How do I start a career in cyber security?

Cyber security experts are in high demand as private, public and government sectors scramble to secure their systems and data in the wake of widespread cyber attacks — in 2015, cyber criminals reportedly stole more than $1 billion in assets. There is such demand for cyber security professionals that U.S. News and World Report listed Information Security Analyst as the fifth best technology job in 2016 — based on salary, employment rate, growth, stress, work-life balance and job prospects. And it’s no wonder why, with the median salary coming in at $88,890 and an unemployment rate of less than 2%. Due to the high demand and the many perks that are being offered to professionals with the right combination of education and experience, there has never been a better time to start a career in cyber security.

Cyber Security Career Paths

The first step in launching a career in cyber security is deciding which career path is right for you. There are two primary career paths that you should decide between before investing in education and training. Once you decide on a path, however, there are multiple career options and a varying array of jobs to choose from, depending on your specific interests and skills.

Leadership and Management Route

The first option is to take the leadership and managerial route, in which a diverse skillset and a propensity for lifelong learning are required. In this role you must possess strong leadership capabilities and have a thorough understanding of cyber security to ensure the maximum level of defense and survivability.

For information security experts who have obtained a substantial level of schooling and have experience in the field, top job options include:

• Chief Information Security Officer
• Information Security Analyst
• Global Information Security Director
• Security Consultant

Engineering Route

The second option is to go the cyber security engineering route. This career is best suited to those who have engineering experience and are interested in learning how to build secure systems in order to mitigate threats.

Information security engineers with a thorough understanding of what it means to build a secure system may find employment as a:

• Lead Software Security Engineer
• Security Architect
• Cyber Security Engineer

How to Start a Career in Cyber Security

Invest in Your Education

Getting a cyber security degree is often the first step toward starting a career in this lucrative and in-demand field. And if you have a degree and experience in information security, the options are plentiful and diverse.

Most prospective cyber security leaders start with an undergraduate degree in information technology, information systems and/or computer science. After obtaining an undergraduate degree and gaining experience in the field, a master’s degree in cyber security operations and leadership or information technology is the next step.

If you are pursuing the cyber security engineering route, you should start with an undergraduate degree in engineering and then obtain specialized experience in cyber security either through years of direct experience or through a master’s degree program focused solely on cyber security engineering.

Whatever path you choose, education is key. One of the primary reasons for the many unfilled cyber security jobs — in 2014, Cisco estimated that there were 1 million unfilled cyber security jobs worldwide — is that employers can’t find cyber security professionals with the high-level skills and advanced education they need. According to Burning Glass Technologies, 83% of employers require at least a bachelor’s degree while 23% require a master’s.

The number of unfilled cyber security positions is staggering and only projected to grow as cyber criminals become more sophisticated in their attacks and companies struggle to find information security experts with the skills and knowledge required to mitigate such attacks.

In such a desperate landscape, where so many jobs remain unfilled due to the lack of qualified candidates, those with a cyber security degree have a great advantage. Not only are job options vast for information security degree holders, salaries are high due to the lack of supply and the urgent demand. According to Dice.com, a lead software engineer can make as much as $233,333 annually while a chief security officer can earn as much as $225,000.

Get Certified

In order to land a job in cyber security, you will also need to gain certain industry certifications. Some of the most popular and sought-after certifications are:

• CompTIA Security+
• CISSPY — Certified Information Systems Security Professional
• CISM — Certified Information Security Manager
• CISA — Certified Information Systems Auditor
• GIAC — Global Information Assurance Certification
• CEH — Certified Ethical Hacker

In addition, there are many vendor-specific certifications, such as those offered through Cisco, RSA and Symantec that are attractive to employers. Of course, what you will need and what employers will require depends on the role you are applying for.