A seller’s market, according to industry experts, exists in the cybersecurity job market, with zero percent unemployment, owing to the high salaries offered by organizations across all industries to attract top cybersecurity talent. Additionally, starting salaries for entry-level cybersecurity positions are significantly higher than those in many other industries, which helps to attract new talent to this exciting, critically important, and rapidly evolving field.
However, according to research, even many entry-level cybersecurity positions necessitate 3-5 years of relevant work experience. According to the “State of Cybersecurity Hiring Report” published by Burning Glass Technologies, “Most cybersecurity employers are not looking for new hires, and they are also not looking for those who do not have a college degree.” The majority of cybersecurity job postings require a bachelor’s degree or higher, with roughly the same percentage requiring at least three years of relevant experience.”
So, how do you get your foot in the door of the virtual world? Tips and strategies on how to position yourself for entry-level IT security positions are provided in this article.
The Cyber Security Talent Shortage
Businesses and government agencies of all shapes, sizes, and missions are in desperate need of cybersecurity professionals — and there simply isn’t enough talent to go around. This is one factor working in your favor.
Indeed, according to one notable and widely reported estimate, there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions by 2021. Putting it bluntly, SecurityMagazine.com describes the situation as follows: “The Cybersecurity Talent Gap = an Industry Crisis.” To put it another way, this is unquestionably an opportune moment.
In related news, the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Jobs Report [Status, Salary Information, Insights, and Infographic] has been released.
7 Key Cybersecurity Workforce Categories
In the field of cybersecurity, there is a broad range of different job categories, and it is frequently stated that the list of job duties and responsibilities is specific to the position and the organization in question.
One useful resource comes from the United States government, which is one of the world’s largest employers in the field of cybersecurity (see: cybercareers.gov). The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developed a detailed set of guidelines to assist private-sector organizations in assessing and improving their ability to prevent, detect, and respond to cyberattacks as part of its National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE).
This NICE list from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) categorizes cybersecurity roles into seven key “workforce categories.”
- As a Securely Provision (SP), you will be responsible for the conceptualization, design, procurement, and/or construction of secure information technology (IT) systems, as well as for aspects of the system and/or network development.
- Manage (OM) — Manages the support, administration, and maintenance required to ensure that information technology (IT) systems operate effectively and efficiently while maintaining security.
- In this role, you will provide leadership, management, direction, or development as well as advocacy to ensure that the organization can effectively carry out its cybersecurity work.
- Protect and Defend (PR) — This function identifies, analyses, and mitigates threats to internal information technology systems and/or network infrastructure.
- Analyze (AN) — Conducts a highly specialized review and evaluation of incoming cybersecurity information to determine its usefulness for intelligence gathering purposes.
- Specified denial-and-deception operations, as well as the collection of cybersecurity information that can be used to develop intelligence, are provided by Collect and Operate (CO).
- Investigate (IN) — Conducts investigations into cybersecurity incidents or crimes involving information technology systems, networks, and digital evidence.
- Career Paths in Cybersecurity: Feeder Roles that Lead to Entry-Level Cyber Positions
- Work experience in a variety of different domains can be a valuable part of your preparation for an entry-level cybersecurity position. However, these are generally regarded as the top five so-called “feeder roles” in the organization.
Cybersecurity Career Paths: Feeder Roles into Entry-Level Cyber Jobs
The development of software
System engineering is a broad term that encompasses a variety of disciplines.
Analysis of financial and risk situations
Intelligence on national security
CyberSeek.org is an excellent resource for learning more about feeder roles in cybersecurity and how they create opportunities for advancement into entry-level and then upper-level positions in the field. Their Cybersecurity Career Pathway tool contains detailed information about the salaries, credentials, and skillsets associated with various roles in the cybersecurity industry.
List of Entry-Level Cyber Security Jobs
The Career Pathway tool on CyberSeek provides a list of four fundamental entry-level cybersecurity positions. A quick look at each of them is provided below.
Technician / Cybersecurity Specialist / Cybersecurity Specialist
- Information security, information systems, information assurance, network security, security operations, vulnerability assessment, project management, Linux, and the National Institute of Standards and
- Technology cybersecurity frameworks are among the key skills and knowledge required.
Information security specialist, IT security specialist, IT specialist – information security are all job titles that are related to information security. - Most frequently requested certifications include CompTIA Security+, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), SANS/GIAC Certification, Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and Certified
- Information Security Manager, among others (CISM)
- The average salary is $92,000 per year.
- Analyst / Investigator in the field of cybercrime
Key skills and knowledge required include computer forensics, Linux, information security, consumer electronics, hard drives, information systems, forensic toolkit, UNIX, malware engineering, and a variety of other topics. Key skills and knowledge required include:
Digital forensics analyst, cyber forensic specialist, cybersecurity forensic analyst, computer forensics analyst are all job titles that are related to digital forensics analyst.
The highest demand for SANS/GIAC certifications, CISSP, EnCase Certified Examiner (EnCE), GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst, and GIAC Certified Incident Handler are among the most sought-after credentials (GCIH)
The average salary is $94,000 per year.
Responder to an incident as an incident analyst
How to Position Yourself for an Entry-Level Cybersecurity Job
Information security, project management, information systems, Linux, network security, technical support, intrusion detection, UNIX, and security operations are some of the key skills and knowledge that are being sought.
Career paths include information security analyst, disaster recovery specialist, network technical specialist, audit project manager – information security, and other similar positions.
The following are the most frequently requested certifications: CompTIA Security+, CISSP, SANS/GIAC Certification, GIAC Certified Incident Handler, and IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL).
The average salary is $89,000 per year.
IT Auditor is a position in the information technology field.
- Internal auditing, audit planning, information systems, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), accounting, risk assessment, information security, COBIT, and business process management are some of the key skills and knowledge required.
- IT audit consultant, IT audit manager, IT internal auditor, and senior IT auditor are all job titles that are related to IT auditing.
- The following are the most frequently requested certifications: Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Systems Manager
- (CISM), ITIL, and Information Systems Certification.
- The average salary is $98,000 per year.
- Among the other entry-level cybersecurity positions are:
An information security analyst is someone who studies information security.
Pentester in training, systems administrator, and security technician
as well as additional information
