Cybersecurity Jobs FAQs

We are currently witnessing a boom in the Cybersecurity industry. It’s almost as if everyone and their mama woke up one day and realized protecting their online data isn’t a joke. There are currently more jobs than candidates and growth is poised to rise over the coming decade, making information security analyst a dependable career for many US workers. 

As the preferred career accelerator, we at HiCounselor know it’s important to choose a field that has scope and range. That’s why we’ve compiled some of the common cybersecurity job FAQs here so you can decide if this is the right sector for you. If you need more career help, contact us and have a chat with one of our mentors. 

What Hard Skills Do I Need To Be An Information Security Analyst?

There are a number of technical skills required to make a good cybersecurity expert, including mastering computer science fundamentals. Some of the crucial skills are knowing at least one programming and scripting language, being an expert in a subfield, keeping updated about attack tools & techniques, tracking complex engagements, and managing multiple pieces of evidence. 

What Are Some Handy Soft Skills Needed For The Role?

As a cybersecurity analyst, you’ll be working with the senior management  as well as employees of all levels to make sure things stay safe. You must be a clear communicator as well as an active listener. Attention to detail and creativity can go a long way in helping resolve issues that crop up while working with large numbers of people. Staying calm and being adaptable will help you have a long career in this field.

Are There Some Helpful Certifications?

To become a cybersecurity analyst, it’s good to have an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree in the subject along with a computer science degree. There are also many certifications you can get that can give you an edge in your job search. Since this is an evolving industry, there are always new courses being added to help keep professionals up to date. 

Network+ - This certification course is useful for those who want to learn networking security, infrastructure, and troubleshooting. It will also acquaint you with some of the best practices employed by cybersecurity professionals. 

Security+ - This is an important information security certification as it teaches you how to manage risks, locate vulnerabilities, and understand cryptography. This course also teaches you threat analysis and techniques to mitigate hacking.

CISSP - A Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification can be obtained by a professional who has spent at least five years working in the cybersecurity field. This course teaches you to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in web-based systems.

Certified Ethical Hacker - You can get this cybersecurity certification once you have two years of work experience. This course teaches you how to get in the mind of a hacker so you can do a good job as a penetration tester. 

CISA - The Certified Information Systems Auditor certification is given to those who are capable of auditing, monitoring, and assessing their company's IT systems. 

LPT - A Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT) is an advanced cybersecurity certification. You can get one of these after some work experience and having proven your capabilities. Owning this information security certification shows that you can respond quickly and efficiently to a security breach. 

What’s A Typical Workday Like For Cybersecurity Analysts?

Under the big banner of “information security analyst” lie various roles and responsibilities. It’s hard to define a typical work day but know that the role includes communicating with various teams, running checks, ideating, troubleshooting problems, creating tests for employees to check their awareness levels, etc.

The length of the workday can depend on who you’re working for. Some cybersecurity analysts work a regular 9 to 5 while others put in much longer hours. Some work with small, local teams while others manage employees located in different parts of the world with different work times. Part of your job will involve calls and meetings to keep others updated about security and risks. 

What Kind Of Job Security And Salary Can I Expect?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the cybersecurity industry is set to grow at a rapid pace. The job outlook for 2020-2030 is set at 33%, which is much higher than the average job growth rate. Around 16,300 cybersecurity job openings are predicted for each year in the decade. 

The salaries for information security analysts vary from the level and kind of work they do. According to the BLS, in May 2020, the median annual wage for this role was US$103,590, or US$49.80 per hour. Note that this is the average pay. Entry-level workers will make less while experienced professionals can make much more. 

Any Career Advice For Entry-Level Workers?

As a relative beginner to the field of cybersecurity, you should be ready to make mistakes and learn from them. It’s a good idea to pick a tool (like Nmap, Nessus, Wireshark, BurpSuite, etc.) and become proficient at it. It’s also a good idea to find a mentor who can guide you through the beginner stages as this field can get pretty complex from time to time. If you enjoy learning, you’ll have fun as a cybersecurity analyst. 

We hope this short cybersecurity jobs FAQs list has clarified some things for you! If you’re looking to get your career started in this field but don’t know where to begin, get in touch with us at HiCounselor. We have a robust job search program that handles finding you a job while our mentors prep you for interviews and entering your new career path! The best part about choosing us is you only pay us once we get you a job.

HiCounselor has forged technical advances to transform the hiring landscape for job seekers and recruiters alike. Our career accelerator program provides job seekers with coaching and mentorship from industry leaders employed at FAANG companies while recruiters ally with HiCounselor to empower their hiring strategy and hone in on the best candidates. Learn more about HiCounselor here and reach out to us on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.