Positive, strong IT security can be, for a business, the difference between making a huge, safe profit, and making a disastrous loss.
While most of us use technology to find cat pictures, useful statistics, and to message our sweet grandmothers, there are some who seek to do harm, whether for profit or personal gain.
Protecting themselves is key, so most companies will employ a team of IT security specialists to protect a company’s interests online, monitor any potential threats, and put a logical contingency plan into effect. If a crisis does occur, their skills and specialist knowledge can be put towards damage limitation.
It takes an average of 120 days for a company to discover that its internet security has been compromised.
‘What type of person suits a career in the IT security sector?’
When people first think of computer experts, they might typically think of a very isolated person, however, this simply isn’t the case. It’s crucial that the cybersecurity team are in constant communication with all other departments. They need to send out regular updates, schedule important tests, and most of all, ensure that all other sectors of the business are aware of potential threats which could appear in different forms. It is an unexpectedly social sector.
Why is their salary so high?’
Here are two reasons that need to be considered:
Responsibility
Whether a large, multi-national company, one with only small office space, or simply just an online store page, the IT security department is responsible for any loss of business that comes from a cyber-attack. It’s a large weight to have on one team’s shoulders but if the workload is shared appropriately, it’s a more than manageable responsibility.
Skill Level
When we spoke about a career in administration, the desired qualifications weren’t completely necessary because specific skills could be gained while on the job – at very minimal risk. For a career in IT security, it’s essential that you have the computing knowledge to fend off any attacks and fully understand how to prevent them from day one. Qualifications are necessary.
‘So, what qualifications do I need to work in the IT security sector?’
Employers in this sector will be looking for interest and ability at an early age. GCSEs, A-levels, and/or B-Techs will be a great way of convincing the recruiter that your passion has been present for a long time.
Once these school qualifications are completed, to ensure your passion is clear, you might consider computer science at university. This, however, is not the only path open to you. Like any career, the steps on offer are not the same as anyone else’s and each qualification is different in several ways. Here are just a few courses to consider:
- Certified Penetration Testing Engineer
- Certified Professional Ethical Hacker
- CompTIA Certification Bundle with 4 Exams
- Certified Disaster Recovery Engineer
- Cyber Security for Beginners with 4 Official CompTIA Exams
‘Upon completion, what job title will I realistically be looking at?’
While each course serves a qualification in a certain area – whether preventative or damage limitation – below are several potential job roles which you may find yourself qualified upon completion:
- Cyber Security Investigator
- Cyber Threat Analyst
- IT Security Specialist
- IT Support Technician
- Network Engineer
- Data Centre Manager
