4 Cybersecurity Career Paths (And the Training to Get You There)

Cybersecurity professionals work in every size company and industry to protect organizations from data breaches and attacks. And the demand for cybersecurity professionals is growing at a breakneck speed. Job postings for cybersecurity positions have grown three times faster than openings for IT jobs overall.

Before you jump headfirst into this specialized field, you should know what a typical cybersecurity career path entails. In this blog, we’ll cover four popular security careers and the recommended training you need to be successful:

Security Architect
Security Consultant
Penetration Tester/Ethical Hacker
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

How to Start Your Cybersecurity Career Path

There is no one linear path to a successful career in cybersecurity. Some people enter the security field straight out of college, while others transition from another IT role.

No matter where you start, all cybersecurity careers begin with general IT experience. You need to understand how the technology works before you can learn how to secure and protect it.

Entry-level IT jobs that pave the way for a cybersecurity career include:

Systems administrator
Database administrator
Web administrator
Web developer
Network administrator
IT technician
Security administrator
Network engineer
Computer software engineer

You’ll also need to supplement what you learn on the job with outside training and education. In fact, 35 percent of cybersecurity jobs require an industry certification, compared to 23 percent of IT jobs overall.

Most management-level cybersecurity jobs are highly specialized. The more you can focus your expertise by seeking out specific industries and certifications, the more attractive you’ll appear to companies looking for those particular skill sets.

Security Architect Career Path

If you’re passionate about problem-solving and creating big-picture strategies, the security architect career path is for you.

A security architect is tasked with designing, building, and implementing network and computer security for an organization. Security architects are responsible for creating complex security structures and ensuring that they function properly. The design security systems to combat malware, hacker intrusions, and DDoS attacks.

In the United States, the average salary for this position is $118,681. Security architects are expected to have 5-10 years of relevant experience, with 3-5 of those years dedicated to security.

To become a security architect, you might follow a career path similar to this:

Earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity or a related field. Or, gain equivalent experience with relevant industry certifications.
Enter the IT field as a security administrator, systems administrator or network administrator.
Get promoted to a mid-level role as a security engineer or analyst.
Enter a security architect role.

As a security architect, you’ll be required to:

Plan, research, and design durable security architectures for various IT projects.
Develop requirements for networks, firewalls, routers, and related network devices.
Perform vulnerability testing, security assessments, and risk analysis.
Research and implement the latest security standards, systems, and best practices.

Recommended Training for Security Architects

Because the security architect role is a senior-level position, employers will look for accredited security certifications on your résumé.

Professional cybersecurity training and certifications will help you accelerate your career path and stand out to potential employers. These certifications reinforce the essential skills required for the security architect role, such as network security and architecture, vulnerability testing and risk management.

Beginner:

CompTIA Security+

Intermediate:

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Advanced:

EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA)

Expert:

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Cybersecurity Career Security Consultant

A security consultant is a catch-all cybersecurity expert. They assess cybersecurity risks, problems, and solutions for different organizations and guide them in protecting and securing their physical capital and data. The position might also be referred to as an information security consultant, computer security consultant, database security consultant, or network security consultant.

Security consultants need to be flexible and savvy – they deal with a wide range of variables when assessing security systems across diverse companies and industries.

The salary range for IT security consultants is broad depending on experience, but a senior security consultant earns an average of $106,190 in the U.S. Security consultants are expected to have 3-5 years of professional experience.

To become a security consultant, you might follow a career path similar to this:

Earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity or a related field. Or, gain equivalent experience with relevant industry certifications.
Pursue an entry-level position in general IT or security.
Earn a mid-level role as a security administrator, analyst, engineer or auditor.
Sharpen your cybersecurity skills with advanced training and certifications.
Enter a security consultant role.

As a security consultant, your daily tasks may include:

Determining the best way to protect computers, networks, data and information systems from potential attacks
Performing vulnerability tests and security assessments
Interviewing staff and department heads to uncover security issues
Testing security solutions using industry-standard analysis methods
Providing technical supervision and guidance to a security team

Recommended Training for Security Consultants

Having certifications on your résumé will help you build credibility as you climb the career ladder. These training courses will expose you to the essential skills every security consultant needs, from ethical hacking to encryption technologies and data breach prevention protocols.

Beginner:

CompTIA Security+

Intermediate:

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)

Advanced:

EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA)
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

Expert:

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Penetration Tester/Ethical Hacker – Mid to Senior Level Cybersecurity Career

Penetration testers (also known as ethical hackers) look for weaknesses in IT systems, networks, and applications using the same knowledge and tactics as criminal hackers. Penetration testers use a series of tools to simulate real-life cyber attacks, identify weak spots, and help organizations improve their security posture.

The average salary for a penetration tester is $79,000.

Many penetration testers and ethical hackers follow a career path that looks like this:

Earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity, or a related field. Or, gain equivalent experience with relevant industry certifications.
Pursue an entry-level role as a security administrator, system administrator, or network engineer.
Master specialized ethical hacking skills with training and certifications.
Enter a penetration tester or ethical hacker role.
Get promoted to a senior penetration tester role, security consultant, or security architect.

As a penetration tester, you’ll be expected to:

Perform penetration tests on web applications, networks, and computer systems
Uncover security holes and pinpoint the methods attackers could use to exploit system weaknesses
Research, document and discuss findings with management and IT teams
Design and implement new penetration tools and tests

Recommended Training for Penetration Testers

Cyberattacks are always evolving, so your knowledge should be, too.

These training courses will teach you everything you need to know about modern ethical hacking practices, operating systems, software, communications, and network protocols.

Beginner:

CompTIA Security+

Intermediate:

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Advanced:

CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP)
EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA)

Expert:

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Learn more about what it takes to become an ethical hacker.

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) – Senior level

If you aspire to lead a security team and spearhead IT initiatives for an enterprise, becoming a CISO is a lucrative and rewarding career path.

The role of chief information security officer comes with a lot of power and creative freedom. CISOs build security teams and oversee all initiatives that concern an organization’s security. The CISO reports to the CIO or CEO.

The average salary for a CISO is $156,000. You can expect to spend 7-12 years working in IT and security before you qualify for a role as a CISO. At least five of those years should be spent managing security operations and teams.

To become a CISO, you might follow a career path similar to this:

Earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity or a related field. Or, gain equivalent experience with relevant industry certifications.
Enter the field as a programmer or analyst.
Get promoted to a role as a security analyst, engineer, consultant or auditor.
Gain more advanced IT certifications and training.
Enter a management position overseeing a security team.
Attain an MBA or certifications with an IT security and/or management focus.
Get promoted to a CISO role.

As head of IT security, your daily activities will include:

Hiring and guiding a team of IT security experts
Creating strategic plans for deploying information security technologies and improving existing programs
Supervising the development of corporate security policies and procedures
Collaborating with key stakeholders to establish a security risk management program
Spearheading IT security investigations and providing recommended courses of action in the event of a breach

Recommended Training for CISOs

When striving for positions in this level of management, earning accredited certifications is an absolute must. Taking the initiative to continue your education with relevant certifications validates your expertise and dedication to the field of IT security management.

Intermediate: