Cybersecurity Roadmap: Career Path, Skills, and Salary

Often, we hear news of someone’s bank accounts being hacked and they have lost all their money, or someone’s social media accounts have been hacked. These situations don’t become regular thanks to the domain of cybersecurity. It is a field whose main aim is to prevent illegal access to someone’s computer, whether the computer belongs to an individual or a big company. Cybersecurity offers a variety of roles, such as ethical hacking, threat analysis, etc.

These diverse paths require different skill sets, which we have discussed below. If you have decided to make a career in the cybersecurity field then you just need to focus on your skills as it is a well-paying field.

What is Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is the measures taken by cybersecurity experts to protect digital systems from unauthorized access or cyber-attacks of various forms. These attacks are mainly aimed at stealing users’ personal information, asking for money, or disrupting a company’s business. Cybersecurity experts try to restrict the access of a computer to its authorized users only. They do so by finding weaknesses in the system’s security which the attackers could exploit and informing the user to get it rectified.

For a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity, delve into the Cyber Security Tutorial for in-depth insights and knowledge.

Salary for Cybersecurity Experts

The salaries can vary depending on the company and years of experience however the average salary of cybersecurity experts in India is ₹6,50,000 per year, with an additional cash compensation of ₹1,00,000. The basic salaries of cybersecurity analysts in India are:

• Entry-level: Less than 1 year, ₹4,70,000
• Early career: 1 to 4 years, ₹8L
• Mid-career: 5 to 9 years, ₹10L
• Experienced: 10 to 19 years, ₹20L

Cyber Security Roadmap

Now that we have a clear understanding of what cybersecurity is, its significance in today’s digital landscape, and the competitive salaries and essential skills required in this field, let’s dive into a step-by-step guide on how to enter the cybersecurity workforce successfully and how to build a successful career in cybersecurity.

1. Relevant Educational Background

Getting the right education should be your first priority. Students with a degree in computer science or information technology are generally recruited for cybersecurity roles. So you can opt to do BTech in India from the above-mentioned branches. These degrees will showcase your seriousness about a career in the cybersecurity industry. These degrees provide knowledge in areas such as computer networks and cryptography. Graduates with these qualifications often find entry-level opportunities in roles, like security analysts or security administrators.

2. Cyber Security Skills

Of course, succeeding in any industry requires you to have a basic skillset, as is the case with cybersecurity. Let us discuss some of the key skills needed to establish yourself in the cybersecurity field.

• Technical proficiency: Gain a proper understanding of programming languages such as C++ and Python. These languages will help you to find points in the security of the system that can be bypassed by the attackers. Knowledge of operating systems and network protocols is going to help you protect the system against cyber attacks.
• Network Security Skills: Knowledge of the configuration and management of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and virtual private networks is essential to protecting the network. Understanding networking protocols and network traffic analysis is important because it helps identify anomalies and security breaches.
• Cryptography Expertise: If you want to protect data against unauthorized access, then you should properly understand the fundamentals of cryptography. Also, If you want to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the data required to understand encryption algorithms and their applications.
• Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing: Ethical hacking is said to be the process of imitating cyber attacks to find weak points in the system with the user’s permission. This is done to inform them about the potential security lapses in their system. Penetration testing is searching the system to find weak spots where attackers could attack.
• Security Analysis and Risk Management: A cybersecurity expert needs to have analytical skills to analyze the whole system, assess security risks, and identify potential threats. Understanding the risk management frameworks is important in planning for security concerns.
• Continuous Learning and Adaptation: It is very necessary to stay ahead of the cyberattackers; hence, continuous learning is a key skill in the field of cybersecurity. Read about the new technologies and trends in cybersecurity to stay updated with new stuff and adapt yourself to new challenges.

3. Tools and Technologies

There are many tools and technologies used to make cybersecurity as strong as possible. Some of these are:

• Firewalls: Firewalls are the fundamental cybersecurity tools that act as a barrier between the internal secure network and the external network, which is the Internet. It monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic based on some predetermined security rules, preventing unauthorized access and protecting against cyber threats.
• Antivirus Software: Antivirus Software is software designed to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software such as viruses, worms, and malware. It regularly scans the system and the files to eliminate potential threats.
• Encryption Technologies: Encryption is a fundamental cybersecurity tool that protects sensitive data by converting it into a coded format that can only be deciphered by authorized parties with the appropriate decryption key.
• Kali Linux : Kali Linux is generally preferred Operating System for Cyber Sceurity Practices. Kali Linux offers multiple tools for monitoring network systems and finding any possible vulnerabilities. The main advantage is that the platform can be modified according to the level of understanding.
• Metasploit: Metasploit is a cybersecurity tool used for penetration testing. It is used for designing strategies to improve cybersecurity and discover vulnerabilities in the system.
• John the Ripper: John the Ripper is a tool that is used to test the strength of passwords. It identifies weak passwords that can be easily guessed by cybercriminals.
• Nikoto: Nikoto is a cybersecurity tool that is used to find web vulnerabilities. It scans for vulnerabilities and fixes them.
• Cain and Abel: Cain and Abel are two of the oldest cybersecurity tools that are used in Windows, as well as for password recovery.

