Do you constantly worry about the increasing cyber-attack threats and want to be part of the solution? Are you stuck in your career?
Be part of cyber security! The year 2023 sees a surge in the need for skilled cybersecurity professionals, with many job opportunities available. As of February 2023, there were 755,743 cybersecurity job openings in the United States alone and expected to increase further in this field.
Fight cybercrime, earn well, and stay ahead with training. In this guide, we will discuss the cybersecurity jobs, salaries, and career opportunities associated with job profiles.
Types of Cyber Security Jobs
1. Security Analyst
A security analyst’s primary responsibility is to monitor computer systems and networks for signs of attack. They aim to identify potential security issues and provide solutions to prevent them. On your cybersecurity career learning roadmap, you can consider becoming a security analyst as a starting point.
Avg. annual salary in India: 5.6 LPA
Job Roles and Responsibilities:
- Monitor and investigate the security records for events, operational irregularities, and potential incidents.
- Coordinate and escalate security issues as needed for timely resolution.
- Utilize security dashboards and proactive methods to identify and respond to suspicious activities.
- Collaborate with application security teams to monitor cloud infrastructure for security-related incidents.
- Research potential dangers and stay up-to-date on the threat environment and security warnings.
- Contribute to risk assessments, document Standard Operating Procedures, and participate in incident management following ITIL standards.
2. Cyber Security Consultant
Cybersecurity consultants work with clients to identify risks and vulnerabilities and propose solutions. They provide strategic and tactical cybersecurity advice to increase their clients’ security. Cybersecurity experts may assess risk and create security rules.
Avg. annual salary in India: 11.5 LPA
Job Roles and Responsibilities:
- Lead consulting engagements to develop client cybersecurity strategies, policies, and best practices.
- Conduct comprehensive assessments to identify security program gaps and emerging threats across various domains.
- Guide adopting modern security solutions aligned with industry frameworks and standards.
- Collaborate with various stakeholders to align on cybersecurity goals and create actionable security roadmaps.
- Deliver executive-level advisory services and SOC (Security Operations Center) maturity assessments.
- Contribute to developing security operations strategies, training programs, and standard operating procedures.
3. Incident Responder
Incident responders address security situations like cyberattacks and data breaches quickly. To reduce damage and prevent more attacks is their primary goal. They also determine the cause and take steps to prevent recurrence.
Avg. annual salary in India: 5.9 LPA
Job Roles and Responsibilities:
- Provide technical support to resolve client queries, troubleshoot technical issues, and offer step-by-step solutions in a user-friendly and professional manner.
- Review daily transaction performance parameters and performance dashboard scores for the team to ensure standards are met.
- Identify red flags and escalate serious client issues to the team if the untimely resolution is at risk. Timely escalate unresolved issues to higher-level support.
- Record, track, and document all queries, problem-solving steps, and resolutions. Evaluate call logs for repetitive patterns and deploy preventive strategies against future problems.
- Develop and conduct training sessions for production specialists, bridging skill gaps and enhancing technical knowledge—mentor and guide production specialists to improve their capabilities.
- Interact with internal stakeholders, including Team Leaders and HR, for performance reviews and human resource-related matters.
4. Penetration Tester
A penetration tester’s job is to check the security of computer systems and networks by breaking them. Intending to find gaps in a company’s security, these people try to take advantage of shortcomings by using ethical hacking methods.
Avg. annual salary in India: 5.2LPA.
Job Roles and Responsibilities:
- Conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments on web applications, identifying security weaknesses.
- Simulate real-world hacking attempts to discover potential entry points for attackers.
- Analyze and assess the severity of identified vulnerabilities and their impact on the system.
- Prepare detailed reports outlining findings, risks, and remediation recommendations.
- Collaborate with development and IT teams to assist in fixing vulnerabilities.
- Stay updated on the latest web application security trends and ethical hacking techniques.
5. SOC (Security operations center) Analyst
SOC analysts monitor, investigate, and respond to security warnings, prevent cyberattacks, and proactively hunt threats. They are crucial to minimizing cyber incidents and ensuring security.
Avg. annual salary in India: 5.1 LPA
Job Roles and Responsibilities:
- Manage security warnings and respond to them, distinguishing between serious dangers and false alarms.
- Conduct research and take preventative measures against security breaches, such as advanced persistent threats and hidden malware.
- Take charge of the incident response activities to reduce the damage caused by cyberattacks and speed up recovery.
- Utilizing threat intelligence streams, actively search for dangers that may be present on the network.
- Perform the tasks associated with Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 positions, depending on experience level. These tasks include monitoring, in-depth analysis, coordination, and advanced threat hunting.
- Contribute to protecting businesses against cyberattacks, keep continual vigilance in the fight against cybercrime, and guarantee the organization’s safety.
