If you have a keen interest in IT, cybersecurity sounds like an appealing career opportunity. High demand for cybersecurity experts and their attractive salary packages are enough to drag someone’s attention. When you realize your job role is to build defensive network infrastructures and protecting sensitive information from possible cyberattacks, it sounds like a thrilling job role.
Even if the career path portrays a lot of attraction, you want to gain rich information about where you’re going to launch yourself and what it requires to become a cybersecurity analyst.
This article is going to give you an insight into a cybersecurity profession to help you perceive the cybersecurity career more accurately.
IMPORTANCE OF CYBERSECURITY:
Everyone who knows a bit about the world of technology must know about the importance of cybersecurity. Even a common man can barely neglect the headlines featuring cybercrime or cyber-attacks. By ill-luck, different facilities and individuals fail to upgrade their network infrastructure when it demands to secure their own digital world. Even after witnessing all that news stuff, people claim they aren’t having a formula of a nuclear bomb, and that nobody bothers to spare enough time to attack them.
In reality, there are several ways an intruder can misuse the data that appears to have no sensitive information. Identity theft or intercepting your credit card details cybercriminals can be benefited from the information most people don’t consider worthy of protection.
ROLE OF CYBERSECURITY ANALYST:
Cybersecurity analysts identify and apply security protocols to protect an organization’s information systems and information, by constant monitoring of the organization’s network infrastructure and behavioral analysis for any breaches in security.
Their role involves the installation of software, updating encryption methods, identifying breaches and weak points in network infrastructure, communicating the rest of fellow employees on security issues, and simulating control disasters to find hidden vulnerabilities.
Cybersecurity analysts also plan for worst-case scenarios but don’t wait for a one to happen, proposing backup plans that the company can implement in case of a cyberattack. Since cyberattacks are made using modern methodologies and strategies, cybersecurity analysts need to stay updated about the technological capabilities of a hacker to build a strong defense. In addition to this, they can help in educating members of an organization about cyber threats and smart practices to avoid them. Sometimes the most technologically supreme and secure systems can be vulnerable to attacks up to some extent.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
Cyberattacks are becoming more persistent, confining even smaller businesses to secure their network infrastructures to avoid risk. As organizations face immense threats in this domain, they are struggling to welcome experts on board, who can boost their network security and protect sensitive data.
The role of Cybersecurity Analyst is similar to the roles of Information Security Analyst and Computer Systems Analyst who, in general, implement different techniques and methods to secure data and network by identifying and countering threats.
The average salary of a Cyber Security Analyst is $70,000 per annum. A fresh CSA+ certified Cyber Security Analyst earns an average annual salary of $75,118, while professionals with mid-service experience can earn around $124,357 per annum.
SKILLS REQUIRED:
- Cybersecurity analysts should be a balanced combination of hard and soft skills.
- Having the right cybersecurity professional on board is a crucial need for all companies. There are two types of skills required to make the presence of cybersecurity analysts productive.
- Hard skills to involve not only technical efficiency but Implicit and Explicit Knowledge to implement security measures.
- Soft skills base on personality traits like workmanship, communication skills, and work transparency.
- Companies commonly look for the following technical skills to hire these professionals.
- Information systems management
- Risk management
- Cryptography
- Project management
On the one hand, technical knowledge and skills are crucial but to guarantee success in any career, but soft skills, especially the ability to communicate and workplace attitude, are equally important.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
How can you become a cybersecurity analyst? As this specialized respect of IT is comparatively new, the actual path to master this field isn’t much clear as others. This route is not much complex. It urges cybersecurity analysts to have a sound understanding of the architecture and operations of computer systems and networks.
Most of the companies prefer candidates with three to five years of on-job experience, but the experience is one part of the equation that sustains employment criteria. The academic qualification has its own Brightside. Security analyst jobs require a Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a similar IT field. Some employers prefer candidates with a Master’s degree in a relevant IT field with on-job experience.
There also exist a lot of cybersecurity certifications out there that can enhance your capability to secure a position as a potential employer. Cybersecurity certifications, like the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and CompTIA’s proposed Cybersecurity Analyst (CSA+) certification, are the best options to boost cybersecurity knowledge.
ANALYZING YOUR POTENTIAL:
Are you satisfied with the standards this job role demands? If you think of yourself capable of securing information systems or if you are the kind of person, then it might be the perfect career choice for you.
CONCLUSION:
Cybercrime is some of the world’s most active threats for organizations and facilities having both small or big network infrastructures. With the increase in cybersecurity threats, many of the new experts debuted in the IT field are trying to transit their area to be cybersecurity analysts. The security and integrity of data and information systems are crucial needs of any organization, that is why the need for cybersecurity analysts will further escalate in the future.
In modern times, to start a career as a cybersecurity analyst, academic qualification is always essential for professionals, but on-job practical experience, hands-on training, and relevant cybersecurity certifications are also necessary.
Due to the highly competitive employment market for skilled IT professionals, Cybersecurity Certifications are mandatory to promise a successful future in the field of cybersecurity. Individuals wanted to boost their security analyst skills can get the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CSA+) certification to secure a career as a cybersecurity analyst.
