How to save databases, copyrights, gigabytes of information? Knowledgeable in information security. A connoisseur of protection systems, monitoring and network stacks will come in handy.
Even the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, accurately noted that information is the oxygen of the modern world. And without oxygen, a person, as you know, is nowhere. Accordingly, it is important to be able to protect and protect information, which is what an information security specialist does.
Taking into account the development of information technology, a huge number of various databases, we can say for sure: a representative of this profession will definitely not be left without work. But not everyone can become a specialist in this field. A first-class professional must always be one step ahead. Differ in stress resistance and the ability to analyze large amounts of data. Such a superhero of small companies and international corporations.
Who is an information security specialist?
The range of responsibilities of an information security specialist is wide. It must be able to protect any kind of information on any medium. So, to participate in the development of data protection systems, constant monitoring of the system. Also participate in the design and description of information systems. Be able to work with any databases, calculate possible risks of information leakage, and audit the system.
His responsibilities include setting up the operation of various information security tools. He must be ready at any moment to come to the aid of the employees of the organization in which he works in order to avoid data leakage.
Specializations
In any company, there is a staff of employees associated with information technology. An information security specialist is part of their team. But, depending on the type of activity of a particular company, its specialization and the tasks it faces, it can perform different functions. This is where professional specialization comes into play.
A security engineer is a kind of provider to the world of security for the entire company. He develops security trainings and recommendations for internal groups of employees, evaluates security tools, assists in the selection of personnel, and is engaged in administrative work in the field of information security.
A cybersecurity specialist is a guru of computers, networks, and software. He is responsible for ensuring that the organization’s software protection tools work efficiently and reliably.
The Cloud Security Engineer is well versed in digital cloud platforms, specializing in protecting the databases stored on them.
An information security auditor is a pro in checking various systems that can be attacked.
Benefits of being an Information Security Specialist
There are many benefits to working as an Information Security Specialist.
Demand
There is a great demand for these specialists – the profession is in the top of the most demanded.
Decent salary
Even in the regions and without work experience, representatives of this profession receive a salary much higher than the average.
Opportunity for career growth
An analytical mindset and the ability to quickly solve any problem contributes to career advancement.
Opportunity to constantly improve your skills
Employers are interested in such an employee being familiar with all advanced technologies and improving his knowledge.
Disadvantages of being an Information Security Specialist
There are no downsides to this job either.
Frequent stressful situations
If an emergency occurs, such a specialist should be ready for criticism and attacks, for a lightning-fast search for solutions.
High degree of responsibility
If there is a leak of information that threatens the company with losses, then the full responsibility for this lies with the information security specialist.
Probability of irregular working hours
Especially when designing information systems, the occurrence of an emergency related to immediate responsibilities.
Education
An information security specialist belongs to the category of IT specialists. And here with training everything develops differently. Sometimes, to start in a profession, it is enough to complete courses, be interested in the field, and engage in self-study.
However, an information security specialist who applies for a good position is required to possess various skills. So, to study at a university or at least a college.
An information security specialist must be able to work with different software.
Educational establishments
Among the universities that train specialists in information security, the following can be distinguished.
Best Information Security College and University Rankings
| School | State | Formats Available | US News Ranking |
| Arizona State University | AZ | In-person, online, hybrid | 117 |
| Carnegie Mellon | PA | In-person, online, hybrid | 25 |
| Columbia University in the City | NY | In-person, online, hybrid | 2 |
| George Mason University | VA | In-person | 148 |
| Johns Hopkins University | MD | In-person, online, hybrid | 9 |
| Northwestern University | IL | In-person, online, hybrid | 9 |
| Purdue University Global | IN | In-person | 49 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | NY | Online | 117 |
| UC Berkeley School of Information | CA | In-person, online, hybrid | 22 |
| University of Southern California | CA | In-person | 27 |
Courses
As mentioned above, sometimes it is enough to complete just one course to start working as an information security specialist. Therefore, their choice should be approached especially carefully.
1. The Complete Cybersecurity Course
2. Cybersecurity Specialization Coursera
3. The Complete Cyber Security Course: Network Security!
Demand
Every year, an information security specialist is becoming more and more in demand. Due to the pandemic, global companies announced their intention to increase the number of such employees. And this is understandable. State structures are developing interdepartmental electronic interaction – one cannot do without such a professional. Banking organizations are actively introducing Internet banking – a similar situation. Insurers check customer stories through databases – the same thing. Whatever area you take, such a specialist is needed. After all, it is he who protects the infocommunication structure of the enterprise.
True, in a small company and in a state corporation, he will solve different problems, be responsible for different responsibilities. This must be taken into account in training and employment.
Employment and career
Any database of vacancies is replete with advertisements for the search for information security specialists – there are several thousand of them in the country only on one of the resources. As usual, more demand in large cities. In the regions, such specialists are often required in budgetary organizations for the so-called paper work.
It is quite possible to make a career in the field of information security. It all depends on the quality and quantity of completed projects, the ability to present your skills and knowledge.
Due to the fact that many companies have moved to work remotely and have opened remote access to databases for their employees, the information security specialist is becoming a more significant employee within a particular organization.
Prospects for the future
An information security specialist is a profession that has been one of the most sought-after IT specialties in recent years. The situation will not change in the near future. Against. With the development of information technology, an emphasis on remote work, and the transfer of data into electronic form, more and more such specialists are required. The main thing is to be able to see the details, quickly analyze the situation and be with the software on “you”. For such a professional, the brightest prospects are drawn.
What are the requirements for an information security specialist?
As technology advances, the list of requirements grows. There are a number of key skills that an information security specialist must certainly possess. First of all, to know the principles of building and functioning of networks, models of open systems interaction (ISO / OSI), to understand the principles of computer and network security, web applications. Of course, it is desirable to speak English, understand the regulatory framework in terms of information security, have experience in automation and know the principles of operation of security tools, as well as Windows and Linux systems at the administrator level.
What are the responsibilities of an Information Security Specialist?
The responsibilities of an information security specialist are very broad. He must constantly keep abreast of the information security system in the organization, predict and prevent possible information leakage incidents. At the same time, help employees protect information by studying and controlling abnormal activity of internal users. In other words, he must be able to work both with technology and with people, constantly maneuvering between different requests.
How to become an information security specialist?
An information security specialist is, as a rule, a graduate of a specialized university in the direction of “Information Security”. In addition, there are now many online courses on different platforms. But graduating from a university or a course does not guarantee that you will become a “superspecialist”. This will help a broad outlook, experience and constant improvement of their knowledge.
Information security is a dynamically changing industry. This means that you need to undergo advanced training, as well as engage in self-education on a regular basis. Even in a year, the regulatory framework changes significantly, new means of protecting information are constantly appearing. And a competent specialist should be aware of the latest trends.