Cyberattacks are rising and becoming ever more costly each year, businesses and governments need skilled cybersecurity professionals to help safeguard their systems. But there’s a problem – there are not enough of these skilled workers available. If you’re looking to change careers, make money online, or make more money check out cybersecurity for a career change that will be full of growth opportunities.
According to the 2022 (ISC)2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, the cybersecurity workforce gap grew by 26.2% this year compared to 2021[1]. The study states we’d need a whopping 3.4 million more workers to secure information assets effectively.
Are you thinking of helping plug the worker deficit and embarking on a cybersecurity career? Are you hoping to pivot into remote work? If so, you’re in the right place. Now is an excellent time for a career change, with few industries offering as many opportunities or as much job security as cybersecurity. But what roles can you hope to land with limited experience in the sector? Let’s get into it.
A Quick Word on Entry-Level Cybersecurity Jobs
The term “entry-level” is a bit of a misnomer in cybersecurity. While entry-level often means no prior experience is required in other industries, this isn’t always the case in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is a specialized sub-field of IT. As a result, employers will usually be looking for evidence of a working knowledge of IT, a passion for security, and sometimes specific qualifications or coding skills.
But entry-level cybersecurity jobs have one significant benefit – higher salaries. The average cybersecurity salary in the US is $119,914, with wages on the low end starting at $92,526[2].
This isn’t to say you can’t pivot into cybersecurity from a totally unrelated field – you absolutely can, and countless people are doing it every year. However, it’s important to recognize that you may need to work to expand your resume to reflect what employers are looking for. At the same time, with the cybersecurity skills gap in such a bleak situation, the market favors job seekers. In other words, the jobs are out there waiting for you, even remote work, and freelance jobs, but higher salaries often require a little more resume tailoring.
With this in mind, let’s look at the jobs with the most straightforward entry for someone changing careers.
Security Administrator
Security Administrators install, administer, and troubleshoot the company’s security solutions. Put simply, they’re in charge of ensuring the system is running properly. In addition, they’re responsible for updating security software, resolving security issues, and managing new users.
Security Analyst
Security Analysts play a vital role in keeping corporate data safe from nefarious actors seeking to modify, view, or destroy data. They secure digital assets, including online and on-premises infrastructures, from unauthorized access. They’re also typically on the front line when a data breach occurs and will lead efforts to mitigate the attack.
Typically, companies look for a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related discipline, but a degree in any STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subject will be viewed favorably. And while there are no mandated certifications for this role, certifications like Certified Ethical Hacker and CompTIA Network+ will help. All that considered many companies will be open to people who are self-taught so don’t despair if you studied history in college.
Incident Responder
Incident Responders use digital forensic tools to address cybersecurity incidents. And in a world where cybersecurity incidents are scarily common, the job is in high demand. Typical duties include immediate response to cybersecurity threats and intrusion, vulnerability testing, intrusion detection and prevention, risk management, network management, and, occasionally, security audits.
Digital Forensic Examiner
Digital Forensic Examiners analyze digital devices to determine how an unauthorized actor managed to infiltrate the system. Typical activities include recovering data from erased or damaged hard drives; collecting, preserving, and analyzing evidence; documenting the data retrieval process; writing reports. This was a role within law enforcement in the past, but it’s increasingly common in the private sector today.
IT Auditor
IT Auditors ensure all corporate systems comply with necessary security protocols and that the IT infrastructures run as smoothly as possible. But what will you do as an IT Auditor?
Tasks include:
- Developing audit plans.
- Performing audit procedures.
- Evaluating the adequacy of controls.
- Identifying deviations from regulations and policies.
What Are the Most Popular Cybersecurity Certifications?
While not technically essential, having a cybersecurity certification under your belt can help considerably when you’re changing careers. It demonstrates that you’re serious about pursuing a career in the field and have the skills to do the job. CompTIA Security+ is often considered a basic, essential credential that verifies core cybersecurity skills. It will serve you well in any cybersecurity job.
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) is also great for entry-level and mid-level cybersecurity professionals. CISA covers five cybersecurity domains, so securing this credential can demonstrate a foundational knowledge of all things information systems.
Other certifications you should consider are CISSP, CEH, CISM, GSEC, SSCP, and CASP.
Wrapping Up
If you want a career change, cybersecurity is an excellent option. It requires minimal qualifications, provides enormous growth potential, has impressive salary prospects, and there’s a high demand for new workers in the sector. In addition, remote work is the new norm, and cybersecurity is no exception. Today it’s easier than ever to secure freelance and work-from-home cybersecurity jobs. So, why not get started today? Subscribe for more work online posts. Have a lovely day.
