I have always been getting so many questions about a career in Information Security. So today I will be answering some basic questions about starting a career in Information Security.
Q: What is Information Security?
Information security often referred to as InfoSec, refers to the processes and tools designed and deployed to protect sensitive business information from modification, disruption, destruction, and inspection.
Q: Is Information security jobs in Demand?
- As of February 2022, there are nearly 600,000 job openings in the cybersecurity industry, meaning only 68 percent of open jobs are filled
- 70 percent of cybersecurity professionals claim their organization is impacted by the cybersecurity skills shortage
- 40 percent of IT leaders say cybersecurity jobs are the most difficult to fill
Interesting isn’t it? Yes even after so many years of tech evolution, Cybersecurity is the only field that is still in demand. These statistics are just a few among them.
Everybody thinks getting into Information Security is hard and needs lots of technical knowledge and prior experience, well not anymore. The companies hiring for the security fields just want the candidate to be passionate and prove that they have the dedication to up-skill as time passes.
Q: What are the skills required in the Field?
Technical Skills:
- Networking
- Basic Computer software and Hardware knowledge
- Operating Systems
- Cryptography
- Programming Language
Don’t be overwhelmed by all these skills, you don’t have to be a master in all of these, it’s enough that you know the basics and the logic behind these.
Non-Technical Skills:
- Communication(Written and Spoken)
- Analytics
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
Q: What are the domains in Info-sec?
Main domains in Information Security :
- Access Control.
- Telecommunications and Network Security.
- Information Security Governance and Risk Management.
- Software Development Security.
- Cryptography.
- Security Architecture and Design.
- Operations Security.
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning
Each of these domains has a plethora of jobs available and most of them do not need prior experience in Security. You just need basic IT knowledge.
Q: Is a degree in Cybersecurity required for starting a career?
Not really, all entry-level jobs do not demand degrees but skills. Basic IT skills can get you a job. Now even most companies like Google, Apple, and Netflix do not even need any degree from the candidates. Cybersecurity Certifications can substitute degree.
Q: What other qualifications can I pursue?
If you want to upskill and get a better-paying job the one thing you need to focus on is International Certificates. These certificates are internationally approved by the employers which help you showcase your skills.
Major Certification Bodies:
- EC Council
- CompTIA
- ISACA
- Cisco
All of these bodies have certifications at different levels of career and can help you land a job sooner. Some of the basic certifications you can start with is C-EH, Network+, Security+, etc.
Q: Is the InfoSec field well paid?
Yes of course. With the increasing demands for jobs, the Salary payout is also huge.
According to Glassdoor, The national average salary for an Information Security Analyst is ₹6,11,547 in India.
Check out these statistics by payscale.com for more details.
Q: Are there non-technical jobs in Cybersecurity that are in demand?
Yes, of course, Security is not just technical, a lot of work happens other than that, which makes it easier to enter the Infosec industry without tech knowledge.
Some of the non-technical job roles are:
- Risk Management
- Security Governance
- Compliance Analyst/officer
- Content writer
- Policy Writer/Auditor
- Incident Response
- Security Awareness
It’s not difficult to enter the industry. The key is to up-skill and learn continuously to survive in the Industry
Adios!!!