Last updated at Fri, 22 Dec 2017 14:11:50 GMT
The demand for security professionals today is higher than it’s ever been before. It’s a hot field to be in, considering how fast technology is advancing, companies are digitizing, and threats are proliferating. 2017 paved the way for massive growth in the security field, so let’s take a look at where the hotspots are and why now is the time to get into security, if you’re not already.
Why Security? Why Now?
Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that global cybersecurity spending will exceed $1 trillion from 2017 to 2021. Accordingly, there will be 6 million more security jobs coming on the market — but 1.5 million of them will go unfilled due to a major talent gap.
If you’re a security professional today, this is good news for you. Being in high demand means you have excellent job security, strong compensation, and plenty of options if and when you’re ready for a change. If you haven’t decided on a career path yet, or are considering getting into the security field, these statistics alone may be just what you need to consider security as an avenue.
With that said, finding a niche that suits your unique personality, skills, and interests can be challenging. To help you navigate the crowded scene, we’ve broken down the top roles and responsibilities on the market today to help you find the best fit.
2017’s Top Security Roles and Responsibilities
Companies of all shapes and sizes today need security talent — but it can be confusing to sort through what each role entails and, most importantly, if it’s right for you. In our eBook, Defining the Career Path of a Security Professional, we provide a detailed security careers matrix. For the sake of this post, we’ve simplified it, but grab a copy of the full eBook to see it in its full glory.
| Position | Responsibilities | Required Skills |
| Administrator | Configuring and maintaining the company’s IT infrastructure |
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| Security Analyst | Strategizing and executing security protocols, monitoring company networks, responding to threats. |
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| Incident Responder | Monitoring for intrusions and vulnerabilities, cleaning up after and attack and mitigating future attacks |
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| Security Engineer | Designing and building secure IT systems |
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| Security Researcher | Researching, tracking, and responding to incidents |
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| Penetration Tester | Testing computer systems, networks and applications for vulnerabilities |
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| Security Auditor | Perform a security audit of systems and recommend changes to improve the integrity of systems |
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| Cryptographer | Develop encryption models for information and system security, decode encrypted messages, detect weaknesses in security systems |
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| Leadership: CISO, CSO, CPO, Manager | Build the security strategy, communicate security priorities to the organization, oversee the security program’s effectiveness |
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As you can probably tell, security requirements have gone digital. Today’s top roles are responsible for detecting both known and unknown threats, and are measured on how fast and effectively they can respond. This is one overarching reason why security automation and orchestration have become key to both small and large enterprises alike — it allows security teams detect and respond to threats faster by enabling their tools to do most of the work for them.
Needless to say, 2018 will be equally, if not more, interesting in the world of security. If you think you’re cut out for it, this can be a fantastic industry to start or continue your career in.
To visualize what a day-in-the-life of a security professional really looks like, and learn what it takes to move your way up in the ranks, don’t forget to grab a copy of our latest eBook, Defining the Career Path of a Security Professional.
