Top 6 Cyber Security Jobs in 2020

In present times with data being generated and exchanged at a high speed, there is a crucial need to protect it. To protect data, companies require skilled professionals who can safeguard computer networks and the organization’s information. Cybersecurity professionals are the go-to people for this role. In this article, you will gain an insight into the various cybersecurity jobs and how you can start your career in this field. These are the key topics that will be covered in this article:

1. The Rise in Cybersecurity Jobs

2. Cybersecurity Jobs, Career & Salary

• Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
• Security Architect
• Penetration Tester
• Cybersecurity Engineer
• Malware Analyst
• Computer Forensic Analyst

3. How Can Simplilearn Help You?

4. Are You Ready to Become a Cybersecurity Professional? 

The Rise in Cybersecurity Jobs

Before we dive deep into the various cybersecurity jobs, let’s have a glimpse of why the number of cybersecurity jobs is increasing every single day. Did you know that, according to the University of Maryland, hackers attack every 39 seconds, on an average of 2,244 times a day?

When you give this a thought, you will realize how prone any digital network is, to unauthorized access from a third party. This is termed as a cyberattack. When an organization witnesses a cyberattack, they lose data, money, and trust of their customers. To prevent these dangerous cyberattacks, cybersecurity is implemented. Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting networks and computer systems from unauthorized digital access. 

With the increase in the generation of digital data, it is anticipated that cyberattacks will quadruple shortly. This proves that growth in the number of cybersecurity jobs will only increase as organizations will need professionals who can ensure data security. Research shows that there is a limited workforce for cybersecurity jobs, and the job opportunities are limitless. So if you are looking to bag yourself a cybersecurity job, then this article will brief you with the top job roles in this field and how you can go about achieving your dream job. 

Cybersecurity Jobs, Career and Salary 

Now that you have understood the growth in the number of cybersecurity jobs and the opportunities the field of cybersecurity holds, let’s take a look at the different job roles available in this field. 

There are several cybersecurity jobs available; the nature of these jobs varies mostly. These jobs can be categorized based on the following parameters:

• Your educational qualification
• Professional work experience
• Your area of interest. For example, some candidates are into coding and some others prefer managerial posts 
• The cybersecurity certifications you hold

So, by analyzing the above parameters, you can choose the correct cybersecurity job that suits your area of expertise.

Let’s now take a close look at the career and salary of a few of the top-paying job roles from the long list of cybersecurity jobs.

Top CyberSecurity Jobs

1. Chief Information Security Officer - CISO

A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is a senior-level officer who ensures the complete safety of information in an organization. CISOs are responsible for developing and maintaining information security and risk management programs, and they are also required to interact with stakeholders and they brief them about the information security concerns. Usually, one becomes a CISO after having a good experience in a few other cybersecurity job roles. 

CISO Skills

To become a CISO, it is preferred that you hold a computer science degree and an MBA, owing to the seniority of this job role. To reach the position of a CISO, the potential candidate must have a robust skillset. Given below are a few of the most important ones: 

• IT experience
• Incident management and supervisory skills
• Business expertise
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Risk management

CISO Certifications

Most of the cybersecurity jobs require you to hold the relevant cybersecurity certifications. Your cybersecurity career grows with the number of certifications you have. To become a CISO, the preferred certifications are - Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). 

CISO Salary

According to PayScale, the average annual salary of a CISO in the United States is $161,945, and in India, it is ₹2,936,196. 

   Fig: CISO average annual salary in the US

Moving on, we will explore the next key position in the world of cybersecurity.

2. Security Architect

A Security Architect is responsible for designing robust security structures that are used to prevent malware attacks. They perform vulnerability tests and also provide technical assistance to the other security team members. 

Security Architect Skills

To become a security architect, it is preferred that you hold a degree in computer science or information technology. A couple of essential skills are: 

• Strong IT experience
• Experience in the risk management sector 
• Network hardware configuration 
• Knowledge of security protocols and cryptography
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication and presentation skills

Security Architect Certifications

To become a security architect, the certifications which will benefit your career are CompTIA Security+ and CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional).

Security Architect Salary

According to PayScale, the average annual salary in this job role in the United States is $123,642, and in India, it is ₹2,083,114.

Fig: Security Architect average annual salary in the US

That was all about the security architect position, let’s now take a look at the next job role in our list.

3. Cybersecurity Engineer

Cybersecurity Engineers work on planning security measures to prevent the organization from a cyberattack. They are responsible for protecting the organization’s networks and data. They design cybersecurity platforms and also collaborate with the other teams to maintain overall security. 

Cybersecurity Engineer Skills

To become a cybersecurity engineer, the first step is to have a degree in information technology or computer science. Before starting on the role of a cybersecurity engineer, you should have at least two years of work experience in the relevant field. In addition to these, let’s look at the other skills a cybersecurity engineer must have:

• Good networking skills
• An understanding of architecture and management of operating systems
• Knowledge of C, C++ is required. Python and Java knowledge is also essential
• Strong communication and presentation skills

Cybersecurity Engineer Certifications

A cybersecurity engineer can hold either a Certified Ethical Hacker certification or a CompTIA Security+ certification. Depending on the experience level, one can take up advanced certifications as well.  

