How to become a cyber security expert? | Jobs in cyber security

 A cyber security expert is known as an IT security specialist or electronic security specialist. The demand for cyber security experts is increasing over time, so Good luck with your future!

Different types of hackers are ready to perform different types of illegal activities. The role of a cyber security expert or a cyber intelligence officer is to protect the data of the user from unauthorized access.

Security expert

1. Become familiar with computer systems and networks

Computer systems consist of hardware (hardware) and software (software). Hardware includes processors, motherboards, memory modules, and hard drives while software includes applications such as browsers, operating systems (OS), anti-virus programs, etc. To understand how computers work, one must understand basic programming languages such as C++, Java, Python, PHP, HTML, JavaScript, Visual Basic, etc. 

Computer networking involves understanding TCP/IP protocols, OSI layers, IP addressing schemes, Domain Name System (DNS), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/Internet Protocol (IP), Internetworking, Network address translation, routing protocols, packet filtering, firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention, IDS, IPS, VPNs, wireless access points, Wi-Fi, WLAN, cellular communications, LANs, Bluetooth technology, etc. Understanding these technologies enables one to effectively protect their network from hackers, viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, adware, malware, botnets, spam, phishing emails, and identity theft. When learning about these technologies, one should do research online as well as attend workshops and conferences.

2. Learn at least two different programming languages

Programming languages help users write instructions for computers. There are many types of programming languages including assembly language, BASIC, C, COBOL, FORTRAN, JAVA, Pascal, PL/1, Prolog, RPG II, SQL, UNIX shell scripts, C, VB.NET, Basic, XLL, etc. One must learn at least 2 different programming languages to become skilled at coding.

3. Understand the fundamental principles of information security

Information security is the protection of data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, inspection, recording, copying, destruction, or disposal. Information security consists of three core elements - confidentiality, integrity, and availability. These concepts are also known as the CIA triad. 

Confidentiality means keeping information secret from others. Integrity means ensuring a file's correctness or completeness. 

Availability means making sure that information is accessible when someone wants to access it. To maintain confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility, one must have proper authorization and access control policies in place. Authorization defines who should access what and where they should access it from. Access controls define who can view what files. A combination of both authorization and access controls is best practice.

4. Understand the fundamentals of cryptography

Cryptography is the study and application of techniques for secure communication. Cryptographic techniques take advantage of mathematical problems inherent to encryption. In general, cryptographic algorithms involve some type of encryption (encoding messages into ciphertext) and decryption (decoding ciphertext back into plain text). Cryptography can be broken down into symmetric and asymmetric cryptography. Symmetric cryptography uses keys to encrypt and decrypt data. Asymmetric cryptography uses public-private key pairs to provide authentication and digital signatures. Public key infrastructure (PKI) uses public-private key pair systems for authenticating parties. PKI provides a framework in which certificates verify identities and encrypt communications between peers.

5. Understand the basics of the internet

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) administers the Internet's domain name system. ICANN manages top-level domains (TLDs) and second-level domains (SLDs). TLDs are the parts of the DNS namespace after the root zone. SLDs are the parts of the TLDs after the top-level domain (TLD). There are over 230 TLDs and thousands of SLDs. The IANA runs the registry database for the root zone. The root server holds the master list of delegations, which are records that specify how to find a particular resource on the global domain name system.

6. Understand mobile computing

Mobile devices play a large role in our daily lives. Mobile devices refer to personal electronic devices that can fit in a pocket. Devices were once just phones, but today include tablets, eBooks, music players, GPS navigation units, and game consoles. Mobile devices may connect wirelessly via radio waves, cellular networks, Bluetooth, near-field communication (NFC), infrared, or wired connections. Wireless technologies enable mobile devices to communicate without wires. Cellular networks allow people to make phone calls wirelessly using radio signals sent by towers or base stations connected to landlines that carry voice traffic. The most popular cellular services are CDMA, GSM, LTE, and Verizon FiOS. Most carriers offer plans ranging from $30 per month for talk only to $200+ per month for unlimited data.

7. Be aware of cybersecurity risks

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting a computer or computer network from damage caused by malicious attacks. Cyber attackers attempt to break into your computer systems so they can steal sensitive information, destroy equipment, erase valuable data, disrupt operations, or cause economic harm.

Cyber threats originate in many places, including viruses, worms, Trojan horses, denial of service attacks, social engineering, phishing, spam email, spyware, industrial espionage, hacking, insider abuse, man-in-the-middle and session hijacking attacks, identity theft, denial of service attacks against websites, extortion, fraud, criminal activity, and sabotage.

Jobs in cyber security

1. Cyber Security Analyst

A cyber-security analyst researches computer attacks and vulnerabilities and develops countermeasures and mitigations for those threats. An ideal candidate should have extensive knowledge of network protocols, operating systems, and programming languages. He/she should also know how to identify vulnerabilities in software, databases, and hardware. A cyber-security analyst is responsible for writing reports about potential risks and developing strategies to prevent them, and then implementing these solutions. Candidates may work directly with clients or report findings to management teams.

 Where do cybersecurity analysts work?

Cybersecurity analysts work at various places including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, non-profits, and small businesses. Major employers include Google, Apple, Facebook, Verizon, and Amazon.

2. Cyber Security Engineer

A cybersecurity engineer works to develop and maintain secure networks and applications. He/she designs and implements security controls for computers and networks, and ensures that sensitive data remains private. Many cybersecurity engineers work at companies that specialize in information technology infrastructures, such as banks, healthcare facilities, government agencies, and transportation businesses. Others work freelance, designing customized cybersecurity programs for specific organizations.

3. Cyber Security Manager

A cyber security manager oversees and directs the activities of other employees to protect a company's computer system. She/he may direct the installation and maintenance of appropriate firewalls, antivirus software, and encryption tools. Managers will often coordinate between departments to ensure that their projects run smoothly.

4. Penetration Tester

A penetration tester uses various methods to test a target's security system. Once he/she has found weaknesses in the system, she/he assesses the severity of each problem and determines if they pose a threat. In some cases, the tester might even attempt to exploit the vulnerability to gain access to confidential information.

5. Threat Intelligence Analyst

Threat intelligence analysts use technical information (such as code) to discover potential security issues. They analyze and correlate information from different sources to determine whether or not a particular piece of code could potentially harm a system. These individuals may also look for patterns among known malicious software and determine what kind of techniques hackers commonly use.

6. Web Application Firewall Engineer

Web application firewall engineers create safeguards to keep websites, mobile apps, and other online services safe and secure. Their job includes monitoring traffic to detect any anomalies or suspicious activity. They also install new security features and monitor existing ones to make sure they're working properly.

7. Network Security Engineer

Network security engineers build out networks, ensuring that computers and devices can communicate freely over the Internet. They design and implement security measures to protect against intruders who would try to break into a network. One way to do this is by installing firewalls, which restrict unauthorized users' access to internal servers. Another option is to configure routers and switches so that only authorized users can send and receive data.

Salary of a Cyber Security Expert

The average annual salary for a cybersecurity expert is $107,000 according to Payscale.com. Since the demand for cybersecurity experts continues to rise, many companies are offering higher salaries than ever before. 

In fact, some companies offer bonuses of up to 10% based on performance and pay raises of up to 20%.

How much does a cybersecurity analyst make per year?

According to Glassdoor.com, the median salary for a cybersecurity analyst is $88,000 annually, and the top 10% earn over $129,000. However, the range varies greatly depending on location, experience, and education level.