Exploring Career Paths in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity has become a very large industry due to the need for it with the increasing number of daily cyber-attacks and data breaches. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs in cybersecurity is projected to increase by 35% before 2031. As cybersecurity grows more relevant, there are more specialized roles emerging. If you are considering exploring career paths in cybersecurity, we are going to walk you through some of the positions you can enter when exploring career paths in cybersecurity.
Starting out: Entry Level Cybersecurity Positions
If you are just starting out in the field of cybersecurity, the following positions will be best suited to you.
Help Desk Technician: This position diagnoses and resolves computer issues, installs and trains users on new technologies, provides remote technical support, backs up and restores data files, repairs hardware, and configures software to maintain operating systems.
Network Administrator: Some tasks in this job description include installing, configuring, and maintaining network hardware, setting up and maintaining virtual private networks, resolving connectivity issues, and maintaining and troubleshooting storage networks.
Junior Information Security Analyst: Your duties may include establishing threat plans and protocols, maintaining data, monitoring network access, updating and maintaining the firewall, and performing test and risk analysis.
Software Developer: This position focuses on designing and building computers that power other computers and mobile devices, testing and evaluating new programs, identifying areas for modification, and writing and implementing code.
Before you apply to be in cybersecurity for the first time, the positions listed above will allow you to gain some much-needed experience before entering a more senior level role. When working in these positions you will develop core IT skills that include programming, networks, and systems administration. While working in cybersecurity does not require a degree, having some form of structured training will accelerate your ability to find a job in the industry.
Positions in Cybersecurity Engineering and Architecture
When you become a cybersecurity engineer, you will use the knowledge of threats and vulnerabilities to set up defense systems against a large array of security concerns. When you gain enough experience as an engineer, the next step will be to explore a career as a security architect. Both positions are perfect for people who like to learn and tinker with technology. When you become a cybersecurity engineer or architect, you can develop the following skills.
• Critical thinking
• IT networking
• Systems administration
• Risk assessment
Cybersecurity Incident Responder
One of Tekscape’s mottos with cybersecurity defense is that it is not a matter of if, but when. Despite a business having the best security defense systems it can, security incidents can still happen. The position of cybersecurity incident responder involves monitoring the company’s network and working to fix that network’s vulnerabilities. You will also work out ways to minimize loss when breaches do occur. Working as a cybersecurity incident responder will assist you in developing the following skills.
• Attention to detail
• Technical writing and documentation
• Intrusion detection
• Use of forensic software
Cybersecurity consulting
Security consultants work to test their computer and network systems for vulnerabilities and risks. You will be practicing offense and defense by testing infrastructure for vulnerabilities and then making recommendations on how to strengthen them. A security consultant position is a good option for those who enjoy helping others. The following list is a list of skills you may develop as a cybersecurity consultant.
• Penetration and vulnerability testing
• Threat management
• Operating systems
• Encryption
Management and administration in cybersecurity
In the process of gaining experience in cybersecurity, you may want to advance into a leadership position. Cybersecurity managers and administrators oversee a company’s network and systems. With this role you might manage security employees, coordinate between teams, and ensure security compliance. The highest role in cybersecurity is usually the chief information security officer (CISO). You should have the following skills if you want to pursue a career in management and administration of cybersecurity.
• Project management
• Risk management
• Leadership
• Collaboration
Tekscape is a nationally recognized managed service provider. We specialize in managed security and are always on the lookout for new talent in the cybersecurity field. Check out current open positions. At Tekscape, we tend to lean on the fun side by encouraging employees to do what they are genuinely passionate about. Our employees are empowered to tackle projects and add to the success of our clients and end up having fun throughout their journey.
We trust our employees to make the right decisions and be autonomous while working alongside management. In turn, this creates a unique culture where every employee truly matters and has the backing of the company to grow within the organization.
Tekscape is committed to providing proactive, responsive, and timely managed IT services support for our clients. We start with our comprehensive new client onboarding process designed to get your business up-and-running on our monitoring and management tools with as little disruption as possible. For over 15 years, we’ve successfully onboarded simple and complex IT infrastructure supporting multiple users including:
• Servers and Systems
• Networking
• Collaboration (Phone, Video)
• Desktop, Email and Endpoints
• Microsoft Office 365 & Azure
• Security & Disaster Recovery
