How to Become a Cyber Security Expert

As technology becomes ever more advanced and sophisticated, unfortunately, so do the skills of cyber criminals; therefore, cyber security experts have never been in higher demand. This article will provide an informative guide on how to become a cyber security expert, from the qualifications that you need to the potential career paths available to you on your professional path.

It is advantageous for those who want to become cyber security experts to have a bachelor’s degree in a subject such as Computer Science or Information Technology.  However, it is still possible to break into the role with a degree in another discipline, such as computer science, as most degrees have transferable skills that can be applied to the role of a cyber security expert.

Graduates have the opportunity to specialise their knowledge through taking a master’s degree specifically in cyber security and taking this route can be a good option if you are unsure of what area you would like to specialise in. Having a degree shows employers that you have excellent subject knowledge of cyber security.

If you need to pick up some extra qualifications to qualify for the jobs you’re after, below are some examples:

As well as acquiring a degree, employers are also keen to see that you have a body of work experience and hands-on experience in the field. Academic qualifications alone are not enough to secure an excellent entry-level position as a cyber security expert; therefore, a good option is to pursue work experience or a placement at a firm.

A cyber security apprenticeship is an excellent option for those who hold a degree in a different discipline as it combines both on the job experience with academic knowledge. Apprenticeships ensure that you receive training and certification from industry-leading experts such as Microsoft.

The following skill-set is required to be successful in the role as a cyber security expert:

Found at organisations of all sizes, a cyber security expert is a specific professional that is responsible for maintaining network security and computer security and fighting cyber crimes. To do this, cyber security specialists are largely focused on finding faults and leaks within the system and developing strategies to combat them.

Though cyber security experts often have a varied workload, with some being less to do with security and more general systems upkeep, their most common duties are:

There is an excellent scope to further your cyber security career, and the following are just a few examples of the cyber security jobs that you could advance onto, with many involving risk management.