Cyber Security Expert salary, Job Profile, and Career Aspects
Data breach!!
Account hacked!!
Information stolen
Spoof application… fake id… bank account hacked…
Cybercrime… all of these terms have become so common that they form the part of breaking news now and then.
With the increasing adoption of digital services for most of our tasks, there is an increasing risk of fraud; and anyone can fall victim to cybercriminals. In the year 2020, India required around 1 million cybersecurity experts according to NASSCOM.
Internet-based computing and connectivity are affecting the global economy thus making organizations more prone to cyber-attacks. This is why companies are increasing the number of cybersecurity professionals in their teams.
The most important reasons for the increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals are:
- Demonetization
As the government took steps of demonetization of some currency notes and the people all over India liked the idea of going cashless, even the smallest of bills were generally paid via UPI or any other payment option. This has led to increased cyber theft with common people with little knowledge affecting the most.
- GDPR or General Data Protection Regulation
Companies all over the world are trying to secure their databases from cybercriminals. To get this done, they need to comply with rules specified by GDPR, eventually increasing the demand for cybersecurity experts.
- Effects of Wanncry Ransomware
May 2017 saw companies across the world falling prey to this ransomware. This affected around 200,000 computers in 150 countries in a very short span of three days. Also, it caused damage of hundreds of billions of dollars. This stated a strong need for stronger cybersecurity systems and laws. This resulted in companies getting aware of their IT systems and hiring greatly skilled cybersecurity professionals.
It is believed that India has the largest IT talented professionals but still, there is a huge skill gap and there is a huge shortage of skilled and experienced cybersecurity professionals. Around the world, there are around 2.93 million cybersecurity jobs vacant, according to ISC2(International Information System Security Certification Consortium.
This report also stated the areas in which cybersecurity experts are required the most. They are security awareness, risk assessment, network monitoring, security administration, incident investigation and response, network monitoring, intrusion detection, security engineering, and cloud computing security.
In this article, we will discuss the benefits of having a career in cybersecurity that can be started with perfect cyber security training.
Top Cybersecurity Jobs in India and their Salary
- Network Security Engineer
This is the most important position in every organization. As a network security engineer, you have to make sure that the security systems are implemented properly in such a way that they identify and prevent cyber threats. Your key responsibilities as a Network Security Engineer typically include managing security systems, recognizing weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and enhancing automation. You are also supposed to look after the maintenance of routers, firewalls, switches, different network monitoring tools, and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
The median annual salary of a Network Security Engineer is INR 5.7 lakhs and may range from INR 3 lakhs to INR 13.5 lakhs.
- Certified Ethical Hacker
This certification is meant for professionals who possess two or more years of experience in cybersecurity. The International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) tags this credential as, ‘to beat a hacker, you need to think like one.’
As an ethical hacker, you can use the same tools and techniques to test and identify loopholes in the IT system of a company. After identifying the vulnerabilities, you have to suggest countermeasures and improve security systems.
The best part of being an ethical hacker is that you can work independently as well. You don’t need to work for a company; freelancing is always a good option for an ethical hacker.
Starting from INR 3 lakhs, an ethical hacker can earn as high as INR 40 lakhs annually.
- Cyber Security Manager
As a cybersecurity manager, you are expected to maintain the security protocols all through the organization. You are required to build strategies to improve network and internet security that is related to various projects and manage a team of tech professionals to make sure that the security standards are the best suited to provide data security.
You are also required to review the existing security policies and make sure that they are updated to fight the latest threats. You should keep a regular check on all the switches, servers, routers as well as other connected devices to ensure that there are no loopholes in the security.
The average annual salary of a cyber security manager is around INR 12 lakhs and may go high with experience, qualifications, and certifications.
- Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
The Chief Information Security Officer or CISO is a senior-level executive who is accountable for developing and implementing an information security system that may include policies and procedures that are specifically designed to protect an organization’s communications, assets, and systems from both internal and external cyber threats.
So, as a CISO, you have to make sure that the cyber security plan is aligned with the vision, technologies, and operations of the organization. You are also required to work with the tech staff in order to recognize, develop, implement, and manage processes that ensure no security breaches. You should respond to incidents and set appropriate standards and controls to mitigate risks without disturbing the workflow of the business.
A report by PWC states that around 80% of organizations across the world hire a CISO in their management team.
The average annual salary of a CISO may range between INR 2 crore to INR 4 crore.
Conclusion
The top five roles in the field of cybersecurity are discussed in this article. You can choose to enter into any of these roles according to your work experience, knowledge, and certification.
As there is an increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals, you can choose to make your career in this domain. Just take up an online training course from an accredited institute, get yourself trained, earn an appropriate certification, and then Eureka!!
Enroll Yourself Now!!
