CompTIA Certifications Level For Cybersecurity with a Security Intelligence Background

Entry-level: Cybersecurity Specialist/Technician

Cybersecurity specialist is a great starting point for a cybersecurity career. They guard an organization’s networks to help protect them from cyberattacks, and if an attack does occur, cybersecurity specialists fight it. They need to be creative and adaptable to ever-changing attack techniques. If you’re passionate about protecting networks and fighting off threats, a career as a cybersecurity specialist could be a great fit for you! Check out these quick facts about cybersecurity specialists:

Average Salary for Cybersecurity Specialists

$75,000

Total Number of Job Openings for Cybersecurity Specialists in the United States

7,792

Degree Requirements for Cybersecurity Specialists

15 percent do not require a bachelor’s degree

58 percent require a bachelor’s degree

27 percent require a graduate degree

Top Certifications Requested for Cybersecurity Specialists

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• GIAC
• CompTIA Security+
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

Top Skills Requested for Cybersecurity Specialists

Information security

Information systems

Information assurance

Network security

Vulnerability assessment

Mid-Level: Penetration Tester

A penetration tester, sometimes known as an ethical hacker, thinks like a malicious attacker, but uses their skills for good to protect an organization’s networks. Have you ever heard the phrase, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em? This perfectly describes a penetration tester – they test their networks by staging attacks to ensure they are as strong as possible. A career as a penetration tester can be very exciting – how often does one get to act like a bad guy at work and get paid for it? Check out what it has to offer and what it takes to get started:

Average Salary for Penetration Testers

$102,000

Total Number of Job Openings for Penetration Testersin the United States

9,826

Degree Requirements for Penetration Testers

• 6 percent do not require a bachelor’s degree
• 72 percent require a bachelor’s degree
• 22 percent require a graduate degree

Top Certifications Requested for Penetration Testers

• GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT)
• CISM
• GIAC
• CompTIA Security+
• CompTIA CySA+
• CISA

Top Skills Requested for Penetration Testers

• Information security
• Penetration testing
• Linux
• Vulnerability assessment
• Python

Advanced-Level: Cybersecurity Engineer

As you work your way up in cybersecurity, you can aspire to become a cybersecurity engineer. Cybersecurity engineers build and maintain a system that’s safe against cyberattacks. They focus on fixing and protecting these systems and stay up to date on new technology so they can keep their system secure. Cybersecurity engineers will work closely with and manage roles like the cybersecurity specialists and penetration testers we touched on earlier!

Average Salary for Cybersecurity Engineers

$108,000

Total Number of Job Openings for Cybersecurity Engineers  in the United States

40,998

Degree Requirements for Cybersecurity Engineers

• 11 percent do not require a bachelor’s degree
• 67 percent require a bachelor’s degree
• 23 percent require a graduate degree

Top Certifications Requested for Cybersecurity Engineers

• GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT)
• CISM
• GIAC
• CompTIA Security+
• CISA

Top Skills Requested for Cybersecurity Engineers

1. Information security
2. Network security
3. Linux
4. Information systems
5. Python

In Conclusion

If you work in in security intelligence and want to switch to cybersecurity , the pathway of cybersecurity specialist to penetration tester to cybersecurity engineer is just one of many you can take. A career in cybersecurity provides many possibilities, and you have the choice to do what will make you happiest and most fulfilled. Your experience in security intelligence has prepared you for a successful cybersecurity career – be confident in your established skills, develop additional skills where you may be lacking and earn a few applicable certifications, and you’re on your way to a thriving career in cybersecurity.

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