How to Get into Cybersecurity: 2025 Career Guide

In addition to these technical considerations, it’s crucial to develop a mindset of continuous learning and curiosity. Subscribing to cybersecurity publications, attending conferences and webinars, and participating in cybersecurity competitions can further enhance your technical skills and keep you connected to the cybersecurity community. These are just a few examples of the many certifications available in the cybersecurity field. The right certification for you will depend on your career goals, interests, and the specific area of cybersecurity you wish to specialize in.

However, you will also be expected to engage in manual checks and tests to ensure that you don’t miss any issues. Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact… In the Google IT Support Professional Certificate program, I learned skills to assist customers with end-to-end support, ranging from identifying problems to troubleshooting and debugging. Discover programs you’re interested in and take charge of your education.

It also shields organizational assets from different internal and external threats when done correctly. Today, mobile security is a vast field, as people now rely more on mobile devices than ever. Professionals in mobile security work how to become a security specialist to protect personal and organizational data stored in mobile devices such as laptops, tablets, and cell phones.

• Many specialists begin as network administrators, computer systems analysts, or network engineers.
• The automated nature of these programs means they can be a great time-saver.
• Information security specialists may handle aspects like multifactor authentication and access to physical information storage areas.
• Also, as the demand for skilled professionals grows, their pay continues to increase, showing how important their role is.
• The fact that more and more businesses are relying on cloud computing, technology, and remote work presents further reasons to prioritize security infrastructure.
• If you have not taken the DSSAT within six months of submitting the Eligibility Verification Form, you must restart the application process from the beginning.

According to the FBI, cyber fraud has increased by almost 500% in the last five years (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2021). The cost of a hack can run to USD 180 per individual file accessed (IBM Security, 2021). This exam is an appropriate credential for recent graduates or for professionals who want to expand their skills. “Certifications, like degrees, are only as good as your ability to apply this knowledge and the depth of which you gained from the certification,” Miller explains.

However, check beforehand whether an employer does want you to have a cyber security certificate, and which specific one they have in mind. After all, you don’t want to waste your time, effort, and money on a qualification you don’t need or that won’t come in handy for your chosen career path. As a security specialist, you will spend your days studying the devices in use and testing security measures like firewalls and other software. This role also involves reporting to more senior members of the IT team and presenting any findings and recommendations. Security specialists also collaborate with other departments to ensure that colleagues are aware of how to practice good IT security. You may have to apply to quite a few jobs and go through the interview process before you find the right one, but that’s normal.

They often serve as the main point of contact between a security team and company leadership or external partners. Incidence response analysts respond to security breaches and work to control the damage. Security trainers educate employees on the best practices in cybersecurity and ways to avoid compromising the organization’s safety.

Consider a certification.

Companies and organizations must protect against risks and threats to an organization’s data. If you consider that a data breach can cost an average of $9.44 million in the US, it’s clear why the demand is high for cybersecurity 2. In addition to creating structures to protect interconnected devices, professionals in this sector safeguard sensitive assets for applications and data. At the app level, infrastructure security professionals develop and deploy effective databases to prevent access by bad actors. For data, this field protects information by building structures for backups and encryption.

Importance of Cyber Security Certifications

Explore four pathways for entry-level information security certifications or certificates and how to get into cybersecurity without experience. For more than 20 years, CompTIA has developed training and certification exams for computing support, networking, security, open-source (Linux) development, cloud, and mobility. Our regular review and updates of exams ensure that CompTIA certifications continue to address the needs of today’s technology challenges.

Why Employers Value a Bachelor’s Degree

As you embark on your journey to become a cybersecurity specialist, remember that this field requires a commitment to continuous learning, adaptability, and staying up-to-date with the latest security trends. Embrace the challenges, seek practical experience, build meaningful relationships, and stay curious. By doing so, you will position yourself for a rewarding career in safeguarding digital ecosystems and protecting against cyber threats. A security specialist is an excellent way to jump-start your career in cyber security. Whether it is something you are striving for before college, or making a job transition, be prepared by garnering as much knowledge as possible about what companies are looking for in potential employees.

