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As the name suggests, cybersecurity specialists are all about protecting digital information. This can be anything from encrypting personal information on social media so no one can harvest it to making sure entire information systems are malware-, virus-, and hacker-proof. A security specialist, also known as an IT security specialist or a cyber security specialist, is responsible for developing and implementing security measures for an organization. As a security specialist, your overarching goal is to analyze current security procedures and suggest changes to upper management for improving efficiency and overall security. Workforce demand for computer security specialists is high in all verticals, including corporations, schools, medical practices, and government agencies. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the IT security specialist job market will grow by 33% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the 8% average for all occupations, placing it among the nation’s fastest growing career paths.
Security specialists also collaborate with other departments to ensure that colleagues are aware of how to practice good IT security. In today’s era of ever-escalating cyber attacks, organizations need to have security measures in place that will protect their sensitive data and systems. The fact that more and more businesses are relying on cloud computing, technology, and remote work presents further reasons to prioritize security infrastructure. We have compiled all the relevant information about the security specialist role, so you can decide whether this is the ideal career path for you. We reveal the essential aspects of the position, how to get hired, data on salary expectations, and the best companies that are hiring. Provide support to all customers and identify and resolve all issues and provide efficient training to new employees to understand all security procedures and maintain protection for all information systems.
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It is often said that a security architect must think like a hacker to successfully identify the tactics a hacker would use to breach their systems. Security architects prepare the budget, allocate staff and resources, manage security IT teams, and generate reports for the executive levels. We are looking for an experienced and knowledgeable Systems Security Expert to join our team! As a System Security Expert, you will be responsible for planning, implementing and managing the overall system security strategy. System Security Experts are responsible for preventing and mitigating security breaches that may arise within company’s computer systems. They are experts in various fields such as information security, network security, and mobile security.
- “We’ve never had a three-month period with a loss or decline in premiums for IT security specialists.”
- You might work to protect a famous star from disgruntled fans or a politician from assassination attempts.
- At the present time, one of the few cybersecurity positions it tracks is also one of the most common —information security analyst.
- Interact positively with staff and the public in a diverse academic setting in order to enhance effectiveness.
- Generally speaking, security specialists earn anywhere from $25,000 to $98,000 a year, which means that the top-earning security specialists make $74,000 more than the ones at the lower end of the spectrum.
You may be expected to report to Senior IT management regarding any live issues that arise, as part of your job role. Technical reports and formal papers may need to be written relating to any test findings that you may make. Penetration and vulnerability testing of the live or production environment on a regular basis will probably be necessary in order to maintain a secure environment as new threats and exploits emerge. The work may involve maintaining security software and integrating new security into an organisation using various tools and techniques including firewalls, spyware, malware detection and intrusion detection systems. You might receive job training if the employer has several bodyguards or a personal security team. Postsecondary education in criminal justice or police science can be beneficial. This might be a formal classroom experience or it could be done on the job.
Information Security Specialist Job Responsibilities
Conduct threat and risk analysis and analyze the business impact of new and existing systems and technologies to eliminate risk, performance, and capacity issues. They implement vulnerability assessments and configure audits of operating systems, web servers, and databases and detect patterns, insecure features, and malicious activities security specialist in the infrastructure. Provide technical and operational support on ATFP physical security, and physical security assessments and policy/procedure development. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 12+ resume templates to create your security specialist resume.
As technology becomes more available in the information age, a demand has risen to protect computers, networks, and data. You’ll familiarize yourself with viruses and other forms of cyber attacks to learn how to counter, prevent, and fix common damages. In this role, you’d be hired on to guard such settings as business complexes, shopping malls, high-rise apartment buildings, or schools. If you’re overseeing larger properties, you might have access to more technology and a bigger team of guards. Security specialists use training and skills to thwart criminals and stop criminal activity. Find out more about this field and careers related to it by reading below. Run tests and use malware prevention software to identify new threats to their organization’s data networks.
What skills do I need?
Furthermore, 7.0% earned their master’s degrees before becoming a security specialist. While it’s true that most security specialists have a college degree, it’s generally possible to become one with only a high school degree. In fact, one out of every six security specialists did not spend the extra money to attend college. https://remotemode.net/ On average, the security specialist annual salary is $49,892 per year, which translates to $23.99 an hour. Generally speaking, security specialists earn anywhere from $25,000 to $98,000 a year, which means that the top-earning security specialists make $74,000 more than the ones at the lower end of the spectrum.
Banking – In other organizations, the title of security specialist may in fact be used to describe a generalist position. Securing SCADA devices and other niche information systems that fall outside the mainstream of technology security is the realm of a unique breed of cybersecurity specialists often referred to as infosec technicians. Without them, there would be an increased risk of cyberattacks, which can lead to the loss of consumer confidence, leaks of private information, network failures, stalled production, and compliance violations. For this reason, security specialists are necessary to maintain the overall operations and credibility of a company. A security specialist can be defined as anyone that specializes in the security of people, assets, networks, telecommunications systems, and IT systems. You might be a personal bodyguard, security guard, or computer security analyst.
Computer Security Specialist Career and Salary Outlook
An employer might want candidates to have gained specific certificates, as these can teach you particular essential skills. Also, even if one of these certificates isn’t required for a role, it may still be preferable, or at least beneficial. To get hired as a security specialist, you always want to develop your skills and knowledge as much as possible, and certificates help you to do exactly that. Security specialists will also use a range of tools to assess the level of security in an organization’s computer and network systems. As mentioned in the list of daily responsibilities, you might be expected to carry out penetration testing.
- A successful resume always describes a jobseeker’s experience and qualifications for a position in an engaging, easy to understand way.
- The installation and configuration of firewalls and other intrusion detection systems might be part of your role.
- If your company has advanced needs, you may wish to look for candidates who hold a master’s degree or post-graduate certificate.
- Software that can assist you in this task includes Kali Linux, nmap, Metasploit, Wireshark, and John the Ripper.
The tests they run may at times involve information security, but they may also seek to examine other aspects of performance, such as data transfer speeds or network reliability. According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Security Specialist is $87,769 per year. Your company can base your salary offer on the job market trends in your area and candidates’ experience, education and certification status. The highest quality candidates are also likely to hold Security + or Network + certification from CompTIA, Certified Information Systems Security Professional ² or Certified Ethical Hacker certification from the EC-Council.
