Cybersecurity Career: Thousands of people graduate from colleges and universities each year with cybersecurity or computer science degrees only to find employers are less than excited about their hands-on, foundational abilities. While a career in cybersecurity can be stressful, it’s also extremely gratifying. The responsibilities of a cybersecurity career and professional may vary, but the function can be ordered into one process: protect a company’s data from being compromised by an attack.

Whether you’re trying to jump-start your profession in the cybersecurity industry, looking to straighten up your skills or move into a new role, browse through the graphic below to find out which functions your concerns align best with. Then, consider the path that will help you get there.

So what should you focus on, and what’s the best way to get started? First, understand that while there are a near-infinite number of ways to obtain knowledge and essentially no limit to the depths you can investigate, getting your hands dirty is the fastest way to learning.

Earn your Degree in Network Security

Although there are any cybersecurity positions that you may obtain with an associate’s degree, most employers of security analysts desire a bachelor’s degree in computer science and information technology, computer or software engineering, information assurance, or a related area.

Upon earning their bachelor’s degree, graduates qualify for entry-level positions as computer forensic analysts, cybersecurity analysts, or information security analysts.

Gain Certifications with CyberSecurity Career

It is also important to keep your knowledge up-to-date. Many certifications require recertification after so many years in the field of cybersecurity. For instance, CISSP and Security+ require recertification.

Some of the Certifications available for Cybersecurity Professionals are:

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)

GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN)

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

CompTIA Security+

Cyber Security Code (CSC)

And while you’re absorbing this information, learn to use some tools that can help put your newfound knowledge into practical application. Try to understand what applications on the computer are doing by looking at data they send, receive and others.

Develop Additional Programming Skills

It is also likely that depending on which specialization of security you end up pursuing, at some point, you will notice your ability to increase that knowledge is somewhat limited without learning how to code.

While being able to program in languages like Go, Java Course, Perl course, Python programming, C, C++ Programming or Ruby course may or may not be at the top of the list of skills demanded by employers, having one or more languages in your skillset is not only going to make you a more attractive hire, it will also make it easier to grow your knowledge and venture into deeper levels of mastery.

Find the right cybersecurity position & career

Once you have all of the above, including a bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field, some experience acquired through an internship program (along with hands-on training), and certifications of your choosing, you can begin applying for jobs as a security analyst. Some of the Cyber Security Career options are,

IT Security Specialist

Information Security Analyst

Network Security Engineer

Security Engineer

Application Security Engineer

The five designations in the cybersecurity career path model are big buckets with many discrete job titles and skills to learn about. Here’s how the career path breaks down, with information on people’s experience at each phase, the period generally associated with mastering each career phase and the salary ranges for the job titles associated with each level.

Computer science and business students may want to pursue cybersecurity because they’ve heard job openings and opportunities for career advancement are abundant. That’s true, but career success hinges on having a sincere interest in the topic and a willingness to discover and study the aspect of cybersecurity that most captures your interest.