Computer Security Specialist Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a computer security specialist. Feel free to use our computer security specialist job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a computer security specialist.
Who Is a Computer Security Specialist?
IT workers who use their talents and skills to protect firm information systems from cyberattacks are known as computer security specialists.
A computer security specialist builds and maintains security systems, responds to data breaches, and provides cyber security training to employees. Their job is inextricably linked to computers and technology.
These specialists protect networking systems from hacker assaults, natural disasters, and purposeful and inadvertent security breaches, as well as ensure that they can promptly recover when such events occur.
In other words, in a commercial setting, Computer Security Specialists are critical since they protect the company’s information and useful data while also educating other employees on how to be secure while executing their various jobs. They set up a computer’s network and access protocols so that only authorized personnel can access firm information.
Computer security specialists employ their skills and knowledge to keep criminals from gaining access to financial information, military secrets, and other sensitive data by preventing cyber-attacks on information systems.
Computer Security Specialists are expected to maintain a high level of professionalism and refrain from disclosing sensitive material outside of the workplace. Because some of the information may be sensitive, prospective Cyber Security Specialists will be required to undergo background checks and have a clean criminal record in order to be hired.
Computer security experts have a thorough understanding of cybersecurity and networking technology. They can swiftly discover security network flaws, put in place necessary security measures, and respond to threats before they disrupt business operations. To be a computer security professional, you’ll need good communication abilities, among other things, to teach technical and non-technical employees about computer security standards and boost information security awareness.
Computer Security Specialist Job Description
Below are the computer security specialist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a computer security specialist job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a computer security specialist include the following:
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- Accessing the security status of company IT, network, and security systems.
- Designing and implementing security networks and protocols to safeguard and prevent unauthorized access as well as disclosure of data and information.
- Involving in the inspection and upgrading of hardware to avoid vulnerability points.
- Ensuring network security through firewalls, password protection as well as other systems.
- Performing security software upgrades on company systems when needed.
- Inspecting and testing the security of the network.
- Running penetration tests on upgraded systems.
- Responding to security threats.
- Drafting security policies and guidelines.
- Coordinating hands-on training for team members and other staff on security protocols.
- Maintaining mutual relationships with management, staff, department heads, and external partners.
- Complying with federal and state laws, regulations, and directives.
- Devising strategies for threat prevention.
- Regularly drafting technical reports for executives and administrators
- Analyzing and assessing potential business security threats.
- Informing other departments of the necessity of cyber security constantly
- Keeping up with the most recent international security developments in your field.
- Maintaining accurate and updated backup files of all vital data.
- Obtaining evidence in order to prosecute cybercrime.
- Constantly examining and discussing violations of computer security protocols with violators to ensure that violations do not occur again.
- Establishing and running an investigator’s lab, as well as processing computer crime scenes.
- Monitoring and reporting computer viruses determine when virus protection systems should be updated.
- Performing risk assessments and data processing system tests to ensure that data processing operations and security mechanisms are working properly.
- Authorizing user’s access and credentials.
Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a closely related discipline is required.
- It’s a plus if you have professional certification (e.g., CompTIA Security+, CISSP).
- Proven years of experience as a Computer Security Specialist experience with a track record of success.
- In-depth understanding of hardware and networking technologies.
- Knowledge of back-end programming languages such as C++ and PHP.
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework as well as other security framework knowledge.
- Implementation and maintenance experience with detection, firewall, and prevention systems.
- Excellent analytical problem-solving abilities.
- Understanding of cryptographic and key infrastructure protocols is required.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
Essential Skills
The job of a computer security specialist entails safeguarding digital data. To be effective in this position, you must have the following abilities:
- Problem-Solving Skills.
Being a problem solver can help you advance in any job path you choose. Because every business has issues at some time, every company looks for those who are effective problem solvers when recruiting. In your day-to-day work as a computer security specialist, problem-solving will be crucial. Those who pursue this professional path must come up with new ways to tackle and address difficult information security challenges in a variety of current and future technologies and digital settings.
- Outstanding levels of honesty, integrity, and objectivity
The watchwords for most businesses are honesty, integrity, and objectivity. When conducting testing and identifying flaws, you should maintain a high level of objectivity. In the same vein, you should be able to handle sensitive or confidential material with confidence.
- Technical Expertise
The competence and knowledge required to execute a task are known as technical aptitudes. For persons in most professional professions, this is a must-have ability. As a computer security professional, you’ll be responsible for troubleshooting, maintaining, and updating information security systems, as well as conducting continuous network monitoring and providing real-time security solutions. You’ll stay relevant in this industry if you have the technological skills to complete these duties.
- Excellent teamwork skills:
As a computer security specialist, you’ll be collaborating with a large group of people. Your team spirit will aid you in assisting and collaborating with other members of the staff.
- Security Expertise on a Wide Range of Platforms
You’ll need to be comfortable dealing with a variety of operating systems, computer systems, mobile devices, cloud networks, and wireless networks, as well as stay current on industry developments in each of these areas.
