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Today, hackers are growing more sophisticated, and security breaches are becoming more frequent. Companies and organizations must protect against risks and threats to an organization鈥檚 data. According to research from US News, 61 percent of Americans have had their personal data exposed, 44 percent of whom responded that it happened more than once, and 6 percent of whom responded it has happened more times than they can count []. If you consider that a data breach can cost an average of $9.44 million in the US, it鈥檚 clear why the demand is high for cybersecurity [闭.听

It鈥檚 a great time to enter this field, so discover what skills and certifications you鈥檒l need to succeed.

What is cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is the process of protecting an organization鈥檚 computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access or damage. Cyberattacks and threats can access, change, or destroy sensitive information such as passwords, financial information, medical records, and other confidential data.听

Read more: What Is Cybersecurity? Definition + Industry Guide

Careers in cybersecurity

Companies hire IT and cybersecurity professionals to protect against such attacks and prevent risks to internal and external systems. Depending on your skill set, five common cybersecurity career paths to consider include engineering and architecture, incident response, management and administration, consulting, and testing and hacking.

You can also check out these in-demand cybersecurity jobs and entry-level jobs, and this career guide that points you toward detailed articles on specific entry-, mid-, and senior-level roles. A few are listed below.

Read more: 5 Cybersecurity Career Paths (and How to Get Started)

Job outlook and salaries

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of cybersecurity jobs is expected to increase by 33 percent from 2023 through 2033. That鈥檚 much faster than the average for all jobs, which is 4 percent [].

Cybersecurity jobs tend to pay well, and qualified people are needed at all levels. Some examples of jobs and average salaries to consider include:

*All salaries sourced from Glassdoor in October 2024 and do not include additional pay, such as bonuses or commissions.

Entry-level cybersecurity jobs

• Cybersecurity analyst: $103,855

• System administrator: $84,562

Mid-level cybersecurity jobs

• Penetration tester: $110,477

• Cybersecurity consultant: $138,614聽

Senior-level cybersecurity jobs

• Cryptanalyst: $110,726聽

• Security engineer: $135,533

Many pathways to get into cybersecurity

You don鈥檛 have to follow a set path to start a cybersecurity career. Whether you are a fresh graduate, switching from another career, or already working in IT and hoping to advance, you can take many paths to achieve your career goals. Don鈥檛 worry if you feel like you鈥檙e 鈥渂ehind.鈥� You can start right from where you are now.

How to get into cybersecurity: 7 steps

Discover many pathways to get into the in-demand cybersecurity field. Use this step-by-step guide to navigate the landscape effectively.

1. Do some research on the cybersecurity landscape.

Earlier, we listed some job roles in cybersecurity, starting with entry-level positions. If you have transferable skills and technical IT knowledge, you can make a lateral move. Do some research into these career paths. What skills do you already have that align with specific jobs? Maybe you want to be a cybersecurity engineer because you already have an engineering degree. Look up people on LinkedIn who are in roles you aspire to鈥攚hat qualifications do they have? Do they have a master鈥檚 degree or specific certifications?聽

2. Develop your skills.

Once you鈥檝e figured out what types of cybersecurity jobs you鈥檙e interested in, you can start building the skills you need. Generally, you鈥檒l want to have a good understanding of the following:

• Network and systems administration: Knowing the ins and outs of working with networks and systems is the foundation for entry-level jobs.

• Familiarity with operating systems: Being able to work with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS is needed for penetration testing, cybersecurity research and analysis, and computer forensics.

• Familiarity with cloud security platforms: Know your way around Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud.听

• Coding skills: You鈥檒l want to be comfortable coding in languages like Python, C and C++, JavaScript, and SQL.

• Risk analysis and security auditing: These are necessary for strategizing how to mitigate potential threats.

Since cybersecurity professionals frequently work with teams to resolve and prevent issues, you鈥檒l also want to develop soft skills such as communication, leadership, critical thinking, and adaptability.

