5 Cyber Security Career Paths to Choose

Any time someone considers a new career path, it can seem daunting and sometimes overwhelming experience. When attempting to stride along the path of cyber security, those waters can be even more complicated to wade, as there are not only extreme challenges you must overcome. Still, the raw skill sets can be so diverse it can be hard to fathom you are working in the same field. 

This article will discuss the five different cyber security paths you can take. It is crucial to decide which one you want to delve deep into before entering something you might not want as time goes on. So, what are the career paths? They are (in no particular order):

• Engineering and artichecture 
• Consulting
• Testing and hacking
• Management and administration
• Incident response

Rest assured, however, below we will not only be going over a brief overhead of five of the most widespread cyber security jobs but also why they could be perfect for you and prove to be rewarding not just financially but also from an accomplishment perspective. We encourage you to continue reading for more information. 

What Is Cyber Security?

Cyber security, by definition, is the practice of actively protecting and defending servers, computers, electronic systems, mobile devices, and even networks from devastating attacks. It also helps defend these areas from "prods," where a potential hacker attempts to check what vulnerabilities your systems have to exploit them in the future better.

Cybersecurity is a growing industry with a value deeply rooted in our future. With technology becoming increasingly integrated into our lives, it's easy to see why incredibly advanced security architecture could prove invaluable, especially when things like social networking, businesses, and family history are now being stored digitally.

What Is the Career Path of Cybersecurity?

Defining which career path will suit you best in cybersecurity boils down to your affinity for the fields you are interested in and your overall experience and motivation for going into these branches. 

This is because you will likely find more success going into a subcategory you are personally interested in, as opposed to what pays the most. As the old adage says, if you do what you love for a living, you will never work a day in your life.

To keep things simple, the branches below will only be glanced over at a base level with the idea that you already have some minimal understanding of the job details.

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1. Engineering & Architecture

In cybersecurity, engineering and architecture could be the foundation of the career itself. These two fundamental aspects govern the systems, tools, and processes that protect the electronics.

As an engineering or architecture tech, you would be expected to create, design and maintain security systems with the business or companies you employ, keeping their computer systems and data safe from intrusion.

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2. Consulting

Filling the role of a consulting professional, you will be responsible for diving waist-deep into data and security systems, working to identify current problems and hard-to-find areas that can become prone to exploitation in the future. 

You will also evaluate how much of a company's data is at risk should an attack occur and what steps you can take to recover from said attacks.

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3. Testing & Hacking

Assuming you've always wanted to be the hacker wiz-kid from the early 2000's movies "I'm in!" this might be the field for you. While real hacking and security testing aren't nearly as interactive, it is an exceptionally mentally engaging task that can be just the challenge some people need. 

This is especially true when their talents are being put to good use instead of something more nefarious. Companies employ those in this field to attempt to break in, steal, alter, or show precisely where vulnerabilities are in a company's defenses.

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4. Management & Administration

Being blessed with the gift of gab could net you this position relatively quickly if you've got the skills to understand what is expected of you and also explain these concepts to those who aren't educated in cybersecurity and watch over entire security teams as they work to guarantee security compliance throughout the company.

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5. Incident Response

When everything goes wrong, you would be the hero everyone turns to to get things functioning safely again. As an incident response team member, your primary role is to mitigate the loss to the best of your ability, and you will work to future-proof the original vulnerability and identify who was responsible for the attack itself.

Is Cybersecurity a Good Career Path?

Cybersecurity is an excellent career path, especially with a stable job market. As noted above, technology will only be getting more and more advanced, meaning the need for those with cybersecurity knowledge will become more valuable if companies want to keep their business profitable and secure.

Can You Make 250k in Cyber Security?

Yes, although obtaining that position will take dedication and passion. You would need to be a "chief information security officer" to make these figures. Still, the salary is approximately $258,419 if you decide to go that route.

What Is the Best Path for Cybersecurity?

As cliche as it sounds, the best path in cybersecurity is the one you are most interested in. When you stare at a computer all day, especially volumes of data, algorithms and other minute details, your passion for it will make all the difference in your success. 

If you are not interested in doing a specific type of work, you risk burning out, which would be mentally and financially painful.

Is Cybersecurity Hard to Get a Job?

Cybersecurity is a challenging field to get into purely due to the time and complication involved in learning your field. However, some courses can get you job-ready within as little as six months, with little to no experience in the field itself.

It is worth mentioning that these would be entry-level positions with pay rates that would reflect that statement. Nevertheless, it would be getting your foot in the door and actively paving the way towards higher levels of success.

Final Words

Cybersecurity can be one of the world's most rewarding and sought-after professions, especially with how the world is moving. Being able to not only your assets and interests but also other people would make you a valuable asset in almost any setting, making your talents versatile in your native country and worldwide, depending on your ambition.

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