What is a Cyber Security Specialist?

The one with the premium knowledge of Cybersecurity field, and who works with companies/organizations to secure their computer systems, is known as a Cyber Security Specialist.

They get hold of staff about their present security methods. Their main framework is to inspect the entire system of vulnerabilities, safeguarding the company’s data; they find out what information/area needs maximum protection. Cybersecurity specialists are also responsible for defining the access level for the employees, that what information should be accessible to the specific user. Security Specialists train their staff on a regular basis on how to use Cyber Security related software and guide them in the proper use of computers to prevent any cyber attack. Their main task is to find out and determine if there is any leak of data that is taking place, or if there are any other kinds of errors or problem that are occurring in the system. If there is a problem, specialists track where the break came from and shut off the access point.

Why Become a Cyber Security Specialist?

The professional career of Cyber Security is anticipated to grow faster than the average rate, and this century has brought a big market of it with abundant jobs. An increase in Cyber Security jobs is expected as technology continues to advance and attackers being highly active. It promotes more businesses to go online, and it requires Cyber Security strategies to secure them.

Education Path:

There are several means to become an expert professional in Cyber Security. Many employers prefer to hire people with some formal university background, Bachelor’s degree in computer science, or even majors in Information Security (IT Dept.). But for our keen learners, another route is self-study and then one can get certified; there are a lot of organizations/groups that give valid certificates, e.g. EC-Council.

The most crucial and important part of preparing for this field is learning the latest technology, and grasping what is the latest discovery in this area. Some people learn through classes and others teach themselves by online courses, tutorials, coaching, etc.

Formal Studies: 

People generally choose to take up any formal degree plan to become specialized. For them, Masters in Cyber Security is best they can choose as it upgrades their sense of knowledge and makes them experts in the field. Another degree to become a Cyber Security Specialist, which is a more practical based study, is Information Security Assurance.

Certificates:

As with other computer science degrees, certificates increase your appeal to employers. It is not only the bachelor’s degree that teaches you Cyber Security in depth; self-studies, tutorials, online courses, and certifications(cybersecurity certification) will lead you towards the specialized zone in a more proficient manner.
Some recommended courses are:

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Certified Network Defense Architect (CNDA)
Certified Network Security Administrator (NSA)

Some of these courses are affiliated by EC-Council, and some are available and taught online in highly affordable rates– just to overcome the shortage of cybersecurity professionals in the world of growing Cyber Security threats and attacks.

Salary and Wages

The increasing need for cybersecurity professional has raised the average salary in the field. The income of a Security Consultant comes up to $50,000+ per annum. Though the average annual salary does not exceed $60,000. This shows the demand for Cyber Security professionals by IT or other companies.
Once you are sure of becoming a Cyber Security professional, we recommend you to do a quick search for jobs on major employment sites, like- SimplyHired, Monster, Indeed, etc. This will give you a sense of what kind of current qualifications, certifications, experience, and degrees your employers want to see.

However the lists of hard skills and certifications are not written in stone; they’re quite adjustable and negotiable, simply suggesting starting points. You may even require more specialized skills for your dream job, so work hard. Again, feel free to take away what you find constructive.