How To Start a Career in CyberSecurity – A Complete Guide

In recent years, there have been a number of notable security breaches, such as those involving the NHS and, more recently, Marriott Hotels. This has led to an increased demand for cybersecurity professionals in the 21st century. Those interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity can seize the opportunity to enter this rapidly growing field.

According to research from US News, 61% of Americans said that their personal information had been compromised at least once, 44% said it had happened more than once, and 6% said it had happened more times than they could remember. Given that the average cost of a data breach in the US is $9.44 million, it is obvious why there is a strong need for cybersecurity professionals. But, how can one pursue a career in this field?

Read this cyber security career guide curated by All Assignment Help and you will know all you need to know to start your cyber security journey.

What is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is defending programs, networks, and systems from digital attacks. These attacks are often intended to disrupt regular corporate operations, extract money from users via ransomware, or access, change, or delete sensitive data.

As per Cybersecurity Ventures, Over USD 1.75 trillion will be spent globally on cybersecurity goods and services between 2021 and 2025.

There is also strong employment growth in cybersecurity. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “the employment of information security analysts is expected to grow 32% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.”

Read Here: Data Security and Cyber Threats

Types of Cybersecurity

The area of cyber security is broad and encompasses many different disciplines. It is composed of these major pillars:

Network Security

The majority of assaults take place across networks, and network security solutions are intended to identify and prevent them. These solutions include data and access controls to enforce safe web usage regulations, such as NGFW (Next-Generation Firewall) application controls, IAM (Identity Access Management), NAC (Network Access Control), and Data Loss Prevention (DLP).

IoT Security

Although utilizing Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets undoubtedly increases efficiency, it also exposes businesses to fresh cyber threats. Threat actors look for susceptible devices that are unintentionally online for malicious purposes, such as providing access to a company network or serving as a bot in a worldwide bot network.

Zero Trust

The traditional security paradigm focuses on the perimeter and erects walls like a towering structure around an organization’s most important assets. However, there are many problems with this strategy, including the possibility of insider attacks and the network perimeter’s quick breakdown.

Endpoint Security

According to the zero-trust security concept, micro-segments should be formed around data wherever it may be. Endpoint security is one method for doing it with a mobile workforce. Businesses can use endpoint security to protect end-user devices, including desktops and laptops.

Cloud Security

Cybersecurity solutions, controls, policies, and services are all part of a cloud security strategy. It helps to defend against attacks on an organization’s whole cloud deployment, including its infrastructure, data, and applications. Even though a lot of cloud providers provide security solutions, these are often not enough to provide enterprise-level cloud security.

Cybersecurity is essential in protecting digital assets, networks, and sensitive data from evolving cyber threats. Different types of cybersecurity work together to ensure safety across various domains, from networks to cloud and mobile devices. Implementing robust security measures helps prevent cyberattacks and ensures data integrity, privacy, and business continuity.

How to Start a Career in Cybersecurity?

A cyber security career path usually includes milestones and steps to help you progress. This is a broad road map to help you pursue an exciting career in cybersecurity:

Understanding the Cybersecurity Ecosystem

It’s important to understand the broad field of cybersecurity before getting started. This field is a patchwork of multiple skills, ranging from risk management to compliance, digital forensics to ethical hacking. Start by doing some research and figuring out what area of expertise appeals to your tech-loving side.

Get a Degree in Cybersecurity

With a degree in cyber security, aspirants can learn about digital forensics, ethical hacking, mobile security, wireless networks, and other security-related topics. The majority of cybersecurity aspirants begin their careers with an undergraduate degree in computer science, information technology, or information systems. Afterward, a master’s degree is the next step to broadening your job options and improving your job prospects.

However, to pass the degree, one needs to write a lot of assignments on different Cybersecurity topics. Those who struggle to write their assignments or get stuck while framing them can look for online Cybersecurity assignment help services. These services often possess a team of experts who will solve all ready Cybersecurity assignment writing problems.

Develop your Skills

You must possess a certain skill set to make a career in Cybersecurity. Generally, you should possess the following skills:

• Systems and network administration: Entry-level positions require an in-depth understanding of networks and systems.
• Understanding of operating systems: Working with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS is necessary for computer forensics, cybersecurity research and analysis, and penetration testing.
• Knowledge of cloud security platforms: Understand how to use Google Cloud, AWS, and Azure.
• Programming skills: You should be familiar with programming languages such as Python, C and C++, JavaScript, and SQL. However, if you lack an understanding of any of these languages, know that programming assignment help services are always at your doorstep to simplify your learning.
• Security audits and risk analysis: These are essential for determining how to counter any risks that arise.
• Soft skills: Soft skills like communication, leadership, critical thinking, and flexibility are also important because cybersecurity professionals usually collaborate with teams to eliminate and avoid problems.

