In this guide, you will discover a list of entry level cybersecurity jobs that you could apply for to start your IT security career in 2020.
A Rise in Demand for Cybersecurity Professionals
Information security is an important part of the operational infrastructure of any organization. Information security is the practice of defending data, networks, programs, and devices from malicious attacks.
Considering the growing number of digital threats, it is no wonder the field of cybersecurity is flourishing. It is one of the most in-demand careers today.
As predicted by the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, entry-level cybersecurity jobs are expected to grow by 18% through 2024. This growth makes information security an interesting and lucrative career choice. The average annual salary for cybersecurity entry-level job in the United States is $74,324, according to ZipRecruiter.
Requirements for entry-level jobs and projected pay vary depending on the employer and the region. An individual is expected to hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field to land an entry-level cybersecurity job. Most jobs also require one to three years of work experience.
Below, you will find ten entry-level jobs available for people looking forward to starting a career in cybersecurity.
Junior Penetration Tester
Often known as ethical hackers or pen testers, penetration testers defend the system or network against any vulnerabilities. They do this by trying to detect and exploit any vulnerabilities the threat might use.
Other roles include planning and conducting evaluation tests, reporting on actual or potential weak spots, keeping up to date with current cybersecurity threats, and programming software to help with penetration.
Information and Security Analyst
Information and security analyst is one of the most popular listings available for entry-level cybersecurity jobs. They are in charge of preventing and detecting cyber attacks.
They also monitor the computer network of an organization regularly to ensure that no-one has infiltrated them. Analysts investigate any security incidents that occur and address them.
Security System Administrator
Data security administrators are primarily concerned with securing and protecting a company’s databases from unauthorized access.
They are responsible for network, mobile, and desktop security. They are also responsible for troubleshooting, administrating, and installing an organization’s security solutions.
Network and Computer Systems Administrator
Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of computer networks. They fix malfunctions within computer hardware and software. Their role also involves making sure all equipment and software are up-to-date. That is to ensure the safety of the company’s network.
Junior Security Engineer
A security engineer is responsible for designing security systems. Unlike the security analyst whose duty is identifying issues within a system, it is the job of a security engineer to build a solution to the problem identified by the security analyst.
They are responsible for the design and implementation of the best strategies to prevent unauthorized access to a system’s internal network.
Security Architect
A security architect is responsible for testing, designing, implementing, overseeing and building security systems for an organization.
They anticipate feasible security threats and identify areas of weakness in a network system. Additionally, they ensure that those systems for combating hacker intrusions, DDoS attacks, as well as malware are working properly.
System Administrator
A system administrator is in charge of day-to-day operations and maintenance of an organization’s computer system.
These professionals also maintain networks, operating systems, security tools, business applications, web-servers, etc.
Network Security Analyst
Network security analysts monitor and protect a network from malicious attacks. They monitor networks to detect unusual or hostile activities and take actions to prevent malicious attacks on the system, such as the deployment of firewalls.
In addition, they design and implement safeguards and communicate security issues to management.
Cybercrime Analyst
These are security professionals employed to help counteract the activities of cybercriminals. These criminals include hackers and malicious software developers.
To be effective at their role, cybercrime analysts need an understanding of how malware can infiltrate a system. Similarly, there’s also the need to know methodologies behind digital forensics.
Security software developer
A security software developer is responsible for developing security software, as well as incorporating security into software during design and development. These developers ensure that the company’s network has security components. They do this by developing tools such as malware detectors, spyware, intrusion detection and more.
With the new variants of malware developed every year, employers are looking for staff who can help reduce risk, manage data safely and convey security needs to managers and other employees.
