Cybersecurity jobs combine the things people love about technology and create opportunities for passion about problem solving and protecting information. Job functions in cybersecurity can include responding to incidents, investigating and analyzing incidents, protecting information, and defending networks and systems. Professionals in these roles strive to protect and defend their organizations’ systems and information.
There are several paths within the field and include security analysis and incident response as well as security engineering for cloud and application environments and governance, risk, and compliance.
A solid understanding of security fundamentals as well as operating systems and networking will assist in pursing any role in the field. Possession of a degree or certification may help but are by no means mandatory. Employers are interested in a variety of things including your ability to write and communicate as well as your capacity to solve problems and think critically.
What are Cybersecurity Jobs?
Cybersecurity jobs focus on protecting computers, networks, applications, and digital information and protecting them from security risks and malicious activities.
The job duties vary. A security analyst might look into alerts while a penetration tester looks into how secure a system is. A cloud security engineer would help set up a cloud system to eliminate or minimize security risks.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment of information security analysts will grow 28.5 percent from 2024 to 2034. While this may seem promising, growth in employment for cybersecurity specialists cannot be guaranteed, and will largely vary depending on several factors, such as location. This forecast is for information security analysts and related occupations, not for all occupations in cybersecurity.
Examples of Cybersecurity Careers
There are multiple pathways within the cybersecurity field, and understanding these may help you decide which career is right for you.
1. Cybersecurity Analyst
Also known as information security analysts, these professionals are responsible for investigating and identifying security incidents to reduce security risks.
Duties may include reviewing security logs and event alerts, and investigating unusual and/or suspicious activities on networks and/or systems.
Security analysts are responsible for helping to identify security risks, explaining security incidents, and documenting/reporting security threats.
2. Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst
SOEs are responsible for monitoring and helping to investigate security incidents.
While responding to security incidents and/or alerts, SOC analysts are expected to review logs and security alerts, and analyze other evidence to help determine next steps in line with pre-established response procedures.
Top SOC technologies include Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems.
An entry-level position in SOC may require knowledge of basic networking and/or operating systems and/or fundamentals of logging. Experience levels required for these positions may vary by employer.
3. Penetration Testers/Ethical Hackers
Penetration Testers/Ethical Hackers are employees of an organization who help identify security risks by testing an organization’s systems and/or applications.
They work with web applications, networks, APIs, and authentication and cloud computing systems. Their work may involve investigating incidents related to these systems. They document their findings. They determine the potential impact and recommend approaches to address the impact.
Some of the skills valued in this job include scripting, web and network applications, and vulnerability assessment.
Important: Pen testing should only be conducted with express authorization and within defined limitations. Legal training labs allow individuals to learn and develop these skills in a safe environment.
4. Cybersecurity Engineer
Cybersecurity engineers assist with the design and implementation of technical controls to secure systems and networks. This may include providing guidance for the automation of security controls, endpoint and network security, and the hardening of workstations and servers.
In this role, individuals may assist with security integration and deployment within infrastructure and software.
Often, a strong technical background in networking, systems and IT infrastructure is required.
5. Cloud Security Engineer
Cloud security engineers assist in securing and protecting applications and infrastructure built and deployed on cloud platforms (e.g. Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud).
Tasks may include security configuration of cloud components and workloads, access management, logging and networking, protecting sensitive information and data, and security incident management.
6. Incident Response Analyst
Incident response professionals help organizations investigate and manage incidents within their environment. This may include scoping an incident, determining its impacts and preservation, and managing and containing the impacts of the incident. These professionals may assist with recommending and developing organizational processes to change and strengthen how the organization responds and addresses similar events in the future.
People who are calm under pressure with a talent for digging into complex issues and problems will enjoy the opportunity in this career. There are roles that involve being on-call, and responding outside of normal business hours.
7. Application Security Engineer
Application security engineers identify and remediate vulnerabilities in web and mobile apps, APIs and other software. Reviewing and testing code for security is a part of this role, as well as threat modeling and dependency checks.
