT Security Specialist was $113,452.
• The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

The certification covers topics such as architecture, engineering, and management. Security+ is a CompTIA certification that is considered a basic cert among cybersecurity professionals. There are many pathways that people take to become a cybersecurity specialist, but they all involve some combination of education, specialized training, and experience. Usually, these specialists have spent a number of years working in IT departments as computer or network systems administrators.