It may be unclear for you about the career paths of the Cyber Security. Most of the people are started moving towards the cyber security in the industry. There are many numbers of jobs available in this cyber security. This is very much high in number when we compare with other domains.

Before starting your career in cyber security, I wish to suggest you. I strongly suggest you have a KT from the persons who are already in this field. This help you to understand the importance of cyber security. Also, from this KT you can able to find most interesting things in this field. Also, the necessary to choose cyber security as your career.

Each and every career path in the cyber security is different:

Nowadays we can able to see that there are many new cyber threats. These cyber threats appear constantly. As a result of this the companies create new & innovative careers. This is because, any person / company is the potential targets for the cyber-attacks. Especially from the governments / banks to the hospitals. So, there are lot of opportunities for the cyber security experts. They can able to find more numbers of openings in the industries. Following are few of the common career paths. They are,

• Chief Information Security Officer.
• Penetration Tester or Ethical Hacker.
• Security Consultant.
• Security Architect.

How to get start with cyber security as your career path?

You don’t have any linear path for the successful careers in the cyber security. Few people get their career in this field as the freshers. Some others get their transition from other IT role. 

It doesn’t matter from where you start your career in cyber security. It may be either with the general experience in IT. It is just you want to know about the working of this technology. This is before you learn about the secure as well as protect it.

Following are the entry level of IT jobs which have the way for the career in the cyber security. They are,

• Systems admin.
• DB admin.
• Web admin.
• Network admin.
• Web developer.
• IT technician.
• Security admin.
• Software engineer.
• Network engineer.

Also, you want to supplement the knowledge which you learn from the job with the training & education. Almost 35 % of the cyber security jobs need industry certification. This is when compared with 23 % of the IT jobs.

Most of the managements level jobs in the cyber security are highly specialized. Also, you can also able to focus your expertise level just by seeking the specific industries & certifications. This will make you to appear more attractive to the companies which looks for the person with particular skills.

Chief Information Security Officer – The Senior level:

Are you interested to become lead for the security team? Or are you interest to be a spearhead IT initiative? Then to become as a CISO is lucrative & rewarding career.

The CISCO role has many powers as well as creative freedom. This role builds the security teams. Also, it builds all initiatives. Especially, which concern the security of the industry. The CISO role reports directly to CIO / CEO.

$156,000 is the average salary for the CISCO. You want to spend 7 to 12 years in IT. Then you can shift to security before you qualify for CISO role. Minimum 5 years you want to manage the security operations & teams.

For becoming as CISO, you need to follow the career path listed below. They are,

• You should have a bachelor’s degree in anyone. This may be in CS, IT, cyber security / any related field. In other way you can also gain any equivalent experience. Also, you should get relevant certificates.
• You should enter as programmer / analyst in this field.
• You shout get promotion as anyone in the list. They are security analyst, consultant, engineer / auditor.
• You should hire many advanced IT certificates as well as training.
• You need to enter manager position. Specially to oversee the security team.
• You need to attain MBA / certificates. Especially in IT security / management focus.
• You need to get promotion to the CISO role.

Being the head of the IT security, you should follow the below list. This should be as your daily activities. They are,

• You should hire and guide the IT security team of experts.
• You need to create the strategic plans. Specially to deploy the information security. Also, to improve the existing programs.
• You should supervise the corporate security policy development & procedures. 
• You need to collaborate with the key stakeholders. This is for establishing security risk of the management programs.
• You need to spearhead IT securities investigations. Also, provide the recommended courses for actions in event of breach.

Training Recommended for you:

If you strive for the position in this management level? Then you should earn the accredited certificate. You should take your certificate course which is more relevant. This validates your level of expert. Also, the dedication in security management of IT.

You should take CISA certificate for the intermediate level. For advance level you should take CISM certificate. For expert level you should take CISSP certificate.

Penetration Tester or Ethical Hacker – The Mid – Senior Level:

It looks for the weaknesses in the IT system, network & app. This is using same knowledge & tactics as the criminal hackers. They use series of the tools for simulating the real-life cyber-attacks.  Also, to identify the weak spots & helps the industry. This is to improve the security posture.

Penetration tester’s average salary is $79,000.

Most of the penetration testers or ethical hackers should follow the below list. Especially, as your career path. They are,

• You should have a bachelor’s degree in anyone. This may be in CS, IT, cyber security / any related field. In other way you can also gain any equivalent experience. Also, you should get relevant certificates.
• You should enter as security admin, system admin / networking engineer.
• You should be an expert in the skills of ethical hacking. Specially with the training as well as with certificates.
• You should enter as penetration tester / ethical hacker role.
• You need to get promotion to senior penetration tester. Also, as a security consultant / security architect.

