IT Security Specialist Jobs, Salary Benchmarking & Skill Set

For the 6 months to 17 January 2024, IT Security Specialist job roles required the following skills and capabilities in order of popularity. The figures indicate the absolute number co-occurrences and as a proportion of all permanent job ads featuring IT Security Specialist in the job title. Adding certifications like CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) can validate your skills in the cybersecurity field and prepare you for a more advanced role within your organization.

it security specialist

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Considering a new exciting career as an Cybersecurity Specialist?

Cyber security jobs of all sorts are becoming increasingly crucial in the digital age. From a specialist to an analyst to the IT security director, there are many jobs that focus on network security and all of these positions are vital for information security success. It’s not just that more companies are adopting technological advancements to run their businesses—it’s that those advancements are becoming increasingly sophisticated and, in some ways, invite a challenge from hackers looking to breach those systems.

  • The government passed a law further criminalizing protesters and limiting workers’ strikes.
  • To become a cybersecurity specialist, you should complete a formal education—like a degree or a cybersecurity bootcamp—in information security or a related subject.
  • They provide ongoing oversight for organizations’ cybersecurity efforts through several methods.
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  • These professionals also educate co-workers on best practices, as breaches may occur accidentally or deliberately by bad actors within their companies.

IT security specialists can opt for a degree in computer science, cyber security and information assurance, or network operations and security. There’s also the option to go the extra mile and attain a master’s degree in categories such as information technology management. Choosing a reputable online degree program can make earning your bachelor’s or master’s more accessible by granting you freedom and flexibility in managing your course load. Other companies may stipulate that they seek cybersecurity specialists with a specific amount of professional experience.

IT Security Specialist Career Guide

As a result, cyber security jobs have only grown in importance and demand—especially with the growth of ransomware attacks and data breaches that expose sensitive information. 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 how to become a security specialist as possible about what companies are looking for in potential employees. 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.

However, cybersecurity prevents access by bad actors, and information security considers aspects like the availability and confidentiality of data. Information security specialists may handle aspects like multifactor authentication and access to physical information storage areas. Some experts say the fields of cybersecurity, network security, information security and infrastructure security are all different. Others consider these cybersecurity careers to exist under the same umbrella of computer security. The following section explores differences among various subsets of cybersecurity. Payscale reports an average annual cybersecurity salary of around $97,000, and these wages typically increase with experience.

Become an IT Security Specialist

Internships and entry-level IT positions will help you gain hands-on experience with security tools and protocols. Learning how to prevent and counteract threats and attacks efficiently takes practice and experience. Any knowledge you can gain from working with systems and networks as well as with others in the field will make you more marketable to employers. IT security specialists are knowledgeable about cybersecurity and have the tools needed to ensure a company’s computer systems remain secure.

Keep in mind that most certification exams require significant preparation, and some include experience requirements. In addition to an encyclopedic knowledge of computers, network infrastructures, and breaches (which you’ll learn about while earning your IT degree), certifications can also help set you apart from other IT security specialists. Cisco, CompTIA, CISSP, and CEH are some of the certs that may be required by your employer to be qualified for a role. Not only do these experts monitor systems against threats and utilize technology to prevent breaches within networks, they also must be able to quickly react when an attack occurs. A company also relies on their IT security specialist to educate other employees about practices that will keep their personal and company data secure.