Knowledge of various coding practices and web application vulnerabilities is valuable in this career.
8. Digital Forensics Analyst
Digital forensics analysts conduct examinations on computers, storage devices and other digital assets and summarize findings to convey what happened in an incident or investigation.
Strong knowledge and skills with different operating systems and file systems, forensics tools and processes, evidence handling, and incident investigation are valuable in this career.
9. GRC Specialist
GRC professionals identify, assess and document risks and develop and maintain policies for their organization. They also assist in preparing for compliance audits and assessments.
GRC roles include conducting risk assessments and impact analyses, drafting security questionnaires and policies, control testing, Third Party Assurance, and compliance framework assessment.
GRC roles may benefit from a strong ability to organize information, and document and communicate effectively to both business and tech teams. The extent of a GRC position that requires programming varies depending on the industry the position is in.
Security Architects and Security Leadership
What do Security Architects do?
Security architects design security solutions across an organization’s applications, infrastructure, networks, and cloud environments. They must consider a variety of business and technical requirements and controls when designing the solution, including resilience and the combined impact of various security controls.
Leadership
What do CISOs do?
Leadership positions in security, like the CISO position, normally involve more wide-ranging responsibilities, including security strategy and architecture, risk governance, budgeting, and overseeing the security operations center (SOC).
These are advanced career position, rather than the typical first job.
What are the Entry-level Cyber Security Jobs?
When you are new to cybersecurity, focusing on roles that are most aligned with your current skills, rather than applying broadly to all security roles, will help your career the most.
Examples of skills and ways to demonstrate your abilities are included below.
- Junior SOC Analyst
- Junior Security Analyst
- Junior Vulnerability Analyst
- GRC/ Security Compliance Analyst
Some candidates do enter cybersecurity, typically after learning IT and security basics, via an apprenticeship. Others build experience in IT, networking, or systems, then move to a security specialty.
There are many entry level opportunities, and you do not have to start with an offensive security role. Choosing an entry level position that provides practical skills can help you specialize later.
Skills Required for Cybersecurity Careers
When considering candidates for a cybersecurity position, the hiring team considers specific skills and how the candidate measures against the desired skills. The requirements will vary by role. Below are examples of skills that are frequently assessed by hiring teams.
Skills
Technical skills
- Understand the basics of networking and see how it ties into cybersecurity.
- Understand basics of various OS and how to utilize them from a cyberscurity perspective.
- Know basics of securing and protecting various systems and ways to analyze, monitor and respond to security incidents.
- Know various logs and how to analyze them to determine if there are anomalies and to determine evidence to provide rationale to support your findings.
- Learn coding and scripting basics to facilitate automation and analysis. Not all positions will require advanced scripting.
- Gain familiarity with various security tools used in your focused area of interest.
Additional skills
Mere knowledge of various skills will not enable an individual to perform the required job functions of a cybersecurity professional. Other skills include the ability to think critically, clearly communicate, prioritize and mitigate risks and effectively work with a broad range of stakeholders including those that are not as technically inclined. Also important is the willingness to learn and adapt to changing technologies, tools and threats.
The example given to illustrate this point is finding a vulnerability is important. Explaining the impact it poses to the organization, describing potential ways an attacker could exploit it and propose a solution is equally if not more important.
Cybersecurity Certifications: Which Should You Consider?
CompTIA Security+: A starting point for foundational knowledge of security.
Cisco Certifications: For candidates looking to advance their knowledge of networking and related concepts.
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): Relevant for career paths in ethical hacking, security testing, etc.
GIAC Certifications: Specialized certifications focusing on incident handling, intrusion analysis, and other areas of security.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): Recognized security certification aimed at more seasoned security professionals. ISC2 requires candidates to have 5 years of cumulative full-time experience across at least 2 of the 8 CISSP domains, with specified waivers and alternative pathways.
When considering a certification, it’s best to check what the current exam objectives are, what the eligibility requirements are, the average cost, and if employers in your field of interest request it.
It is often best to gain the core knowledge of a subject, work some related projects, and then make an informed choice of what certification aligns with your career goals.