• If you’re wondering how to get into cybersecurity, read on to explore salaries, job outlooks and available certifications in the field.
• Threats to these devices include malware, unauthorized access, loss, theft, viruses, and much more.
• This is a great place to start your research, because understanding the NICE Framework will help you navigate the other tools and resources on NICCS more effectively.
• With the right level of experience and skills, they can advance to director and analyst positions.
• Managing their organization’s network security, from routers to VPNs and firewalls is what network security engineers do.

Major job requirements can widely vary among employers and you might miss the opportunity to build up your work experience and knowledge before making the leap toward a senior or management position. Whatever option you choose, a security specialist role may be a career that offers many opportunities. Entry-level information security certifications can help you learn and demonstrate the skills you need to find a cybersecurity role and earn professional experience in the field.

Continuous Learning

During the Structured Interview, assessors may shuffle papers, lose eye contact, or interrupt a candidate to manage the time. Candidates should not assume that these actions signal anything either positive or negative. The DSSAT is an important part of the selection process that includes job knowledge, English expression, and situational judgement necessary to work as a Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent. After submitting your application, you must schedule and take the Diplomatic Security Special Agent Test (DSSAT) at one of Pearson Vue’s test centers. The Department of State prohibits candidates from plagiarizing any portion of their employment application materials to include responses to questions in which candidates must provide a narrative response.

Popular Cyber Security Certifications

Cybersecurity specialist is a fascinating and multi-faceted position in a dynamic, fast-growing field. In addition to certifications and advanced education, cybersecurity job seekers are well-advised to connect with internship opportunities and do plenty of reading, self-learning and networking. Career opportunities for current and aspiring cybersecurity specialists have never been more plentiful or lucrative. You are probably already well aware that cybercrime is continually on the rise. In fact, cybercrime is forecasted to amount to $10.5 trillion by 2025 — which is just a few short years away.

It is a great career to enter as there are several roads to travel toward executive-level roles. Like most other careers in cybersecurity, it’ll be a great start to earn your degree relating to the cybersecurity specialist category and then get industry certifications, clearances, and practical experience. Entry-level information security certifications can help you find a role where you can start gaining job experience in the field. The entry-level credentials from ISACA, ISC2, Google, and CompTIA can help you prepare for different roles in IT security. Explore some potential career titles along with their average salaries in the United States.

Security analysts sometimes work with multiple departments to ensure their colleagues understand the organization’s best practices for information security. These professionals usually find themselves employed by small organizations with slim budgets. Managing their organization’s network security, from routers to VPNs and firewalls is what network security engineers do. Every internship or entry-level job allows you to build on the knowledge and skill you learned in college. The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) credential offered by the Cybersecurity and IT Security Certifications and Training (ISC2) is one of the most recognized certifications in the country.

Network Security

Each response is limited to 300 words or fewer (maximum length 2,000 characters). You should compose your replies carefully, as one of the skills necessary to succeed as a Foreign Service Specialist is the ability to write clearly and concisely. Answers to all items in the Personal Narratives and Statement of Interest are required and must be completed in the online application.

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security looks for individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and all academic majors to join us in delivering world-class global security, investigative and protective missions. CISA is a national organization that seeks to understand, manage, and reduce risk to cyber and physical infrastructure. They offer industry resources, analyses, and tools to help build cyber communications. Security professionals who are proactive in learning and networking may find pathways into roles where they can make a significant impact. Professionals may choose to focus on physical security, digital protection, or specialize in a niche like event security or regulatory compliance. Software and hardware mechanisms that defend the infrastructure and network from unauthorized access, disruptions, and other attacks are all a part of network security.

Software that can assist you in this task includes Kali Linux, nmap, Metasploit, Wireshark, and John the Ripper. All of these will help you to identify weaknesses in a system, ideally before a cyber criminal finds them. In today’s era of ever-escalating cyber attacks, organizations need to have security measures in place that will protect their sensitive data and systems. The fact that more and more businesses are relying on cloud computing, technology, and remote work presents further reasons to prioritize security infrastructure. Growing your network can also mean joining a professional network on Meetup or Facebook to connect with cybersecurity professionals in your area.