- Attention to Detail
You must be exceedingly aware and detail-oriented to correctly find vulnerabilities and threats and defend an organization from cyber breaches. You’ll be in charge of continuous network monitoring, so you’ll need to be able to spot problems quickly and design real-time security solutions to address them.
- High levels of creativity and patience
As a computer security specialist, you need to be creative and patient. With this skill, you can think of creative ways to develop and implement security measures and preventive protocols and imagine how a hacker would attempt to access information.
- Communication Skill
As a computer security specialist, you’ll work with folks from various departments and roles. As a result, having strong communication skills can help you communicate and explain your findings, issues, and solutions to others more effectively. It’s crucial to be able to communicate effectively and succinctly about computer security strategy and policy, as well as technical facts to people with diverse levels of technical competence.
- Basic Computer Forensics Knowledge
The capacity to analyze all forms of data saved in any computer device, such as hard drives, USB memory sticks, cloud spaces, social media, cameras, and mobile phones, in order to identify relevant digital evidence is known as computer forensic expertise. In a court of law, this digital material could be used as proof. While computer forensics and computer security are two separate fields, they are intertwined. A computer forensics background can help you excel in your computer security specialist profession. To adequately secure digital assets and avert security breaches, you must first understand what will happen if your efforts fail, as well as how compromised data will be recovered. Having a computer forensics skill set can assist you in dealing with this.
- An eagerness to learn
A willingness to learn might help you stay current and relevant in your job path. Like any other technical sector, the profession of computer security specialists is continually evolving. Anyone working in the field must be committed to remaining current on best practices and emerging industry trends, and they must constantly research and self-educate both on and off the job.
- A Basic Knowledge of Hacking
To properly secure an organization’s network and infrastructure, you must first understand how they could be attacked, which is why most computer security experts first learn how to hack ethically. This simply implies that you must possess the same abilities as a hacker in order to fully comprehend how a system might be hacked and, as a result, devise effective countermeasures.
How to Become a Computer Security Specialist
To start a career in this field, follow the following steps:
- Education
Getting a computer security education is the first step in becoming a computer security specialist.
For anyone interested in this career path, formal education from an accredited university is required.
A bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, computer science, Systems Engineering, or a similar discipline is required to break into this sector.
A bachelor’s degree program in computer information systems, for example, can teach students the fundamentals of programming, systems analysis, and network theory, as well as information technology (IT) skills. Additional computer security training can give organizations in-demand risk management and system security expertise.
- Work Experience:
Demonstrating relevant experience is another important component of becoming a computer security specialist.
Other similar work experiences, a structured internship, or other formal hands-on learning can all help.
Having work experience in a field that is closely linked to this one is a fantastic method to get started on this career path. Employers frequently favour individuals with relevant experience, industry certificates, or both. To gain hands-on expertise with computer security systems, you can work as an entry-level computer analyst or in a comparable role in a technology firm or a major company with an IT department. This can also help you become more adept at recognizing and dealing with security threats.
- Apply for Computer Security Specialist Job positions
Once you’re confident in your abilities, look for opportunities as a computer security professional. Advertisements for these positions can be found on internet job posting sites. You can also find out about job openings in this industry from your friends, mentors, or any computer security specialist group you’re a member of. You should apply for this job using a resume that is customized to this career path and prepare for an interview while doing so.
- Obtain Certifications in this field
Obtaining the required industry certifications and/or approvals is an important part of the job preparation process. Professional certification, such as the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) credential, can improve a candidate’s chances of landing a job and moving up the corporate ladder. Computer security specialists routinely upgrade their abilities with computer security certifications in order to keep their skills in demand by businesses.
- Networking
Looking for strategies to expand one’s professional network is usually a smart idea. Networking is one of them.
There is a slew of network-oriented professional Computer security specialist groups and clubs that are specifically designed to keep members informed about job vacancies and professional development possibilities.
Where To Work as a Computer Security Specialist
Companies large and small are concerned about cybersecurity, hacking, and network vulnerability as the frequency of internet attacks rises.
As a result, employment for computer security specialists is emerging in a variety of areas, including defence, banking, telecommunications, manufacturing, and retail. Computer security specialists can also work in industries like healthcare, education, and government administration.
Computer security specialists can work for the federal government, network providers, elementary schools and tertiary institutions, airlines, major corporations with databases, and security consulting firms.
Computer Security Specialist Salary Scale
Salary ranges and job opportunities will differ depending on the candidate’s geographic location, education and experience, certification, extra talents, and other criteria.
The average Computer Security Specialist’s pay, according to salary.com, is $64,575, with a salary range of $56,713 to $75,278.
More specifically, an entry-level Computer Security Specialist with less than one year of experience may anticipate earning total compensation of $56,229 per year (tips, bonus, and overtime pay).
Those with one to four years of experience earn an average total pay of $61,224.
Mid-career Computer Security specialists with 5-9 years of experience earn an average of $72,000 per year.
The average total compensation for a Computer Security Specialist with 10-19 years of experience is $87,272 per year.
Finally, employees with more than 20 years of experience receive an average total pay of $92,989.