Cyber Security Careers

• Information Security Analyst: Information security analysts observe the flow of data within a company and research industry trends to determine the safest way to transmit information between relevant parties.

• Security Specialist: Security specialists help to educate a company’s employees about security and work to prevent cyberattacks. They are often involved in a company’s day-to-day information and data security measures.

Digital Forensic Investigator: Digital forensic investigators look into security breaches and recover data from devices in order to identify the culprit behind a cyberattack, or to gather evidence for legal proceedings.

• IT Auditor: IT auditors are responsible for observing the usage of IT elements within a company to ensure that they are being deployed in a security-conscious manner.

• Incident Responder – Incident responders work to recover lost data, find out what was compromised and restore service function after a breach in security.

• Cybercrime Analyst: Cybercrime analysts investigate crimes after they have occurred. They also study crimes that are happening around the world in order to pass along information that will help companies avoid similar security breaches.

• Systems Administrator: Systems administrators, sometimes called admins or sysadmins, oversee all systems, networks and data transmission methods within a company to ensure that they are being used properly and in a security-conscious manner.

• Penetration Tester: Penetration testers, also known as pen testers or ethical hackers, ensure that cyber security safeguards are up to par by attempting to breach them from the outside, exploiting the same vulnerabilities and using the same techniques that a malicious hacker would employ.

• Security Systems Administrator: A security systems administrator oversees the cyber security systems that are used to keep computer networks safe from attacks, while also ensuring the efficiency of day-to-day operations.

• Computer systems analyst: A computer systems analyst works with programmers and engineers to help build secure computing systems. They often serve in an advisory role, but may run tests and perform basic programming on the equipment they help build.

• Computer network support specialist: A specialized branch of technical support, computer network support specialists help companies troubleshoot their networks. They can also provide advice on how to set up networks to be more secure.

• Security analyst: Security analysts are skilled at managing software, systems and networks. They ensure that the software being used is the latest and most secure version, which can help prevent cyberattacks.

• Vulnerability assessor: Vulnerability assessors are similar to ethical hackers in that they use programming and hacking skills to find weaknesses within a system. Unlike an ethical hacker who may be employed to break into the databases of criminal elements, a vulnerability assessor solely focuses on finding areas of weakness in a system to improve them.

• Security Architect: Security architects are responsible for identifying the suite of software applications that a company will use in order to protect its data. They often work alongside IT managers and systems administrators to make sure that security concerns are addressed.

• Cryptographer: Cryptographers work to secure data using a complex system of ciphers, codes and algorithms. In the event that a company receives an encrypted file, they also perform the analysis of those files in an isolated system.

• Cyber Security Manager: Cyber security managers oversee and manage the systems and channels used by a company for the transmission of internal information.

• Security Auditor: Security auditors investigate the software, programming and systems that a company uses for its cyber security measures to determine areas of weakness and identify potential improvements.

• Source Code Auditor: Source code auditors use their programming experience to identify areas of weakness within the source code of a software program to help build safer, more secure software applications.

• Cyber Security Engineer: These senior-level cybersecurity professionals design, develop and implement highly secure network solutions to defend against cyberattacks. They often perform penetration testing to uncover vulnerabilities, install, test and configure networks and define security protocols.

• CompTIA Linux+: The Linux certification verifies proficiency with the Linux operating system and its various applications. This is particularly useful for those who wish to work with operating systems and devices.

• CompTIA Network+: Network+ certifies your knowledge of emerging technologies such as cloud computing and the Internet of Things. This credential is recommended for security specialists and is a great way to future-ready your skillset.

• CompTIA Cloud+: This certification proves your ability to set up, manage and maintain cloud computing systems in a secure fashion. 

CompTIA Security+: Incorporating best practices in hands-on troubleshooting, this fundamental cyber security certification establishes the core knowledge the field requires. It verifies the problem-solving skills required to assess an organization’s security, monitor and secure hybrid environments, operate with an awareness of applicable laws and policies and identify, analyze and respond to security events and incidents.

CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+): For cyber professionals tasked with incident detection, prevention and response, the CySA+ credential demonstrates competency of current security trends affecting the daily work of security analysts and verifies knowledge of incident response and vulnerability management processes. It confirms skills and methodologies in detecting and analyzing indicators of malicious activity.

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA): With this certification from ISACA, mid-career cyber security professionals can verify their ability to apply a risk-based approach to planning and reporting on audit engagements. Elements of the certification confirm candidates’ abilities to identify critical issues and recommend enterprise-specific practices to support and safeguard the governance of information and related technologies. 

CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+): This advanced-level cyber security certification is intended for security architects and senior security engineers. Covering both security architecture and engineering, it is the only hands-on, performance-based certification for advanced cyber security practitioners. It verifies the skills needed to assess an enterprise’s cyber security readiness and lead technical teams to implement enterprise-wide cyber security solutions.