4. Entry-Level Certifications

The entry-level certifications provide a solid foundation for the students. Just as a builder will not start his project without the right set of tools, you also need to have a basic set of knowledge and skills to kickstart your cybersecurity career. CompTIA Security is a beginner-level certificate. This certificate introduces the student to networking, cryptography, and risk management. These entry-level certificates not only impart you with knowledge but also showcase your commitment. Employers regard these certificates as a benchmark for basic knowledge of the domain. Having a certificate will surely give you an edge over other competitors in the market.

Looking to expand your cybersecurity credentials? Explore our curated list of the 10 Best Cybersecurity Certifications to further your expertise and career in this dynamic field.

5. Specialize in Cybersecurity Paths

Cybersecurity has many diverse career paths, each demanding its own skill set and interests. Choose a specialization that aligns with your strength and passion. Key specializations are:

• Ethical hacking is done with the user’s permission to get unauthorized access to his computer, imitating a cyberattack. This is done with a good case to find out vulnerabilities in the user’s system for cyberattacks.
• Whenever an organization is suddenly attacked, the process followed by it in countering the cyber threat is known as incident response. They are trying to stop cyberattacks and limit the damage.
• Security analysis is an approach to achieving cybersecurity by first collecting the data, aggregating it, and analyzing it to detect or reduce cyber threats.

6. Make Projects

Creating projects in cybersecurity involves a practical and hands-on approach to understanding and implementing security measures. Identify a real-world problem, select your specific tools, set clear goals, and build a project simulating real-world scenarios. Document and reflect on your project, analyzing where it stands compared to current industry trends. Collaborate and communicate with experts in the field to look at your project and provide feedback.

Check out our article on “Top 6 Cybersecurity Project Ideas for Beginners – GeeksforGeeks” to discover the best project ideas for honing your skills in cybersecurity.

7. Read About Case Studies

Read about case studies on how you can make the system more cyber-secure. An example of it could be like this: A financial institution was facing lots of phishing attacks and data breaches, leading to customer dissatisfaction and a reduction in brand value. To overcome this, it decided to adopt a bunch of cybersecurity practices. It decided to use an email filtering system to detect and block phishing attacks, conduct regular penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities in the system’s security and initiate a training program for its employees to increase general awareness related to cybersecurity. It also decided to create an incident response plan in case of a sudden attack, integrate multi-factor authentication into its customer authentication system, and make use of better encryption algorithms. These continuously monitored tools led to a reduction in phishing and data breaches. Ultimately, customer trust was reestablished.

8. Gain Practical Experience

Now that you have a good understanding of cybersecurity, the best way to move forward would be to gain some industrial experience. You can try to gain practical experience in these ways.

• Internships and entry-level positions: These roles provide a candidate with hands-on experience, and they familiarize an individual with industry tools and real-world cybersecurity scenarios. The companies don’t expect a fresher to know everything; what they value is your eagerness to learn. So, apply with confidence; you have nothing to lose; you will only learn from your mistakes.
• Freelance Cybersecurity: If you want to work independently on your terms and time then freelancing may be your calling. Cybersecurity freelancers offer their services to clients. They generally work as ethical hackers or penetration testers finding security weak points in the client’s system.
• Participate in competitions: Engaging in competitions such as Capture the Flag (CTF) provides the participant with practical skills as they have to use their problem-solving skills in a simulated environment of cybersecurity threat which test their expertise.

9. Networking and Professional Development

For success in the field of cybersecurity, networking plays a very important role. How can you do networking? Join communities and participate in independent conferences; these are going to give you opportunities to network with like-minded professionals. These connections will keep you updated with the latest insights and tech trends and can provide you with collaboration, mentorship, and even job opportunities. Your presence in the community will increase, and sharing knowledge and contributing will establish your credibility among your peers. Think of networking as an investment that is going to pay off in your career later on.

10. Apply For the Cyber Security Jobs

Now that you have a decent knowledge of the cybersecurity domain, possess all the necessary skills with relevant certifications, and have hands-on experience with practical industrial challenges, what should be your next step? Well, now that you are ready for your end goal, apply for cybersecurity roles at different tech giants. Firstly, shortlist companies based on your preference and go to the career portals of these companies for awareness about job openings. You can use platforms such as GfgJobPortal, LinkedIn, and Naukri to get a better understanding of these companies, apply for jobs, and get referrals from working professionals. Cybersecurity experts are provided with great opportunities by companies like Cisco, IBM, Palo Alto, Intel, etc.

If you’re seeking job opportunities, explore openings on the GFG Job Portal for exciting career prospects.

Conclusion

There is not a day without hearing the news of a cyberattack or another causing huge economic and social damage, so you can understand the importance of cybersecurity. Moreover, the challenges in this field have also increased as attackers find new ways to attack. The industry demands talented cybersecurity engineers, so the demand is also very high. Working in the cybersecurity domain is going to provide you with lucrative career paths. We have discussed salaries for entry-level and experienced professionals. Having relevant skills is of utmost importance. An aspirant should have a basic knowledge of network security, cryptography, ethical hacking, etc. We looked at the roadmap for cybersecurity, from the very basic educational background to internships, freelancing, etc. Networking plays a very important role in your professional journey, so network with successful folks in this field and apply to opportunities that align with your interests and skill set. Now, what are you waiting for? Start your preparation journey. We are attaching a step-by-step tutorial on cybersecurity go and follow it to learn from the basics to the advanced.