Cybersecurity bootcamps have focused curriculums on the skills, strategies, and tools that IT Security Specialists will need to protect networks and systems. Many also offer preparation for a variety of certifications that are highly-regarded in this field. PenTest+ is for intermediate level cybersecurity professionals who are tasked with penetration testing to manage vulnerabilities on a network. Employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 35% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for information security analysts is expected to be very high, as these analysts will be needed to create innovative solutions to prevent hackers from stealing critical information or causing problems for computer networks.

Because cybersecurity is a fairly new field and because changes happen so quickly, experience is measured in terms of accomplishments rather than years. Always inquire with a potential employer for their specific job requirements. Some companies may accept as little as 1-to-2 years how to become a security specialist of experience while some may require over five years of IT security experience. Welcome to ITCareerFinder, a website to help IT pros advance their careers. Strayer University’s online technology degrees provide real-world skills and IT certifications to achieve your career goals.

How to Become an IT Security Specialist

Coursework or a degree in computer science, computer engineering or electrical engineering can get you started. You can pursue courses in cybersecurity, beginning with Cisco’s free « Introduction to Cybersecurity. » As you gain more education and earn more certifications, you’ll have more employment and salary opportunities. 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.

• Teachers participating in the guardian program include physical education, driver’s education and others.
• Wright initially mentioned the possibility of allowing teachers to volunteer, though she walked back that proposal at a Nov. 14 meeting.
• According to Glassdoor.com, the national average salary for an IT security specialist is $95,689 based on a scale that checks in at $45,000 per year on the low end and up to $102,000 per year at the high end.
• Indeed.com employment search, companies like Prudential, Stearns Bank, The Walt Disney Company, Grant Thornton, and Farmers Insurance Group are all in need of IT security specialists.

A computer security specialist, more commonly known as a cyber security specialist, is a member of an organization’s information technology (IT) team responsible for protecting information against security threats. The employment website Zippia cites the average annual salary for a computer security specialist as ​$88,000​. As with most jobs, earnings are influenced by a number of factors and can vary widely.

Related Careers

The district has school resource officers at all of their 92 schools and is in the process of adding Open Gate Security Systems to each school. The district has a total of 60 guardians, with some teachers and administrators serving in the role. Teachers participating in the guardian program include physical education, driver’s education and others. Guardians are trained by the sheriff’s office, and the training exceeds hours mandated by the state. Nonetheless, these roles are vital and cybersecurity specialists are worth their weight in gold when a question or problem emerges within their particular area of expertise. Securing SCADA devices and other niche information systems that fall outside the mainstream of technology security is the realm of a unique breed of cybersecurity specialists often referred to as infosec technicians.

• As explained by the Massachusetts Division of Banks, the list of cyber threats includes malware, ransomware, spam and phishing, corporate account takeover (CATO), automated teller machine (ATM) cash-out and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.
• Accredited schools offer college degrees, courses, and certificates in IT security tools and technologies.
• The list of cyber threats and attack methods changes rapidly as criminals discover new ways to cause harm.
• Whatever option you choose, a security specialist role may be a career that offers many opportunities.

With every passing year, the number of businesses migrating to the cloud increases — and in turn, the number of cyberattacks increases. IT security specialists are responsible for their organization’s computer-related security, ensuring company data remains secure and protected against cyberattacks. Since a security specialist is essentially an entry-level position in the large world of cyber security, there are positions you can start out in at first and then, you can work your way up the ladder into a management role. It is a great career to enter as there are several roads to travel toward executive-level roles. Workforce demand for computer security specialists is high in all verticals, including corporations, schools, medical practices, and government agencies. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the IT security specialist job market will grow by 32% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the 3% average for all occupations, placing it among the nation’s fastest-growing career paths.

IT Security Specialist Salaries

In addition to arming some teachers, Suwannee allows administrators to participate in their guardian program, as do Lake County and Sumter County. The program was created after the school’s public safety commission found that having guardians in schools was the best way to ensure « highly trained personnel » would be present to respond to a school shooting. Working closely with IT professionals, world-class trainers, and hiring managers since 2005 has given him unique insight into the information technology job market and the skills and credentials IT pros need to succeed. CompTIA certifications establish a baseline foundation of skills that you can build upon with other vendor or technology-specific certifications. Security+ provides a global benchmark for best practices in IT network and operational security, one of the fastest-growing fields in IT.

IT security professionals are also be expected to monitor the company network for any breaches or vulnerabilities, devising plans for further safeguarding as needed. Only administrators are allowed to participate in the program, and they serve at the district’s elementary schools and sometimes, at high schools. The district also has school resource officers and deputies at middle and high schools. Their guardians are trained by the sheriff’s office to meet state-mandated training hour requirements and are provided quarterly trainings and voluntary proficiency shooting training.

They look for security breaches launched through removable media (such as flash drives), web and email attacks, loss or theft of devices, unauthorized use of system privileges and attacks on encrypted data. A computer security specialist may work onsite or remotely, depending on the company. If you have some experience, you might consider a role as a Security Engineer, building security systems, finding vulnerabilities, and making systems more reliable.

Direct hands-on job experience is always the top qualification, but bachelor’s degrees and even graduate degrees in cybersecurity and related fields are a mainstay of the profession. Retail – At Hy-Vee, a Midwest supermarket chain, on the other hand, a security specialist position was listed that focused exclusively on SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system operation. Duties listed for the role revolved more around event monitoring and incident alerting and escalation. Because cybersecurity is a relatively new field, it is only fairly recently that colleges and universities began offering bachelor’s degrees in the specialty. Other schools also offer the degree; some schools, including Southern New Hampshire University and Purdue University Global, let you earn your degree online. https://remotemode.net/s should be able to make recommendations to upper-level management for improving and optimizing their systems.