FAQs

Jobs that require cybersecurity know-how have a range of titles. The most common, according to the SANS Institute Cybersecurity Professional Trends survey, are Security Analyst, Security Engineer or Architect, Security/IT Director or Manager, CISO/CSO, Systems Administrator, Network Architect or Engineer, Forensics Investigator, Auditor, Systems Engineer or Integrator, among quite a few other roles.

Common cybersecurity job roles are: incident handling and response, audit and compliance, firewall/IDS/IPS skills, intrusion detection, analytics and intelligence, access/identity management, application security development, advanced malware prevention, and cloud computing/virtualization. While these are the most common skills, most cybersecurity roles require a handful of these skills plus others.

Companies of all types have need for cybersecurity, from traditional tech companies (Apple, Cisco, Intel) to e-commerce (Amazon, e-Bay), to finance (US Bank, Travellers Insurance), to health care (United Health Care, HealthPartners) to traditional retailers (Target, Best Buy). In addition to these traditional large employers, there is a vigorous spectrum of smaller companies as well as consulting jobs available. Finally, government and the public sector have significant unmet cybersecurity job openings.

According to cyberseek.org, as of late 2017 there are 5,849 cybersecurity jobs open in Minnesota and 299,335 cybersecurity jobs nationwide. Cybersecurity talent gaps exist across the country, with employers struggling to fill positions at all levels. From hospitals to government agencies, universities with massive computing power to non-profits with just a handful of desktop computers and a public website, the career opportunities are endless. Starting salary is around $60,000+.

Personality characteristics common to cybersecurity professionals include investigative interests (think Sherlock Holmes), openness to experience, rational decision-making (puzzle solving), and self-efficacy (understanding personal limits).