Top 6 Best Cyber Security Jobs | Guide | Best Cyber Security Companies to Work for

Our lives, economy, and national security depend on the ability to maintain a safe, reliable, and stable cyberspace. However, this is quite a feat to accomplish: every day, there are over 300 million hacking attempts made.

With our reliance on technology, it becomes increasingly important to keep the web secure. Those with jobs in cyber security are tasked with keeping cyberspace operating smoothly, while also keeping information secure and out of the hands of the wrong parties.

Whether it is through the aspect of cyber security consultant jobs or another full-time job with one of the top cyber security companies, those with cyber security careers are crucial to our everyday lives.

If you are looking to become involved in the cyber security profession, you can become an extremely valuable asset to cyber security companies and even the government. As our dependence on the internet grows, the need for those interested in a cyber security career will only continue to grow.

However, there are many options when you are looking for a cyber security career. From numerous cyber security companies to varying types of jobs in cyber security, it can be difficult to choose your career path.

From cyber security consultant jobs to the best cyber security companies to work for, there are many options. When looking for cyber security jobs, you will probably have questions, such as:

• What are the highest paid cyber security jobs?
• What are the best cyber security companies to work for?
• What types of careers in cybersecurity are there?
• Is the cyber security profession lucrative?

Throughout this guide, we will answer questions about cyber security careers and whether or not the cyber security profession is a good fit for you. We will explain what to look for in careers in cybersecurity and the best cyber security companies. Finally, we will provide a detailed review of the six best cybersecurity jobs.

After reading through this article, you should have a better understanding of the best cyber security companies to work for, the highest paid cyber security jobs and the best cyber security careers for you.

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List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the jobs in cyber security below to go directly to the detailed review section for that career in cyber security site):

• Chief Infosec Officer
• Cryptographer
• Forensics Expert
• Incident Responder
• Penetration Tester
• Security Administrator

A cyber security career is a great aspiration. A career in cyber security is not only lucrative, but there is strong job growth and promotional opportunities.

However, cybersecurity jobs are not easy. You will be tasked with protecting networks, applications, and documents from cyber-hackers. There are many factors making cybersecurity jobs difficult, such as the ability for hackers to operate from anywhere in the world, the complexity of networks, and the link between physical systems and cyberspace.

Careers in cybersecurity are difficult, which is why cyber security companies are looking for the best candidates to offer cybersecurity jobs.

Cybersecurity Jobs

When looking for cybersecurity jobs, there are several things to consider. Be sure to keep the following in mind throughout your search:

• Cyber Security Companies: Not all cyber security companies are the best cyber security companies to work for. Be sure to do some research about a company before you sign on with them.

• Consultant vs. Full-Time: This comes down to whether you would like to work in a company in their cybersecurity department, or whether you want to work for a cyber security company that offers cyber security consultant jobs. This is a personal preference between staying in one company or bouncing around to numerous companies doing cybersecurity jobs on an adhoc basis.

• Salary & Upward Mobility: The amount of money being offered is obviously something you will want to keep in mind, as well as your upward mobility prospects. Some cyber security companies might offer more to start, but others might give you better career path options that will benefit you in the end.

• Requirements: Different cybersecurity jobs have different education and experience requirements. It is important to keep your cyber security career path in mind if you are looking at degree programs.

While there are other obvious factors to take into consideration, such as location, culture and company reputation, the variables listed above should be considered when looking at cyber security companies and cybersecurity jobs.

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Below, please find the detailed review of each career in cyber security on our list of careers in cybersecurity. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these cyber security jobs to score so highly in our selection ranking.

To start, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field. After obtaining a technical master’s degree, some professional certifications, and spending at least 10 years working in security or IT positions, you might find yourself under consideration for a CISO job with cyber security companies.

As a CISO, you will be tasked with guiding your team of IT experts, creating strategic plans and security policies, procedures, and standards. Those finding themselves with these high-level cybersecurity jobs will also be responsible for anticipating current and new cybersecurity threats, collaborating with stakeholders, and auditing existing systems.

These cybersecurity jobs can be stressful, but cyber security companies generally make it worthwhile with salaries ranging from $74,000 to over $200,000.

Bottom Line

If you are looking for top-level cybersecurity jobs, a Chief Information Security Officer definitely fits the bill. And with an abundance of responsibilities, comes a hefty salary.

