What is a Security Specialist?

For this reason, security specialists are necessary to maintain the overall operations and credibility of a company. When it comes to education, protective officers tend to earn similar education levels than security specialists. In fact, they’re 1.5% less likely to earn a Master’s Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree. When it comes to the differences in education between the two professions, enforcement officers tend to reach similar levels of education than security specialists. In fact, they’re 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master’s Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree. Specific fallout from security breaches can vary depending on the type of work an organization does.

Public safety officers tend to earn a lower pay than security specialists by about $13,296 per year. Graduate degrees can be required if you’re looking to obtain a managerial position. An employer might offer training in the form of familiarizing you with specific software or hardware the company uses. Read our informational guide to learn about the degrees, certifications, and professional experiences needed to become a security specialist.

What Does a Security Specialist Do?

You will be responsible for analyzing our IT specifications and overall security risk, implementing appropriate security measures, and responding to security breaches. We recommend that you align these goals with your personality, interests, and values, as this will ensure your career choice will be rewarding and fulfilling. If you have any uncertainties about the education, experience, knowledge, or skills you need for a security specialist role, be sure to get in touch with the recruiter directly. They will be able to clarify which items a company deems necessary, preferred, or desirable.

A security specialist can be defined as anyone that specializes in the security of people, assets, networks, telecommunications systems, and IT systems. You might be a personal bodyguard, security guard, or computer security analyst. You could choose to specialize in physical security, personal security, or cyber security.

Making better hires starts with building better job descriptions

According to Payscale, major companies paying security specialists well above the national average include the Boeing Company, the Walt Disney Company, and American Express Co. Aspiring cybersecurity specialists may also find ample opportunities in companies like CACI International Inc, American Electric Power, and IBM. According to Payscale, security specialists with 10 or more years of experience earned an average annual salary of $98,389 as of September 2021. Security specialist salary prospects improve as employees gain more specialized skills in areas like risk management, security information and event management, cybersecurity, and security testing and auditing. There are numerous opportunities for highly technical roles, like cybersecurity specialists and developers, at cybersecurity companies. Many large corporations are also setting up their own cybersecurity taskforces and are increasingly hiring cybersecurity specialists. By monitoring, detecting, investigating, analyzing, and responding to security events, cybersecurity specialists protect systems from cybersecurity risks, threats, and vulnerabilities.

Regardless of your how to become a security specialist, it is important to constantly educate yourself on new technologies and threats. Sometimes, this may mean taking additional cyber certifications or classes after you are hired.

Career Options

Getting a CompTIA certification is an investment in your career but getting a discount can help. To apply, send your resume as well as three professional references in PDF format to Have an in-depth understanding of OWASP testing methodology, Dynamic and Static Application Security Testing, re-engineering, automation, ASP.NET/JAVA, IDS/IPS systems, Burp Suite, Nmap, Nessus, Qualys, and Metasploit, etc. Develop and implement information security standards, guidelines, and procedures. Professional certification, such as the Certified Information Systems Security Professional designation, can boost a candidate’s prospects for employment and advancement. Discover the different ways to pay for college and learn more about the FAFSA process. Documenting processes and ensuring the protection of sensitive information.

Other job titles that you might see in your search include IT Security Specialist, Network Security Specialist and Internet Security Analyst. Cisco, CompTIA, CISSP, and CEH are some of the certs that may be required by your employer to be qualified for a role. The more a security specialist can guard against attacks, the more a business is able to function at full technological throttle. In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences that are worth noting. It’s hard work to become a security specialist, but even the most dedicated employees consider switching careers from time to time. Whether you’re interested in a more challenging position or just looking for a fresh start, we’ve compiled extensive information on becoming a patrol officer, enforcement officer, protective officer, and public safety officer.