Do You Need a Degree for Cybersecurity?
A degree in a cybersecurity or technology-related field can help develop the technical knowledge and skills to meet the requirements of an employer. Some roles, in particular those within structured government or graduate recruitment, may mandate the possession of a degree.
However, requirements can be flexible. Relevant work experience, industry certifications, and training can be recognized by some employers.
You need to have a clear idea of what it is employers are looking for before deciding what it is you need to pursue. Look at real job postings to build your portfolio. Relevant work experience and training can come in the form of certifications, internships, or IT support roles. Look for job postings that indicate they are open to candidates with equivalent experience or training.
Do not assume you are qualified for a job with a certificate or short course alone. There are lots of resources available to help you understand what employers are looking for and how best to present the skills you have. Take advantage of those resources.
How to Get a Cybersecurity Job With No Experience
You can develop a strong, competitive application by following a learning and job-search plan, in that order.
Step 1: Identify a goal role
Identify one role to aim for, such as SOC Analyst, Junior Security Analyst, GRC Analyst, or AppSec Trainee.
Look for advertisements for that role. Identify the skills, tools, qualifications and experience required for that role. Reviewing job ads helps you focus your studies on the specific skills for the role.
Step 2: Learn the basics
The use of study aids and training materials should be guided. Various aids are available to the public and some are free. CISA’s Cybersecurity Career site and the NICE framework provide role information and skills frameworks.
Step 3: Develop realistic case studies
Construct case studies that illustrate your skills and address common security problems, such as:
- -Log Investigation: Evaluate logs to identify abnormal events and explain your rationale.
- -Phishing Analysis: Examine email, identify components that support the message is phishing, and explain your rationale.
- -Home Lab Security: Create a test environment, implement and explain basic security measures, and document changes.
- -Vulnerability Assessment: Test a system you own, prioritize results and explain remediation.
- -Risk Assessment: Create an example Risk Register and explain suggested controls.
For each project, describe the objective, environment, tools, process, findings, limitations, and suggested enhancements. Do not include your credentials, private data, or information about systems you are not permitted to assess.
Step 4: Create a focused résumé
Résumés should help recruiters quickly identify your skills pertinent to the job.
Include the following:
- A concise, job-targeted summary.
- Explanation of your technical skills with examples.
- Related education and training.
- Projects (including your role in the project).
- Job-related, transferable experience.
If the job posting uses keywords that pertain to your skills, include them in your résumé. Do not be deceptive and claim skills you do not possess (i.e. do not list lab exercises as work experience).
Step 5: Seek relevant opportunities
Explore job openings for junior SOC analyst, security operations analyst, information security analyst, cybersecurity intern, vulnerability management analyst, and junior GRC analyst.
Utilize company career pages, job boards, internship programs, and/or managed security service providers.
Explore each position carefully to determine whether you meet the work authorization, experience, and skill requirements.
Track your job applications and evaluate which skills resulted in recruitment for future job opportunities.
Step 6: Prepare for job interviews
Practice discussing:
- Investigating a suspicious login.
- Documenting and handling a phishing incident.
- Prioritizing a security concern.
- Articulating security concerns to a non-technical audience.
For behavioral questions, describe your reasoning, and when applicable, explain what you’d verify to reach a conclusion. Interviewers may appreciate a logical, evidence-based framework over a memorized one.
Tip: Don’t think of your first cybersecurity role as your last. Make an informed decision about where to start and take steps to evolve your career, regardless of where you begin.
Salaries and Career Outlook in Cybersecurity
Many factors impact salaries in the field, such as location, specialization and industry, experience, education and the requirements of the position. A salary estimate for the U.S. should not be generalized to other countries, like India.
For a more relevant U.S. benchmark, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual wage of $124,910 for the occupation of Information Security Analysts in May 2024. The 2024-2034 projections showed expected 28.5% employment growth for this occupation.
This information describes U.S. Information Security Analysts. This is not a starting salary for a beginner, an average across the field of Cybersecurity, or an indication of what one may expect to earn in the future.
