How Can I Become a Cyber Security Specialist?

Splunk puts together security information and allows you to respond to cybersecurity threats you detect. This is probably the first certification you should earn—you’ll get the study materials and take the exam via CompTIA. This is a broad field, with thousands of opportunities in each specialty. You may decide to choose a more generalized set of available positions, because this will allow you to get more experience for any position for which you receive a job offer. But be careful not to pick an academic program just for its brand name; the school should have some level of specialization in cybersecurity. “Security has just gotten more and more important every single year and there is so much work to be done,” says Kunal Anand, CTO of Imperva, a cybersecurity company.

Is a CompTIA certification that is considered a basic cert among cybersecurity professionals. Most cybersecurity specialists work with the company’s Chief Information Officer to design and implement recovery systems.

Educational Preparation for Cybersecurity Specialist Jobs

Some organizations require a master’s degree to become a cybersecurity specialist, but not all. Hiring businesses are looking for a mix of education, certifications and hands-on industry experience. Another highly recognized certification for cybersecurity specialists is the Certified Information Systems Auditor credential.

You can begin by exploring different cybersecurity or IT degree programs at the bachelor’s level. You may need to visit the websites of several universities to find a degree that checks off all the boxes you want. Hiring managers are looking for candidates with a fighter mentality who care about keeping people safe “because that cuts across everything,” Anand says. Even those people who aren’t trained in cybersecurity have a shot at a job if they demonstrate motivation to learn.

Cybersecurity Roles and Responsibilities

Arguably, anyone who is very good at computers is best suited for this role. As the field grows in popularity, many employers prefer those candidates that possess a master’s degree in a computer-related field or a Master of Business Administration in Information Systems. Programs offering an MBA in Information Systems typically require two years of full time study and include both business and computer related coursework. Cyber Security Specialists plan and perform those duties necessary to ensure that the company’s network and systems are protected from viral attacks.

• According to a recent PayScale questionnaire, most employees with the job title cybersecurity specialists responded that they have a high level of job satisfaction.
• The demand for cybersecurity professionals in various sectors, including the public and private sector, large multinational banks, and small independent businesses or charities, is currently very high.
• Because technology changes so quickly and often, you’ll need to be able to adapt your approach when necessary—that means being flexible and open-minded.

We’ve helped over 10,000 students make huge career changes with our fully flexible mentor-led bootcamps. Explore our free cybersecurity curriculum today to start your career switch story. An information security analyst is responsible for protecting an organization’s electronic data from hackers and other external threats. You’ll need a how to become a security specialist strong background in IT and programming languages like Python or C++. A vulnerability analyst is an individual who analyzes potential vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. They work with a team of other analysts to identify potential threats, determine the severity of those threats, and recommend solutions to mitigate them.