Cybersecurity Engineer Salary

According to PayScale, the average annual salary of a cybersecurity engineer in the United States is $96,220 and is ₹793,270 in India. 

Fig: Cybersecurity Engineer average annual salary in the US

Now, let’s move to the next role in the list of cybersecurity jobs. 

4. Malware Analyst 

A malware analyst identifies and examines cyber threats such as viruses, worms, bots, and trojans to understand their nature. They develop malware protection tools, and finally, they document the methods to avoid malware threats.

Malware Analyst Skills

To become a malware analyst, just like the other cybersecurity jobs, the first step is to have a degree in information technology or computer science. It’s good to have at least two years of work experience in the relevant field before becoming a malware analyst. Few other skills a malware analyst should possess are:

• Candidates must know Windows, Linux, UNIX operating systems 
• Sound knowledge of C and C++ is needed
• Usage of tools like IDA Pro, OllyDbg, RegShot, and TCP view is required
• Strong communication and presentation skills

Malware Analyst Certifications

Holding a GIAC Reverse Engineering Malware (GREM) certification is a plus for point for this position. 

Malware Analyst Salary

According to PayScale, the average annual salary of malware analysts in the United States is $92,880. According to Glassdoor, it is ₹775K in India.

Fig: Malware Analyst average annual salary in the US

That was all about the malware analyst role, moving on to our next designation. 

5. Penetration Tester

A penetration tester, also commonly known as an ethical hacker, is a network security consultant who exploits a system’s vulnerabilities just like a hacker would. They design new penetration tools, and they also document the test results. 

Penetration Tester Skills

To become a penetration tester, you need to have 1- 4 years of experience in information security. Given below are some other essential skills: 

• Good networking skills
• Knowledge of Windows, Linux, UNIX operating systems. Also, knowledge of C, C++ is required
• Knowledge of Java, Python, and Perl is also vital
• Black box testing
• Strong reporting, communication and presentation skills

Penetration Tester Certifications

To bag this role, certifications like Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Expert Penetration Tester (CEPT), and Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) will be required. 

Penetration Tester Salary

According to PayScale, the average annual salary of a penetration tester in the United States is $84,283, and in India, it is ₹524,346.

Fig: Penetration Tester average annual salary in the US

Now that you have understood what a penetration tester does, let’s take a look at the next job role in our list of cybersecurity jobs. 

6. Computer Forensics Analyst 

Computer Forensics Analysts work on cyberattack cases to gather digital evidence and to retrieve data. They work on recovering deleted, manipulated, or stolen data. 

Computer Forensics Analyst Skills

A computer forensics analyst must hold a bachelor’s degree and some work experience in the related field. In addition to that, they must have the following skills:

• Networking knowledge
• Knowledge of cybersecurity
• Understanding of law and criminal investigation 
• A sound analytical mind with attention to detail
• Strong communication skills

Computer Forensics Analyst Certifications

Computer forensics analysts can hold certifications like Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE) and Certified Computer Examiner (CCE)

Computer Forensics Analyst Salary

According to PayScale, the average annual salary of a Computer Forensics Analyst in the United States is $73,798, and is ₹589,581 in India.

Fig: Forensic Computer Analyst average annual salary in the US

Now that we had a look at the different cybersecurity jobs let’s understand how Simplilearn can help you bag one of these top jobs. 

Learn the types of attacks on a system, the techniques used, and more with the Certified Ethical Hacking Course. Enroll now!

How Can Simplilearn Help You? 

We explored the prominence of various job roles in the field of cybersecurity in today’s times. Now, let’s understand how one can bag these jobs. It is important to remember that cybersecurity certifications are of paramount importance if you want to become a cybersecurity professional. If you hold a good cybersecurity certification, then your opportunities and your visibility increase dramatically. 

Employers look for candidates who possess cybersecurity certifications. Depending on your experience and expertise, you can pick up the right certification for yourself. Simplilearn offers a list of cybersecurity certifications like CEH (v10), CISSP, CISA, and CISM, to name a few. 

Simplilearn also offers a “Cyber Security Expert” Masters Program which will equip you with the skills you need to become an expert in the cybersecurity domain. This course provides foundational, intermediate, and advanced security skills through industry-leading certification courses, including CompTIA Security+, CEH, CISM, CISSP, and CCSP. 

There are no prerequisites to take up this program; however, knowledge of any programming language is a huge plus point. 

Are You Ready to Become a Cybersecurity Professional?

In this article, you looked at the rise in the number of cybersecurity job openings and a couple of top-paying cybersecurity jobs. You also took a look at what Simplilearn has to offer in terms of your growth in the domain of cybersecurity. So what are you waiting for? Are you ready to get certified and become a cybersecurity professional?

Do you have any questions for us concerning cybersecurity jobs? Please mention them in the comments section of this article. Our qualified experts will get back to you as soon as possible!