Being a penetration tester, you are expected with the following list. They are,

• You need to test web apps, networking as well as computer systems.
• You should uncover the security holes. Also, pinpoint methods of the attackers. These are used by the attackers to exploit the system weaknesses.
• You need to do research, document as well as discuss findings with management. Also, with the IT teams.
• You want to design & implement new tools for the penetration. Also, you should test it.

Training Recommended for you:

Nowadays cyber-attacks are happened frequently. So, you should gain knowledge in the following. 

These courses teach you about everything which are essential in modern hacking. Also, in the best practices, OS, software, networking protocols as well as communications.

You need to get CompTIA Security+ certificate for the beginner level. For the intermediate level, you need CEH certificate. For the advanced level you need CASP and ECSA certificate. For exert level you should need CISSP certificate.

Security Consultant:

They are the number one best security experts. They keep on assessing the security problems, solutions & risk. Especially for various industries. Also, they guide them to protect as well as secure physical capital & data. This position also referred as the following. They are consultant of,

• Information security.
• DB security.
• Computer security.
• Network security.

They must be very flexible as well as savvy. This is because they generally deal with many variables. This is when assessing the security systems. Specially across the diverse companies as well as the industries.

IT security consultant’s average salary is $106,190. This may differ based on the years of experience. In U.S. they expect minimum of 3-5 years of experience.

All the security consultant should follow the listed career path. They are,

• You should have a bachelor’s degree in anyone. This may be in CS, IT, cyber security / any related field. In other way you can also gain any equivalent experience. Also, you should get relevant certificates.
• You should enter as entry level candidate. Specially in the general IT / security.
• Get promoted to any mid-level role. Specially as security admin, analyst, engineer / auditor.
• You should get advanced skills in the cyber security. Specially with training & certificates.
• Enter a security consultant role.

As security consultant, you need to follow the list on daily basis. They are,

• You should determine the ways for protecting. Specially to protect the computers, networks, information systems as well as the data. Especially from the potential attacks.
• You need to perform the accountable tests as well as the security assessments.
• You need to interview the staffs as well as department heads. This is to uncover the security issues.
• You need to test the security solutions. Specially with the standard method for analysis. This is generally used by the industry.
• You need to provide the technical supervision. Also, you need to guide the security team.

Training Recommended for you:

If you have any special certificate with you? Then this will be an added advantage for you. If you mentioned it in your resume? Then this help you to claim easily in your career ladder. Training course helps you to gain necessary skills in this wonderful field.

You need CompTIA Security+ certificate for the beginner level. For the mid-level, you need CEH as well as CySA+ certificate. For the advanced level you need ECSA, CISA as well as CISM certificate. For exert level you should need CISSP certificate.

Security Architect:

If you have passion in problem-solving? Or having interest in creating the big-pictures strategies? Then this security architect is specially for you.

They need to design, build as well as implement the network. Also, the computer securities of the industry. Only the security architect can able to create complex structures. Also, they ensure whether they are functioning properly. They will design the security systems for combating anyone. It may be the malware, DDoS attacks as well the hacker intrusions.

In U.S. the security architect’s average salary is $118,681. Also, the companies need minimum of 5 to 10 years of experience. Specially for this role.

All the security Architect should follow the listed career path. They are,

• You should have a bachelor’s degree in anyone. This may be in CS, IT, cyber security / any related field. In other way you can also gain any equivalent experience. Also, you should get relevant certificates.
• You should enter as the security admin, systems admin / network admin.
• Get promoted to any mid-level role. Specially as the security engineer / the analyst.
• You should enter as the security architect.

Being a penetration tester, you are expected with the following list. They are,

• You need to Plan, research as well as the design. Specially the security architecture for the different IT projects.
• You need to develop all the requirements for anyone. Specially the networks, routers, firewalls as well as the related devices.
• You need to do the accountable testing. Also, you need to do the security assessments. This is along with the risk analysis.
• You need to do many researches. Then you need to implement anyone. This may be the new security standard, the system as well as best practices.

Training Recommended for you:

This is the senior most position. The employers look for the security certificates on the resume.

The training as well as certificates helps you to accelerate career path. Also, to stand out as a potential employer. These certificates provide you all the necessary skills. Especially which are required for this role.

You need CompTIA Security+ certificate for the beginner level. For the mid-level, you need CEH certificate. For the advanced level you need ECSA, certificate. For exert level you should need CISSP certificate.