Cybersecurity continues to be the hottest trend in the realm of information technology. The unrelenting rise in cyber-attacks is becoming a leading concern for small and large businesses and resulting in the loss of billions of dollars and information leaks. This upsurge in the number of cyber-attacks causes a direct rise in the demand for cybersecurity professionals. More and more professionals are learning about cybersecurity with cybersecurity bootcamps in the hopes of building a prosperous future.
According to recent studies, the U.S cybersecurity workforce must increase by about 62% to effectively neutralize the rising cybersecurity threats. Businesses are realigning their priorities to resolve devastating cybersecurity concerns, and career opportunities in this field are only bound to go up.
Key cybersecurity career opportunities to target in 2021
There’s massive scope for multiple cybersecurity positions, and every level professional from entry-level to expert has an opportunity to build a successful future in this ever-expanding line of work. The following are five key cybersecurity career opportunities to target in 2021:
- Cybersecurity Analyst
Cybersecurity Analyst continues to be in high demand in the realm of cybersecurity. These professionals make up the frontline of a corporation’s security defense and utilize analytical skills to identify cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. Their role is to monitor and examine a corporation’s security network and use modern analytical tools to perform identification, analysis, and reporting of cybersecurity events.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be an approximately 32% increase in Cybersecurity Analyst job openings over the next decade starting from 2018. These professionals can earn up to $95,000 annually and have incredible prospects. A cybersecurity Analyst can transition into a more specialized role in the fields of compliance, engineering, and penetration testing.
- Cybersecurity Engineer
The only position more demanding than Cybersecurity Analyst is of Cybersecurity Engineer. These professionals are responsible for engineering & designing a robust security system to barricade cyber-attacks. Their job responsibilities include developing security plans, creating security policies, implementing solutions, mitigating vulnerabilities, and security incident response. These professionals often start their learning curve from cybersecurity certifications and continually work on improving their expertise.
The upsurge in the severity of cybersecurity attacks has brought an increase in the demand of Cybersecurity Engineers who can design foolproof security systems. Along with expertise, professionals must also have a minimum of three years’ experience to successfully land a job as a Cybersecurity Engineer. These professionals earn $106,000 annually and often work in direct collaboration with business executives and high-end business officials.
- Cybersecurity Consultant
Cybersecurity Consultant is another highly sought-after field, and such professionals often work as a self-employed contractor. In a cybersecurity program, these professionals play a dual role as a defender & an attacker, and their job is to detect weaknesses and exploit vulnerabilities. As a consultant and security expert, many organizations often hire Cybersecurity Consultants to test the security standards of their security system designed by a Cybersecurity Engineer.
To become a Cybersecurity Consultant, a professional needs to have a relevant degree, technical expertise, certifications, and work experience. There are job openings for both entry-level and seasoned Cybersecurity Consultants, and these professionals earn $91,000 annually. A proficient Cybersecurity Consultant can even open up a cybersecurity consultancy firm and build a successful business in the realm of cybersecurity.
- Cybersecurity Administrator
Cybersecurity Administrator plays a pivotal role in ensuring the organization’s cybersecurity practices are complying with the ever-increasing cybersecurity needs. These professionals implement and supervise cybersecurity programs and often work in a team of multiple Cybersecurity Administrators. In the absence of an administrator, it often gets difficult to monitor cybersecurity practices and ensure its compliance with industry standards & policies. Quite often, these professionals also audit the cybersecurity programs and play a key role in raising awareness about cybersecurity within an organization.
The demand for Cybersecurity Administrators is incredibly high, and this field breaks further into two categories, technical security managers and program security managers. Professionals striving to land a job as a Cybersecurity Administrator must have considerable experience in the field of cybersecurity and diversified technical expertise gained from programs such as cyber security bootcamp. Cybersecurity Administrators earn up to $105,000 annually and serve as the backbone of every major cybersecurity program.
- Network Security Engineer
Network Security Engineer or Architect is a relatively newer career path in the realm of cybersecurity. Professionals sharing expertise in network security weren’t always in high demand, and a trend is being developed where these professionals are getting more and more recognition. In the year 2021, there is great scope and opportunities for professionals who know the implementation, designing, and security evaluation of computer networks.
This line of work will only get more heat with the ever-increasing reliance of businesses on cloud platforms, and a rise in job openings for Network Security Engineers is guaranteed. These professionals can earn up to $113,500 annually, and their worth will surely increase in the upcoming years. For newbies and aspiring network security enthusiasts, cybersecurity bootcamp is often the best route to embark on a Network Security Engineers’ professional journey.
The demand for Cybersecurity Administrators is incredibly high, and this field breaks further into two categories, technical security managers and program security managers. Professionals striving to land a job as a Cybersecurity Administrator must have considerable experience in the field of cybersecurity and diversified technical expertise gained from programs such as cyber security bootcamp. Cybersecurity Administrators earn up to $105,000 annually and serve as the backbone of every major cybersecurity program.
- Network Security Engineer
Network Security Engineer or Architect is a relatively newer career path in the realm of cybersecurity. Professionals sharing expertise in network security weren’t always in high demand, and a trend is being developed where these professionals are getting more and more recognition. In the year 2021, there is great scope and opportunities for professionals who know the implementation, designing, and security evaluation of computer networks.
This line of work will only get more heat with the ever-increasing reliance of businesses on cloud platforms, and a rise in job openings for Network Security Engineers is guaranteed. These professionals can earn up to $113,500 annually, and their worth will surely increase in the upcoming years. For newbies and aspiring network security enthusiasts, cybersecurity training is often the best route to embark on a Network Security Engineers’ professional journey.