Top 8 in-demand cybersecurity jobs in India?

Jobs for cybersecurity professionals are going to be available in ample numbers in the current decade. This is what a report from the US Bureau of Labour Statistics has to say. According to this report, employment opportunities for information security analysts are likely to grow by 31 % between 2020 and 2030. This is the highest rate of employment opportunity growth across all sectors and jobs.

According to the research, the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the need for effective cybersecurity policies at a time when businesses were becoming more remote, there were more devices online, there were more digital payments being made, and security concerns were at an all-time high.

According to data from Indeed, job posts for “cybersecurity” increased by 81% between August 2019 and August 2022.

The survey also stated that the deployment of 5G services will result in a significant increase in the number of security-related positions. There is already a talent mismatch of 25.5% in security between August 2019 and August 2022.

But hang on a second. The information security analyst job is just one of so many other jobs in the cybersecurity space. A report by The New York Times points to over 3.5 million jobs being available in the cybersecurity space.

The growing importance of cybersecurity

Clearly, cybersecurity as a field of study and work is booming. And the reason for this is not hard to find. In the past decade, the reliance of human beings on technology has gone up manifold. From just using computers to make our work simpler, we are now using smartphones, with a range of applications, that control almost all aspects of our waking hours. From watching films to buying stuff to trading in stocks to ordering food to engaging with friends on social media platforms, every dimension of human life is enabled by technology. This has resulted in a huge amount of data on human choices and behavior being generated. If you consider the number of times you engage online in a day and multiply that number with the number of people who have smartphones and internet access in the world, you will get to randomly assess the quantum of data that is possibly being generated daily. This means that all that data is available out there and is prone to being stolen.

And that’s what makes cybersecurity important. and critical.

Companies across the world are making increased efforts to ringfence their applications and processes. Therefore, people with cybersecurity skills are in great demand. They are likely to play a huge role in how people engage online – safely and securely.

The role of a cybersecurity expert

Fundamentally, a cybersecurity expert is a custodian of online safety. They audit computer hardware and IT architecture to ensure that it is free from any potential online attacks. This expert ensures that every piece of IT infrastructure is working fine and that there are no gaps or flaws that may lead to data theft, misuse, or loss. Cybersecurity experts have different areas of specialization within the realm of cybersecurity. But principally, they inspect, analyze, and constantly monitor a company’s IT systems.

Over time, and with experience, a cybersecurity expert grows into a leadership role. They help formulate policies, they design water-tight, secure IT architecture; and they train teams to manage cybersecurity tasks.

Cyber Security jobs and roles

1. System administrator

This role involves maintaining records of all user accounts in a system  safely and securely. People in this role ensure that the IT hardware and software in a company are continuously monitored and audited. They are like the flight engineers who certify a plane before it takes off. They are also in charge of creating regular backups of data, authorizing hierarchical access to a system’s architecture, and installing new applications. In this role, you will need a bachelor’s degree and a background in web technology and network administration, as well as knowledge of computer science.

2. Information security analyst

This role has three key functions. It involves ensuring the data on a system is protected through continuous risk assessment and security planning and  constantly monitoring the network. A degree in computer science is essential. Additionally, it would help to have knowledge of:

•     Patch management.
•     Vulnerability scanning tools.
•     How control frameworks like ISO 27001 work.
•     Antivirus protection.
•     Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS).

·      Industry policies and standards governing information security.

3. Crime investigator

This is an umbrella role. It covers several job titles that you would encounter in a crime-based web series. These titles include digital forensic analyst/technician/expert, incident responder, information security crime investigator, and cybersecurity forensics analyst. A crime investigator usually investigates data and identity theft. As government agencies are the ones that hire investigators, the qualifications required may change from one agency to another; they are also dependent on local state governments. Passing a drug test, a psychological review, and a physical examination may be a prerequisite.

4. An IT support specialist

This person solves problems. It is a role that interfaces directly with customers. And so, most of the problems solved are the ones that emerge from customer experiences and moments of truth. This role also requires constant audit and review/maintenance of a company’s IT infrastructure. Basic education and knowledge of IT systems and processes, and customer support experience are preferred.

5. Junior penetration testers

This role involves testing how fool-proof a company’s systems are. So a tester will attempt to hack the system and recommend ways to make it more secure. In a way, it is an ethical hacker’s role. A sound technical background in operating systems and network protocols like TCP/IP, UDP, ARP, DHCP, and DNS is required.

6. Cryptanalyst

This is an exciting role. It involves using math and algorithms to crack cryptic codes that are used by, or set up by, criminals. This job may additionally require either unencrypting or encrypting sensitive data. The person in this role must love math, and have a solid foundation in linear algebra and calculus. Of course, knowledge of the top programming languages is a must. They will also need to know how to use tools like CryptTool, CryptoBench, and Cryptol.

7. Source code auditor

This role involves digging deep into a system’s codes while looking for potential vulnerabilities. If undetected and fixed, these vulnerabilities may pose a risk: they may offer unauthorized access and lead to information or data theft. Advanced coding skills and knowledge of networks, databases, cryptography, and digital forensics are required for this role.

8. Security auditor

This role expands on the scope of a source code auditor’s role. It involves looking into a system and ensuring that its security protocols comply both with government policies and the company’s policy. Education in an IT discipline, knowledge of security laws, and IT-related security concepts is a prerequisite.