Learn about Cybersecurity Software and Tools

During the process of learning some of the skills, you will probably learn about multiple cybersecurity devices, software, and tools. For example, to grasp the fundamentals of how AWS and Google Cloud operate, it’s a good idea to get acquainted with utilizing at least one cloud software, such as Azure.

Some of the best tools and software used in Cybersecurity are:

Tools	Software
Wireshark	SiteLock
Metasploit	SolarWinds Security Event Manager
Sprinto	Heimdal Security
Kali Linux	Wireshark
Cain and Abel	Nagios
NMap	Nessus Professional
Nessus Professional	Acunetix

Furthermore, some services provide free trials to give you a first-hand experience. Businesses will probably want to know how to utilize any tools and software they use, so it’s best to be ready for any situation.

Get a Certification

Certifications play a key role in making your career in Cybersecurity. Almost 60% of all cyber security jobs (59%) ask for at least one certification. The following are some of the most popular and in-demand cybersecurity certifications:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)
• CompTIA Security+
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
• CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
• GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)

Getting certified in cybersecurity can help you progress your profession and certify your hard-earned skills. Additionally, you can also enroll yourself in some of the best cybersecurity online courses provided by accredited online learning platforms and universities.

Get Practical Experience

Getting real-world experience is crucial for your career advancement and cybersecurity professional growth. Here is how you can gain practical experience to build a successful career in cybersecurity:

• Try to get an internship: An internship is the best way to obtain real-world experience before starting your first cybersecurity job. They can sometimes be difficult to find, but some websites post multiple internship programs where you can apply.
• Work on projects: Open-source cybersecurity projects are an excellent method to improve your skills. You could even list high-profile projects on your CV to make it stand out and appealing

Build a Strong Network

A strong network could bring countless benefits, such as potential employment prospects with good cyber security jobs salary. Participate in conferences, local meetups, and online forums. Moreover, professionals in the business can be found on sites like LinkedIn. Remember that it’s important to consider who you know as well as what you know. Besides, you might already know someone who works in cybersecurity who might recommend you for a position at their organization or provide you with insightful advice.

Career in Cybersecurity – Job Roles and Responsibilities

Nowadays, cybersecurity experts are an organization’s first line of defense without exception. Here are some of the cybersecurity job roles and responsibilities that you might encounter:

Cybersecurity Analyst

Role: A Cybersecurity Analyst is responsible for monitoring, identifying, and reducing security risks to an organization’s IT infrastructure:

Key Responsibilities:

• Keep an eye out for security breaches on networks and look into situations.
• Create security reports and offer suggestions.
• Perform penetration tests and vulnerability assessments.
• Put security measures in place to safeguard private information.
• Assess security risks with SIEM logs and tools.

Ethical Hacker/Penetration Tester

Role: An ethical hacker also known as a penetration tester simulates cyberattacks to find security flaws in a company’s systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct penetration tests on networks and apps.
• Participate in security awareness and training initiatives.
• Keep updated with the most recent exploits and hacking tactics.
• Report in-depth and provide mitigating techniques.
• Identify security flaws and take ethical advantage of them.

Security Engineer

Role: A security engineer creates and executes security solutions to safeguard the IT systems of a company.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and implement security frameworks and architectures.
• Set up and manage security solutions such as endpoint protection, firewalls, and IDS/IPS.
• Perform vulnerability assessments and security audits.
• Work together with IT departments to put security best practices into action.

Incident Responder

Role: An incident responder is responsible for detecting, limiting, and minimizing security breaches.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyse security incidents and respond right away.
• Assess suspicious activity, logs, and malware.
• Create security playbooks and incident response procedures.
• Work on recovery plans and report security breaches.

Cloud Security Engineer

Role: A cloud security engineer makes sure all apps and systems hosted on the cloud are secure.

Key Responsibilities

• Put security measures in place for cloud computing platforms such as Google Cloud, AWS, and Azure.
• Perform penetration tests and audits of cloud security.
• Keep an eye on compliance standards and cloud security regulations.

Cybersecurity Jobs Salary by Role

Cybersecurity professionals usually make competitive compensation for their skills even at the starting level. Salaries usually rise as you advance into more complex tasks and gain expertise. According to Glassdoor, the average total compensation for a number of cybersecurity positions in the US in October 2023 is shown below to give you a sense of what’s possible. This will help you choose your Cybersecurity career path accordingly.

