Are you an IT specialist stuck in a boring job? Are you looking for a new challenge that fits your skills and keeps up with your creative spirit? Look no further. A career in cybersecurity utilizes your IT skills while scratching your itch for adventure and challenge.
Information technology has visibly transformed every aspect of our lives. Major institutions like retail, education, healthcare, and marketing are now more active online. The majority of the schools and offices now operate in a hybrid mode, storing sensitive information in the form of online databases.
Cybersecurity utilizes technology to counter and prevent cyber attacks. Organizations now need to spare more time and money to secure their information online.
Protecting against cybercrime is teamwork. Experts in various fields need to work in tandem to design a failsafe security system. As a cybersecurity professional, you can choose to delve into the following career pathways that are most in demand.
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1. Systems Administrator
A Systems Administrator needs to tackle IT and management at the same time. You need to be well-versed in cyber technology and have management skills before diving into this career pathway. An online MIS degree can help you hone your management skills while teaching you the basics and current trends of information systems and cybersecurity software.
As a systems administrator, every new security hardware and software will be pre-approved by you. You will be responsible for installing, configuring, troubleshooting, and launching the security system. You will also monitor the system for any weaknesses and make sure that no cyber threat compromises the system.
2. Security Engineer
Engineers are responsible for forming a full-fledged security network just from the basic blueprints. The security system they create must be invulnerable to foreign attacks and malicious software.
In the past, security systems comprised of filling out security loopholes after the software was developed. Now that the frequency of cyber-attacks has increased exponentially, security systems need to be placed within the basic network of the software. This is where the security engineer comes in.
As a security engineer, you will be able to create software by keeping in view the current security threats and past cyber attacks.
3. Cybersecurity Architect
Just like an architect works alongside an engineer to form a perfectly constructed building, a cybersecurity architect works with a security engineer to develop perfectly secured information software. A cybersecurity architect develops a design that maps out multiple levels of firewalls to protect against external viruses and cyber-attacks.
As a cybersecurity architect, you will be crafting a security system that meets the requirements of the organization and is applicable while providing the maximum level of cybersecurity. They also work alongside systems engineers to introduce upgrades in the existing security systems to counter virus attacks.
4. Information Security Analyst
To become an information security analyst, you need to stay in touch with current cybersecurity trends and determine the weaknesses in the current system. This career path merges information technology and cybersecurity with data analysis skills.
Can you follow past trends and identify patterns? Can you implement these patterns to predict upcoming security threats to an organization? Information security analysis is a senior-level job that requires a few years of experience in the field. The relevant experience gives you a plethora of knowledge in information security systems. You utilize your knowledge and experience to analyze the security systems, detect the shortcomings, and suggest ways to overcome them.
5. Security Software Developer
Layers upon layers of various software and applications make up a security system capable of warding off foreign cyber threats. Each individual application and software is designed by a software developer.
In cybersecurity, security software developers work alongside security engineers to design and create new software. These software are then integrated into the existing security system to upgrade the existing cybersecurity network.
Do you enjoy writing the codes for innovative digital security software? If so, this is the perfect career choice for you. In addition to your fluency in reading and writing the codes, you should also be an avid learner, constantly learning new coding languages and unlearning outdated information.
6. Penetration Tester
After a security system is in place, how do you test if it is as invulnerable as you claim? And who detects the loopholes and the kinks in the system, if any?
For this purpose, companies and organizations hire penetration testers. These professionals are experts in hacking into complex security systems to highlight the flaws and kinks.
Since their methods resonate with those of hackers, they are also called ethical hackers. They work within the limits of the law to test the integrity of the security systems. They figure out new and creative ways to bypass the firewalls to assess the weaknesses in a security system. Once they do, they notify exactly where the flaw lies and how to overcome it.
7. Digital Forensics Analyst
Digital forensics analysts detect and assess the damage if or when the security of their systems is compromised. These professionals usually work with law enforcement agents to investigate and follow the trails of cybercriminals.
To become a digital forensics analyst, you need to read patterns in the digital data gathered through investigation. You also have to work with law enforcement agents most of the time to gather and analyze the evidence of cybercrime to reach the criminals.
8. Cryptographer
A cryptographer uses complex codes to safeguard sensitive information. Think of it as encasing sensitive files in layers upon layers of locked cages, each one locked with a different key.
If you have a creative eye for coding and a passion for creating and solving complex puzzles, you can become a successful cryptographer with the right education and training.
An organization requires the services of a cryptographer when they specifically have to receive or transport sensitive information. A cryptographer encases the information in several layers of encrypted code, depending upon the sensitivity of the information. They also provide decryption services for extracted information that is already encrypted.
Wrapping Up
Cybersecurity is a rising field that is further expected to rise in the coming years. With new advancements in technology, skilled cybersecurity experts will find exciting opportunities to work alongside experts with similar interests.
Entry-level tech enthusiasts should also look to make their mark in cybersecurity for a successful career. These are just some of the in-demand fields in the vast world of cybersecurity, with plenty more waiting for you once you graduate.
