The Job Description of Cyber Security

Cyber security professionals are in great demand.

With the threat of cyber crime flourishing in the dark side of the Internet, cyber security is now extremely important, and cyber security professionals are in great demand. Criminal elements threaten cyber security, committing theft and fraud, and profiting from pornography, sex and drug trafficking. This has given rise to a whole gamut of technology and security personnel in businesses and governments for maintaining cyber security, protecting electronic commerce and our nations.

Popular Cyber Security Jobs

In industry, the most common cyber security jobs are those of cyber security analysts, security specialists, cyber security manager, security system engineers, and research scientists. A cyber security job with the government could be that of an information technology officer, computer specialist, security officer or a cyber forensic specialist. While a cyber security professional working for electronic commerce is primarily interested in protecting a company’s computer systems and networks against hackers, spyware, and viruses, a government cyber security professional is more concerned with the country’s security and the prevention of attacks from terrorists.

Job Description

Among other things a cyber security professional is expected to do include plan and create a company’s security policy, manage security products such as firewalls around the clock, perform ethical hacking into the establishment’s network in order to discover and fix any security loopholes, compile and maintain reports on the company’s security system and determine whether it is on par with the required security standards and investigate any frauds and other computer crimes.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for a cyber security job, you must be a graduate, preferably as a software engineer; have experience with computers and be knowledgeable about networking; successfully complete a course in cyber security; and have previous experience that leads to higher level jobs.

Courses in Cyber Security

There are plenty of cyber security courses and it is recommended that a person hoping for a job in cyber security first does the Security+ course and then completes a certified program such as SCP (Security Certified Program), CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professionals) or CISA (Certified Information System Auditor).

Appeal of the Profession

In many cases a cyber security professional can work from home. It is challenging. Of course, it also a well paid job. Which is why it ranked 8 in Money/PayScale.com’s list of Best Jobs in America for 2009.

Drawbacks

Because it is so challenging, it can also be very stressful. Even the slightest slip in security can spell doom for the business and job loss for cyber security professional.

References

• Money.CNN: Computer /Network Security Consultant

Resources

• Sme Jobs: Career in Cyber Security