• Intrusion detection specialist: $71,102
• Junior cybersecurity analyst: $91,286
• Digital forensic examiner: $119,322
• IT security administrator: $87,805
• Incident response analyst: $67,877
• Cybersecurity consultant: $105,435
• Information security analyst: $98,497
• Ethical hacker: $133,458
• Penetration tester: $100,579
• Security engineer: $114,898
• Cybersecurity manager: $160,020
• Security architect: $211,207
• Chief information security officer: $301,873

Cybersecurity Salary Trends in Different Countries

• UK: £50,000-80,000
• US: $75,000-120,000
• Canada: C$80,000-150,000
• Australia: $A75,000-135,000

In the current digital age, practically every business needs a security expert! Starting a career in cybersecurity has never been better for you. If you possess the necessary skills and expertise, there are multiple cybersecurity career possibilities exist in all sectors and businesses.

Also Read: Top 7 Highest Paying Jobs in Cybersecurity and Their Benefits

The Best Cybersecurity Online Certifications to Consider

The following certificates are accepted by the most prominent organizations in cyberspace and are necessary for many cybersecurity positions.

CompTIA Security+

This introductory certification course satisfies Department of Defense (DoD) 8570 requirements. It offers a solid foundation of important topics like risk mitigation, network security, threat management, and cryptography. After finishing, experts can show their understanding of operations, architectural design, cyberattacks, incident response, and more.

You can earn the Security+ certification online through Pearson VUE’s proctored exam. Enroll in the certification program, take online classes, and complete the exam remotely. If you are unprepared or unsure about scoring well, you can always turn to online services for assistance. There are various websites available where you can ask, can you take my exam for me? With this simple request, you can hire an exam taker who will be responsible now for passing the exam with flying colors.

Google Cybersecurity Certificate

Google recently introduced its own cybersecurity certificate program on Coursera. Anyone interested in cybersecurity can start this basic program, which doesn’t require any previous training or experience.

The courses in this certification program provide you with a great starting point for your cybersecurity ambitions. Additionally, program graduates receive access to the CompTIA Security+ exam and extra training. By getting the Google Cybersecurity Certificate and CompTIA Security+ exam, one can prove professional expertise in a number of areas, including intrusion detection systems, information and event management, and security programming.

Certified Information Systems Security Personnel (CISSP)

It is intended for professionals who want to advance their technical skills, such as security analysts. Through CISSP, students are introduced to the complex topics of physical security, business continuity and disaster recovery planning, telecommunications and networking security, security architecture, application, and systems development, cryptography, law, investigation, and ethics, as well as access control systems.

While pursuing a certification in CISSP, you might encounter multiple assignment writing tasks as well. There are chances that some of the assignment writing is tough for you to deal with alone. Hence, in such a situation, you can get yourself an online assignment help service where you can hire an expert who will help you write correct and accurate assignments for your certification.

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

The CISM credential is designed for information security professionals who want to progress into managerial roles in the cybersecurity industry. It is offered by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).

Moreover, you can finish the program using either the online self-paced learning style or the online classroom. However, completing the entire program alone can be hectic for a student. This is where online class help services come in to release the stress of the students. Those who struggle to take their online class alone and need help with online class can reach out to such services for additional assistance. This way, they will not only complete their classes on time but also get free time to relax.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Considering the rise in cybercrime, ethical hacking is one of the quickest methods for cyber security experts to show their worth to a company. Ethical hacking could assist companies to strengthen their security measures and prevent attacks before they occur.

The CEH Certified Ethical Hacker certification is provided by the EC-Council. You can earn it to prove your proficiency in attack detection, prevention, vectors, and penetration testing. However, you can sit for the CEH exam if you have completed an official EC-Council training program or have two years of information security job experience.

GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)

Security Essentials Certification (GSEC) is an entry-level security certification for those with a basic understanding of networking and information systems. Earning this certification indicates your proficiency in security-related duties such as cloud security, network security, cryptography, active defense, and incident response.

The GSEC exam does not have any prerequisites. First, prepare yourself for success by gaining some knowledge about computer networking or information systems. Hence, you can think about taking the GSEC exam if you have some IT experience and want to make a career in cybersecurity.

Conclusion

Starting a career in cybersecurity has never been late. You can start it now! Nearly all businesses worldwide need professionals who can develop and manage systems to lessen persistent and potentially disastrous cyber threats. There are many cybersecurity job openings worldwide, across all sectors and industries. Hence, if you possess the right skills and expertise, you can do better in the field and make a great career ahead.

FAQs

Which programming language is best for Cybersecurity? The majority of experts agree that Python is the finest programming language for cybersecurity because of its many security-related libraries, ease of use, and versatility. These features make Python an excellent choice for both beginners and seasoned professionals.

What are the 5 C’s of Cybersecurity? Change, Compliance, Cost, Continuity, and Coverage are the five C’s of cybersecurity. They are a framework that can assist businesses in defending their operations from online threats.

What are the 3 Rs of Cybersecurity? The 3 Rs of Cybersecurity are risk, resilience, and recovery. These 3 R’s of cybersecurity help businesses minimize the risks and shield their data and intellectual property from internal attacks.