IT pros have many opportunities to start and advance their careers within cybersecurity. CyberSeek wants to help close the cybersecurity skills gap, so it provides detailed, actionable data about supply and demand in the cybersecurity job market to help prospective job searchers.
One feature of CyberSeek is an interactive career pathway that shows jobs within cybersecurity, common transition opportunities between them and detailed information about the salaries, credentials and skillsets associated with each role. Do you have experience in financial and risk analysis? We’re here to show you how you can easily transition into a cybersecurity career.
Pathway to Cybersecurity Success
You can see from the image below that there are a variety of entry-, mid- and advanced-level cybersecurity roles that are easily transitioned from other feeder roles. The fun thing about a career in cybersecurity is that the path you choose is truly an adventure that you have control over! We will be going into detail on one role from each level, and this is just one of the many paths you can venture on. Pay attention to the bolded certifications and skills, as they recur in all three job roles and are important skills and certifications for you to have. Check out CyberSeek’s Career Pathway and explore other paths!
Entry-Level Cybersecurity Job: IT Auditor
An entry-level cybersecurity roles that is a good transition from a financial and risk analysis background is and IT auditor.
What Is an IT Auditor?
An IT auditor is responsible for the internal controls and risks within a company’s technology system. They monitor the security systems to ensure policies are being followed, identifying points of weakness, and then prepare a report and recommendations for next steps.
Average salary of IT auditors
$86,000
Total number of IT auditor job openings in the United States
6,915
Degree Requirements to become an IT auditor
- 2 percent do not require a bachelor’s degree
- 76 percent require a bachelor’s degree
- 22 percent require a graduate degree
Top certifications requested in IT auditor job postings
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
- Certified Internal Auditor
- Information Systems Certification
Top skills requested in IT auditor job postings
- Internal auditing
- Information systems
- Audit planning
- Risk assessment
- Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX)
- Accounting
- Information security
- COBIT
- Audit reports
Mid-Level Cybersecurity Job: Cybersecurity Consultant
The next step on your new journey into cybersecurity might be a mid-level role like cybersecurity consultant.
What Is a Cybersecurity Consultant?
Cybersecurity consultants are involved in many different departments in a company. They help determine the best way to protect the networks and systems against any potential risks or attacks, they collaborate with other staff members to determine specific security issues that are top of mind, and they perform tests and assessments on current systems.
Average salary for cybersecurity consultants
$100,000
Total number of cybersecurity consultants job openings in the United States
13,439
Degree requirements to become a cybersecurity consultant
- 8 percent do not require a bachelor’s degree
- 72 percent require a bachelor’s degree
- 19 percent require a graduate degree
Top certifications requested in cybersecurity consultants job postings
- CISSP
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- CISM
- GIAC
- CompTIA Security+
Top skills requested in cybersecurity consultant job postings
- Information security
- Project management
- Linux
- Information systems
- Network security
- Risk management
- Cryptography
- Python
Advanced-Level Cybersecurity Job: Cybersecurity Architect
One of the next career options in our path from financial and risk analysis to a career in cybersecurity is the role of cybersecurity architect.
What Is a Cybersecurity Architect?
The role of a cybersecurity architect is an exciting one! This job can include providing guidance and leadership on cybersecurity policy, collaborating with business leaders, developers, engineers and more to identify the organization’s business needs, implement cybersecurity plans and stay up to date on cybersecurity threats, tools and best practices. A cybersecurity architect must have a developed understanding of the company’s technology and information systems to provide the suitable level of security.
Average salary for cybersecurity architects
$129,000
Total cybersecurity architect job openings in the United States
5,640
Degree requirements to become a cybersecurity architect
- 4 percent do not require a bachelor’s degree
- 69 percent require a bachelor’s degree
- 27 percent require a graduate degree
Top certifications requested in cybersecurity architects job postings
- CISM
- GIAC
- CISA
- Information Systems Certification
- ITIL
Top skills requested in cybersecurity architects job postings
- Information security
- Network security
- Cryptography
- Information systems
- Authentication
- Linux
- Cisco
- Project management
- Vulnerability assessment
Choose Your Own Cybersecurity Career Path
This particular path from financial and risk analysis to IT auditor to cybersecurity consultant to cybersecurity architect is just one example of a route you can take in the CyberSeek career pathway. The opportunities and directions that you may choose are entirely up to you, and they show exactly how a career in cybersecurity can be so rewarding. Your experience in financial and risk analysis has prepared you for a successful cybersecurity career – so utilize your established skills, develop some of the listed skills for these particular roles, and enjoy an exciting career in cybersecurity!
Check out the CompTIA Cybersecurity Career Pathway to see how CompTIA certifications can help you get into cybersecurity and advance your cybersecurity career.
