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Security specialists should begin by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or a related area, such as computer science. Other companies may stipulate that they seek cybersecurity specialists with a specific amount of professional experience. Candidates can accrue experience in other cybersecurity roles or through internships while still pursuing their degrees to meet this requirement. According to Payscale, security specialists with 10 or more years of experience earned an average annual salary of $98,389 as of September 2021. A cybersecurity specialist might wear many hats depending on the size and shape of his or her company or organization.

As experts in cybersecurity, these specialists help to create, analyze and deploy organizational security systems. Cybersecurity specialists test for areas of potential exposure in interconnected computer networks, document their findings and how to become a security specialist provide solutions for vulnerabilities. Although security specialists do not always need certification, most employers prefer certified candidates. Keep in mind that certificate programs and technology bootcamps do not provide certification.

Security Specialist Career Overview

These professionals work with public and private employers of all sizes to ensure the safety of data for customers, government entities and healthcare organizations. However, cybersecurity specialists usually focus on analyzing, monitoring, and responding to threats, while IT security specialists research, monitor, and install protective software. Applicants should explore which certifications match their skills and desired career path. Some cybersecurity certifications cater to entry-level candidates while others prepare workers for advanced positions. Since most businesses store financial, statistical, and customer data online, cybersecurity specialists — also called security specialists — can work in many industries.

Once you get to this highly prestigious position, you can expect to earn around $179,763 per year on average. Their findings and reports are crucial to improving a company’s security policies. CSIA offers an environment for an exchange of ideas between national security thought leaders. CSIA focuses on intelligence issues related to cybersecurity, military, and space. They collaborate across sectors to inform best practices, research, and funding opportunities for ethical data sharing.

Explore schools offering IT Security Specialist Bootcamps.

An undergraduate degree in cybersecurity or general computer science may qualify applicants for some positions. However, internships and IT work experience can help recent graduates stand out in the job market. 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. In order to plan and implement these company trainings, the IT security specialist must not only have the required technical skills for the position, but also necessary soft skills.

• A notch above security engineers, security architects are in charge of overseeing the general security work.
• According to Indeed.com, the average annual salary for this occupation is $50,380 in the United States.
• As a discipline within network engineering, this field covers protection against breaches for interconnected electronics rather than individual databases or devices.
• Developing security systems often involves the collaboration of many specialized professionals.
• The security specialist role best suits people who enjoy new challenges and want to protect data.
• These will give you the relevant experience you need before you can be considered for a security specialist job.

It is a starting point from which you can branch out, depending on what suits you and what skills you continue building. A security specialist typically monitors the existing security infrastructure, suggests improvements, runs system checks, and researches potential new risks. Aspiring security specialists should gain as much experience as possible in using SIEM, programming languages, firewalls, and threat protection software.