6. Cyber Security Engineer
Cybersecurity engineers create and enforce security rules to protect computer networks and systems from unauthorized access. Their primary role is creating and implementing data protection rules for an organization.
Avg. annual salary in India: 6.9 LPA
Job Roles and Responsibilities:
- Make a security plan covering all the business’s assets and activities.
- Create a risk assessment and vulnerability validation method to ensure the measures taken are enough to protect against known threats and vulnerabilities.
- Work with the Product, Engineering, and operational teams to add security to the processes for development and deployment.
- Oversee hacking audits inside and outside the company, ensuring we meet or beat all compliance standards.
- Oversee plans for how to handle breaches and run drills to make sure the company is ready.
- Keep up with changes in the industry and new threats to update and adjust security measures before they become useless.
- Regularly keep senior managers and other team members in the loop about the company’s security.
- Work closely with the development team to ensure that all sites and applications clients see are safe from cyberattacks and being watched.
7. CISO (Chief Information Security officer)
CISOs must strategically and intelligently advance the company’s cybersecurity strategy. CISOs report directly to the CEO and must identify and communicate security threats, preventive measures, and security roadmaps. They detect, analyze, and mitigate risks using proactive solutions.
Avg. annual salary in India: 36.2 LPA
Job Roles and Responsibilities:
- Manage data security initiatives and security teams to ensure efficient and risk-free business operations.
- Evaluate business opportunities, assess security risks, and communicate with stakeholders to ensure alignment with security goals and budgeting techniques.
- Maintain updated documentation related to governance, compliance, risk mitigation, and incident prevention for implementation of security best practices.
- Provide strategic leadership insights, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and guide crisis management during security incidents.
- Implement robust systems to minimize data breaches caused by employee errors or negligence, including vetting and training security teams.
How to Prepare for a Cybersecurity Career?
If someone is brand new to the IT field, they can still get started on a cybersecurity career.
Here are five steps to cover a successful career in cybersecurity.
Step 1: Acquire a Strong Educational Foundation
- Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree: Start with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field such as Computer Science, Information Technology, or Cybersecurity. This degree provides essential foundational knowledge.
- Certifications: Pursue relevant certifications like CompTIA Security+, CompTIA ITF+, and Microsoft Certified Fundamentals are the best way to jumpstart a career in this field.
Types of certifications:
| Certification Type | Description |
| 1. Basic Certifications | These certifications meet the needs of IT students with limited or no experience in the field. |
| 2. Professional certifications | These are appropriate for entry-level or established IT workers looking to expand their skill set. |
| 3. Specialty Certifications | These certifications will help hone in on areas of expertise. |
| 4. Mastery Certifications | This training program is primarily for experienced IT professionals who want to expand their skills and knowledge. |
If you’re looking to start your cyber security journey, this list of cybersecurity courses in India is a good starting point for you.
Step 2: Develop Technical Skills
Here is the skill set required to start a career in each of the mentioned skills:
- Networking and Computer Systems: Understanding of TCP/IP protocols, firewalls, routers, and network devices. Ability to analyze and respond to potential threats effectively.
- Programming Proficiency: Knowledge of programming languages like Python or C++. Skill in writing scripts and programs for automation, vulnerability identification, and solutions development.
- Risk Assessment and Management: Expertise in evaluating potential threats and their impact on organizational systems. Implementation of measures to mitigate risks effectively.
- Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Strong ability to identify patterns and detect anomalies. Effective response to cybersecurity incidents through critical and creative thinking.
- Effective Communication: Clear articulation of technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Collaboration with teams and ensuring understanding of cybersecurity importance.
Step 3: Build Practical Experience
- Internships and Entry-Level Jobs: Seek internships or entry-level positions in IT or security-related roles to gain hands-on experience.
- Capture the Flag (CTF) Challenges: Participate in CTF challenges and online platforms such as CTF Challenge, Hacker101 CTF, and Github to enhance your skills.
Step 4: Stay Informed and Continuously Learn
- Follow Cybersecurity News: Keep up with the latest trends, threats, and technologies in the cybersecurity field by reading blogs, attending conferences and workshops, and following reputable sources in linked and other social media platforms.
- Advanced Certifications: Pursue advanced certifications such as Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) as your career progresses.
Step 5: Build a Professional Network
- Attend industry conferences, seminars, and local cybersecurity meetups to connect with professionals and potential mentors.
- Join online forums and communities where cybersecurity experts share knowledge and experiences.
Key takeaways
Whether you’re a complete beginner or planning to switch your career into cybersecurity, this guide has covered the most important points that you should.
This includes various cybersecurity job types and how to plan your career roadmap to get a high-paying job and build a professional network.
