Cyber Security experts play a pivotal role in protecting information systems. Cyber security experts secure systems from cybersecurity threats, risks, and vulnerabilities by keeping a constant watch on security events, analyzing them, and taking necessary actions. Cybersecurity experts work closely with IT teams responsible for safeguarding the integrity of the network and data of the business. These days, the success of a business depends closely on the role of cybersecurity experts because any leakage of sensitive information pertaining to the business causes a huge loss to the business.
The demand for cybersecurity experts has been increasing day by day. This is evident from one of the resorts released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics which stated that the demand for cybersecurity experts is likely to increase by 18% by the end of 2027. Considering all this, seeking a career as a Cyber Security Expert can be lucrative, however, before that, let’s learn in detail about who exactly are cybersecurity experts, what role do they play in an organization, how much do they earn for their role and lastly how to become one.
Who is a cybersecurity expert?
A cybersecurity expert may be involved in a wide range of activities going in an organization. As the name of the job role implies, cybersecurity experts are expected to have a certain amount of expertise that will help them give recommendations on security practices to an organization. The overall data security is in the control of cybersecurity experts as they play the critical role of protecting sensitive data and information from a potential breach.
What are the roles and responsibilities of a cybersecurity expert?
A cybersecurity expert is commonly involved in the following roles and responsibilities:
- Carrying analysis of IT specifications for assessing the security risks.
- Developing and implementing safety measures and plans for data recovery.
- Installing, configuring, and upgrading security software
- Protect networks using firewalls, password protecting, and other systems
- Carrying inspection of hardware for vulnerable points of access.
- Monitoring network activity for identification of early issues and communicating them to the team.
- Taking continuous actions on privacy breaches and conducting training whenever required.
- Design policies and guidelines.
How to become a cybersecurity expert?
You can become a cybersecurity experts by following these easy steps:
Get formal education: A career in Cybersecurity can be opted by anyone having a formal degree in IT or Cybersecurity. This can be in the form of an associate degree, bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in Cybersecurity, or a degree in related fields such as computer science, mathematics, or engineering. Even having any kind of prior experience in Cybersecurity can be helpful for having a career in such a lucrative field.
Seek industry certifications: To have a flourishing career in Cybersecurity, it’s important to make a list of certifications that are in high demand in the industry and choose the one that will best suit your learning goals and prior educational experience. Seeking a professional certification will help you demonstrate your skills and knowledge to the recruiters and land your dream job. While choosing a certification in Cybersecurity, you must keep in mind that the curriculum should include hands-on training to give you a practical experience of the cybersecurity industry. Some of the useful industry certifications in Cybersecurity are Security+, a CompTIA certification, Network + is also offered by CompTIA, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).
Look for internship opportunities: For real industrial knowledge, it’s always recommended to look for internship opportunities. Furthermore, mentioning internships in your CV helps grab recruiters’ attention and makes you a good candidate for the role.
Seek enhancing professional networking: It’s always a great idea to look for opportunities that will help you strengthen your professional network. This will help you grow professionally and learn from your peers and get in touch with the top recruiters easily.
Salary of a security expert
According to Payscale.com, a security officer Colorado on average earns around $76,625 a year. Like other job roles, pay of cybersecurity experts varies by the years of experience. Let’s have a look at the salary of cybersecurity experts as per their experience:
| Job experience (in years) | Salary (in USD) |
| 1 year | 63,000 USD |
| 1-4 years | 72,000 USD |
| 5-9 years | 89,000 USD |
| 10-19 years | 1,01,000 USD |
| 20+ years | 1,13,000 USD |
We’re hopeful that this article helped you understand Cybersecurity basics and who exactly is a cybersecurity expert. Just know that the field of Cybersecurity is full of opportunities. Once you get into it, all you’ll experience is fun and challenges. The field is highly in demand and likely to offer you a rewarding career ahead. So, don’t wait! Just plunge into the sea of Cybersecurity to have a unique experience.
