Road Map To A $200,000 Cybersecurity Job

Progressive certifications: Technical certifications are valuable for any IT professional hoping to stand out in an applicant pool, and the same rules apply to cybersecurity jobs. For entry-level, midcareer, and executive positions alike, employers increasingly want verification of job-seekers' security chops. Foundational certifications such as CompTIA's Security+ are becoming a prerequisite for anyone starting a cybersecurity career, demonstrating a solid grasp on IT threats, compliance, and identity management — but by no means should your education end there. From the International Information System Security Certification Consortium's Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and CompTIA's Cybersecurity Analyst (CSA+) and Advanced Security Practitioner to ethical hacking certifications, there are ample opportunities for training and specialization targeted at more experienced professionals looking to move up the ladder.

Strategic communication skills: Cybersecurity does not fall only under a CISO or IT department's purview. Responsibility (and accountability) for defending corporate data and devices lies, in part, with end users, C-suites, and boards of directors as well. Cybersecurity experts must be able to communicate effectively with each audience, whether to educate employees about the dangers or secure buy-in for new security investments. To graduate into senior leadership roles, cybersecurity professionals need to demonstrate communication mastery with external audiences. As more organizations become embroiled in data breaches and legal matters (over issues such as encryption), they'll need experts with not only technical smarts but the capacity to navigate crisis communications and public sector partnerships. 

Government clearances: Almost all industries are in need of more cybersecurity manpower, but the public sector is one vertical playing a fervent game of catch-up. Per the Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Strategy released last July, the government is on the hook to more proactively identify internal cybersecurity gaps, better recruit security experts, and develop career paths to retain top talent. Beyond technical certifications, public administration cybersecurity jobs are almost three times as likely to require security clearances than cybersecurity openings in general. Obtaining the appropriate clearances in advance can set a resume apart, and expedite the hiring process.

Digital forensics: As organizations and governments around the world accept the inevitability of cyberattacks (or, at least, attempts), greater attention and resources must be paid to what happens in their wake. The field of digital forensics — extracting "evidence" from devices and other IT systems to understand, potentially prosecute, and later prevent, cybercrimes — is in need of more than a few good recruits. As threats from state-sponsored actors, organized crime groups and hacktivists rise, the public and private sectors need experts who specialize in reverse-engineering attacks and threat hunting. Professionals who concentrate their training around digital forensics now will be invaluable as the cybersecurity landscape becomes more globalized and litigious.