Cyber Security Technology Specialist
Careers Explorer:
Manage and deal with cyber threats, hazards and risks to protect an organisation’s IT systems and staff from harm.
Overview
Cyber security is one of the fastest growing careers in the tech sector, as organisations strive to protect themselves from the rising threat of cyber-attacks.
As a Cyber Security Technology Specialist, you’ll need to research, analyse, model, assess and manage cyber security risks.
You’ll need to be technically-minded, as you’ll be helping to protect an organisation by employing a range of technologies and processes to prevent, detect and manage cyber threats. This can include protection of computers, data, networks and programmes.
You’ll have to keep up-to-date with the latest security and technological developments, as you’ll be constantly monitoring for potential and emerging threats. You’ll also need to keep a cool head in a crisis as it’s your job to plan for disaster recovery in the event of a security breach.
Top 5 Tasks
- Research and evaluate emerging cyber security threats and ways to manage them
- Monitor for attacks, intrusions and unusual, unauthorised or illegal activity
- Keep up to date with technological advances
- Design new or upgrade systems
- Engage in ‘ethical hacking’.
Salary
Starting salaries for Cyber Security Technology Specialists are between £25,000 and £35,000, while someone with several years of experience, can expect to earn up to £50,000.
In higher level leadership or managerial roles, you can earn in excess of £70,000.
Am I Suited?
- Technical expert
- Analytical thinker
- Team player
- Excellent communicator
- Maths and IT geek
Around 65,000 attempts to hack small to medium-sized businesses occur in the UK everyday, around 4,500 of which are successful.
Qualifications
It’s possible to enter the cyber security profession without a degree by starting in an entry-level IT position, and working your way up to a cyber security role.
However, most employers would favour a degree in a related field such as computer science, software engineering or other IT-related degrees.
