What Is a Cybersecurity Specialist Cybersecurity Expert?

More experience is required for advanced roles and less is needed for early-career roles. Having industry credentials and higher-level degrees could shorten the experience requirements some potential employers have. It’s not uncommon for cybersecurity specialist job descriptions to call for several years of experience[MOU4] . Interested candidates shouldn’t let this discourage them if they have less experience. Employers may be willing to lower their experience requirements for job candidates with cybersecurity-focused degrees and/or in-demand cybersecurity certifications.

This guide offers information on how to become a cybersecurity analyst, along with details on other cybersecurity roles such as information security specialist. If you’re wondering how to get into cybersecurity, read on to explore salaries, job outlooks and available certifications in the field. Payscale also reports that in 2024, cybersecurity specialists will be compensated across a wide range, depending on experience, responsibilities, and geography. They are responsible for making sure that networks and computer systems are up-to-date and not vulnerable to software bugs.

Certification

These are common skills listed on cybersecurity specialist job descriptions. They can be attained through industry certifications, degree programs, internships and work experience. Cybersecurity specialists are IT professionals that are responsible for protecting the data and complete IT infrastructure of organizations. They are experts at detecting cyber threats and implementing data-saving security measures.

On the other hand, a Cyber Security Specialist is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining security solutions to protect computer systems and networks. They work closely with other IT professionals to ensure that security measures are integrated into every aspect of an organization’s technology infrastructure. CompTIA Security+ is the first security-focused certification cybersecurity professionals should earn, but it shouldn’t be the last. Hiring managers will also be looking for advanced certifications such as CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+). If you want to become a cybersecurity specialist, you need industry-recognized certifications.

What is a cybersecurity specialist?

Cybersecurity specialists are also known as information technology specialists, operations specialists, information security specialists and security specialists. The term applies to a skill set that a variety of cybersecurity professionals use to prevent cyberattacks and mitigate data breaches. Some of these roles include but are not limited to security administrator, systems administrator and security analyst.

• Other cybersecurity certifications to consider include Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 31 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.
• This title encompasses roles like cybersecurity analyst and information security specialist.
• Cybersecurity specialists are also responsible for continually monitoring security systems and networks for anomalies and tracking those activities in documents and reports.
• Security+ provides a global benchmark for best practices in IT network and operational security, one of the fastest-growing fields in IT.

Cybersecurity specialists need to be able to communicate well and be comfortable in team roles. The job often entails coaching and training co-workers on security best practices. Cybersecurity specialists are also responsible for continually monitoring security systems and networks for anomalies and tracking those activities in documents and reports. Security+ is a CompTIA certification that is considered a basic cert among cybersecurity professionals.

What Skills and Experience Are Required?

The 10-year projected growth for cybersecurity specialists is 242% above the national rate per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), CompTIA State of the Tech Workforce 2023 and Lightcast. Cybersecurity specialists can anticipate strong employment growth over the coming decade. For example, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 32% projected employment growth rate for information security analysts from 2022 to 2032.

Cybersecurity specialists are IT professionals who are trained to detect threats and protect an organization’s sensitive information by implementing security measures. Cybersecurity specialists work to oversee organizations’ data security operations and keep the entire IT infrastructure, including software systems, networks and data centers, secure. At the same time, they ensure other cybersecurity team members and internal employees adhere to current security policies.

Cybersecurity specialist skills and experience

Cybersecurity specialists of various types could also choose to become cybersecurity managers. This role requires technicians to ensure security compliance and manage entire security teams. The outlook for cybersecurity specialists is very positive due to the increasing reliance on technology and the growing threat of cyber attacks. As organizations continue to invest in cybersecurity to protect their data and systems, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals is expected to continue to increase in the years to come. If you want to stand out in the cybersecurity field, CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) is for you.

Certifications like CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+), PenTest+ and Project+ can prove you have the skills to take your cybersecurity career to the next level. The outlook for both Cyber Security Analysts and Cyber Security Specialists is positive, with job growth expected to be much faster than average. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of information security analysts cybersecurity specialist program is projected to grow 31 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Other cybersecurity certifications to consider include Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Validate skills in various cybersecurity areas, including offensive operations, cyber defense, cloud security, industrial control systems and more.

Additional terms that can be used interchangeably with cybersecurity specialist are information security specialist, security specialist, information technology specialist and operations specialist. A Cyber Security Specialist is an expert in the field of information technology security. They work to make sure that networks are safe from external threats like hackers or crackers who want access for malicious purposes. With CompTIA, the sky’s the limit when it comes to your cybersecurity career. Whether you want to be a network engineer, security analyst or CISO, CompTIA can help you get there.

Keep in mind that most certification exams require significant preparation, and some include experience requirements. Second, the growing sophistication of cyberattacks means that organizations need more skilled cybersecurity professionals to protect themselves. Third, the global shortage of cybersecurity workers is expected to continue, which will drive up wages and salaries for cybersecurity specialists.

Cyber Security Specialist responsibilities include:

Information security shares some overlap with cybersecurity—in fact, cybersecurity is a subset of information security. However, cybersecurity focuses exclusively on protecting digital assets, while information security covers digital and physical information across all mediums. The demand for these IT pros is unlikely to change due to the fast growth of the IoT (Internet of Things) and because the rate of digital transformation is increasing. Where you choose to get your degree is totally up to you and based on your needs. If you are a career changer and already working a full-time job that’s not in the tech sphere, an online degree could work best as it will be the most flexible option.