When researching salaries, compare similar roles and responsibilities and experience levels. Use local salary surveys and look at current job postings to get a base salary range.
Other factors that may impact salary, including location, include the following:
- Experience and complexity of work.
- Specialization in application, cloud or infrastructure security.
- Threat and incident response/investigation.
- Industry and employer size.
- Qualifications and professional skills.
- Location and the ability to work in that country.
For those interested in cybersecurity, the most valuable question is rarely about which job is the most lucrative. It is about which path aligns best with one’s skills and aptitude and has the most room to grow.
Where to Find Cybersecurity Jobs
Look for jobs on both general and industry-specific boards and resources.
General Job Boards: Use keyword searches on LinkedIn Jobs or other boards to find your roles at varying experience levels.
Employer Career Sites: Check cybersecurity-related vendors, as well as banks, healthcare, and cloud-related organizations, and consulting firms.
Government and Career Resources: The CISA-sponsored NICCS and the NICE Framework offer information on cybersecurity jobs and careers, as well as roles and career pathways.
Use searches like the ones below to find opportunities.
- Cybersecurity Jobs for Beginners
- Cybersecurity Internships
- Junior GRC Analyst Jobs
- SOC Analyst Jobs
- Remote Information Security Analyst Jobs
For remote opportunities, check the hiring location to ensure you are eligible to work in the area and to verify the employer can hire remotely. Just because a job is listed as remote, does not mean it is open to all locations.
Best Cybersecurity Jobs for Beginners
- SOC Analyst
- Junior Security Analyst
- Cybersecurity Internships
- IT Support
- Junior GRC Roles
The best starting point depends on your interests, skills, available jobs, etc.
How can I get into cybersecurity with no experience?
Many companies hire students with little to no experience into their cybersecurity internship or entry-level positions. There are many factors that make someone an attractive candidate such as having knowledge in information technology (IT), attending practical labs and/or documenting cybersecurity projects. It is best to compare your qualifications with the company’s requirements.
Is a degree required for cybersecurity jobs?
Not all employers require a degree for their cybersecurity jobs. However, most require at least 2 to 3 years of relevant experience. If you are considering a government-related or a regulated cybersecurity job, it is best practice to check the specific job requirements.
What should be my first cybersecurity certification?
If you are interested in the cybersecurity field, its best practice to look for jobs in your area and see what certifications are required for those positions. The Security+ certification by CompTIA is a broad, beginner-level certification, and is a good starting point. Other certifications that are more narrow and specialized may be useful in strengthening your skills for a cybersecurity job.
Are there cybersecurity jobs that allow you to work remotely?
Yes, there are companies that allow their cybersecurity employees to work remotely. However, there are many constraints as to who is eligible to work remotely. For example, entry-level remote cybersecurity jobs may require less experience than a similar onsite position.
How long do I have to study to be job ready in cybersecurity?
The amount of time you study for a career in cybersecurity varies based on your background in IT, what you want to specialize in, and the expectations of companies in the field. For example, somebody with some background in systems and/or networking may take less time than someone with no background in IT.
Are there cybersecurity job openings?
The U.S. government expects strong job growth for information security analysts. Demand for these jobs varies based on location, specialization, experience and potential employer. Review local job listings and official employment data before making a job-related decision.
Conclusion
The field of cybersecurity includes numerous types of jobs, from technical and engineering positions to jobs that require analysis and investigation. Whether your interest is in threat investigation, app testing, or in helping organizations defend against threats, there are numerous entry-level jobs.
Knowing the job and the skills required to perform the job is the best first step to taking the job. Learn the basics of IT and other related fields. Practice in the fields related to your target job and document what you create. Earn certifications judiciously and tailor your résumé and cover letter to the job for which you’re applying. Learn to explain your solutions to security problems. Security problems are judgment problems. Good judgment comes from experience, and experience is best gained from practice. Therefore, while certifications and job titles are an end-state, they should not be your primary focus to achieve a sustainable career in cybersecurity.