Read more: 15 Essential Skills for Cybersecurity Analysts

3. Consider a certification.

Certifications in cybersecurity prove to hiring managers that you have a tangible credential and a certain level of expertise. For example, the CompTIA Security+ is a popular entry-level certification that validates you have the core skills needed for a cybersecurity job. Another certification is the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) credential which demonstrates your ability to assess security vulnerabilities and report on compliance.

Read more: 8 Popular Cybersecurity Certifications

How to get into cybersecurity without a degree

A common question is whether aspiring cybersecurity professionals need a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 or associate degree. The quick answer is no. Plenty of people have landed jobs by acquiring certifications and going through a certificate program. You can start with a program like Google IT Support, get an IT technician role (or similar), layer on more learning and professional certificates, and then apply for more senior positions in cybersecurity. That being said, having a degree can help you ascend the ranks more quickly, but you should decide whether the cost and time to earn the degree is worth it.

Programs such as Google鈥檚 Cybersecurity or IT Support professional certificate provide a quick and comprehensive introduction to these career fields so you can master the skills necessary. They are enough to get your foot in the door at a company where you can continue to learn on the job. You may decide to acquire more certifications to get where you want to go in the future.

In the Google IT Support Professional Certificate program, I learned skills to assist customers with end-to-end support, ranging from identifying problems to troubleshooting and debugging.

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4. Get familiar with cybersecurity tools and software.

As you work on gaining some of the skills, you鈥檒l most likely become familiar with some cybersecurity tools, software, and hardware systems along the way. It鈥檚 a good idea to become familiar with using at least one cloud program like Azure, which should translate to understanding the basics of how AWS and Google Cloud work. Some programs offer free trials so you can gain first-hand experience. Companies will likely want expertise in whichever tools and software they use, so it鈥檚 better to be prepared for any scenario.

5. Gain some work experience.

Real-world experience working on cybersecurity projects is one of the best ways to learn and represent your abilities to prospective employers. Whether you鈥檙e interested in auditing, consulting, or incident response, you鈥檒l want to apply for internships and entry-level positions that work in these specific functions鈥攐r at least one where you can work side-by-side with people in those roles.听

How to get into cybersecurity with no experience

Starting out in an IT role can give you a solid foundation for a cybersecurity career. If you鈥檙e already in IT or a junior cybersecurity role but can鈥檛 land your dream role right now, be patient. You could take on freelance or volunteer roles in the meantime to build the right experience.

Read more: How to Get a Cybersecurity Internship (Step-by-Step)

6. Grow your network.

Networking can help set you apart from other candidates by putting a face to the name or getting introduced through a mutual connection. You may already know someone working in cybersecurity who could give you valuable advice or provide a referral for a job at their company. Reach out to cybersecurity professionals on LinkedIn for informational interviews鈥攐r send a message to hiring managers to reiterate your interest after applying for a job.

Growing your network can also mean joining a professional network on Meetup or Facebook to connect with cybersecurity professionals in your area.听

Find a mentor

Finding a mentor could help you achieve your goals faster. Identify people in your network who could suit your needs and reach out to them for a meeting to see if it would be a good fit.

7. Update your resume and apply for jobs.

Finally, update your resume with all the certifications, skills, and experience you鈥檝e gained. It鈥檚 wise to tailor your resume and cover letter to each job that you apply for to demonstrate that you have the specific qualifications they鈥檙e looking for in the job description.

Start applying for jobs. You may have to apply to quite a few jobs and go through the interview process before you find the right one, but that鈥檚 normal. Don鈥檛 lose sight of your goal鈥攊f you keep at it, you鈥檒l eventually land the cybersecurity role of your dreams.

Read more: How to Write a Cybersecurity Resume (Step-by-Step with Examples)

Explore how to get into cybersecurity with Google

Cybersecurity is a field with a high projected job growth and high salaries. Ready to get into cybersecurity? Enroll in Google鈥檚 Cybersecurity Professional Certificate to learn in-demand skills and become job-ready in about six months. In this comprehensive program, you鈥檒l be able to identify common threats and vulnerabilities and learn techniques to mitigate them.