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With average salaries around $70,000, entry-level cryptologist jobs often offer around $40,000 to start. As you move up to higher-level cryptologist jobs, that number can rise to six figures, which makes it one of the highest paid cyber security jobs.

Cryptologists are in charge of analyzing and decrypting hidden information. They are responsible for ensuring that private data regarding national security, finance, and other sensitive information is protected from hackers.

Bottom Line

The great thing about cryptologist cybersecurity jobs is that you can obtain an entry-level position right out of college. The best cyber security companies to work for are looking for these data-shielding white knights to join their teams.

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By entering into a Forensic Expert career in cyber security, you will conduct security breach investigations, retrieve, and examine data from electronic storage devices, compile evidence for legal cases, and even dismantle and reconstruct broken systems to recover lost data.

The best cyber security companies to work for in the Forensic Experts field are legal firms, private consultants, international firms, and even law enforcement agencies. The government is actually one of the best cyber security companies to work for in this field, as the FBI and CIA both have forensic divisions.

Bottom Line

Overall, Forensic Experts earn a decent salary, around $77,000, and enjoy the day-to-day tasks of taking down digital criminals. If this interests you, it might be the best career path for you.

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With a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field, you can often get an entry-level Incident Responder position. With a master’s in Information Security, you will likely find better job prospects.

The best cyber security companies to work for sometimes offer tuition assistance, so it’s worth looking into if you want to improve your skill set.

Cyber Security Career

Incident Responders are the people responsible for addressing security threats and incidents within companies. You will be tasked with finding the cause of a problem, limiting the damage, and working to ensure that it does not reoccur.

Bottom Line

If you are looking for the best cybersecurity jobs, an Incident Responder is one to consider. If you love the adrenaline rush of tackling a time-sensitive problem head on, this might be a good fit.

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The main goal of these jobs in cyber security is to help an organization improve its security by finding flaws in said system. On a daily basis, you will be performing formal penetration tests, conducting physical security assessments of servers and devices, and probing for vulnerability in a system.

The pay for a Penetration Tester falls somewhere around $70,000 and usually starts around $44,000, depending on your experience and education level.

Bottom Line

If you are looking to slide into the “cool kid” role of legally hacking systems, a Penetration Tester might be a good fit for you. These cybersecurity jobs offer good pay and the ability to utilize some rebellious creativity.

With a bachelor’s degree in Cyber Security, Computer Science, or a similar field, you will likely be able to snag at least an entry-level position. These cybersecurity jobs have plenty of upward mobility. With time, you can advance to a Security Manager, Director, or even Chief Information Security Officer.

As a Security Administrator, you will be tasked with installing, administering, and troubleshooting security solutions for a company or organization. This usually involves defending networks from unauthorized users, monitoring network activity for unusual activity and even implementing network security policies.

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a position that can lead to upward mobility, a Security Administrator might be a good career in cyber security to start with. 

Read More: Best High-Paying Entry-Level Jobs

With over 300 million hacking attempts per day, there are constant threats to security. Cybersecurity jobs are essential in order to keep our personal information, businesses, and nation secure.

Careers in cybersecurity can also be very enticing. There is strong job growth, the ability to move up the corporate ladder, and the average annual salary is generally nothing to scoff at.

With a bachelor or master’s degree in computer science, cyber security, or a related field, you can begin your cyber security career with an entry-level job. From that position, you can gain experience and eventually get promoted to some of the highest paid cyber security jobs.

You might even find yourself in the C-Suite as a Chief InfoSec Officer. 

However, there are many things to consider when you are looking for a cyber security job. When you are looking for this type of employment, ask yourself the following:

• Would you rather work in the IT department of a company or take cyber security consultant jobs?

• Is this one of the best cyber security companies to work for?

• Can this entry-level job lead to cybersecurity jobs that are more lucrative?

• Is the cyber security profession right for you?

These are just a few of the questions to ask yourself when you are looking to start your career in cyber security. With the availability of jobs and the nature of the positions, it is important to be certain that a cyber security job is right for you before accepting.

Image Sources:

• https://pixabay.com/photos/computer-security-padlock-hacker-1591018/
• https://pixabay.com/illustrations/cyber-security-internet-security-1914950/

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