Your cyber security job questions, answered
Are there lots of cyber security jobs available in Australia?
Definitely. Covid-19 and the shift to remote working sent demand for cyber security skills skyrocketing, especially in cloud security and base level networking. With remote, flexible and hybrid working here to stay, safeguarding the digital assets we need to do our jobs effectively will become more critical than ever.
Companies need the right professionals to ensure connections are secure, end-points are protected and application data encrypted, wherever people are working from.
We regularly advertise new jobs for Cyber Security professionals right around Australia.
What job type or area of cyber security should I specialise in?
You’ve no shortage of choice. Demand will always be high for people with deep technical understanding, but you’re not limited to those jobs. There are loads of opportunities out there from people and process-based areas of relationship management, user education, risk analysis, strategy and road mapping.
Cyber security isn’t always a linear career, and proven experience in risk analysis and stakeholder engagement can hold just as much weight as technical expertise. Cyber – like so many disciplines – requires true diversity of talent and thought.
What salary does a cyber security analyst earn in Australia?
Salaries vary widely depending on the role, location and type of company. As a cyber security analyst, typical salaries can vary from $100,000 to around $130,000 and as a cyber security engineer between $110,000-$135,000.
At the more advanced end you might earn up to $220,000 as a cyber security manager, and between $163,000-$220,000 as a cyber security architect, depending on experience and the area.
As a
penetration tester, you can see salaries ranging from $120,000 up to $170,000 in Sydney and Melbourne.
What qualifications can increase my cyber security salary?
At entry level, MTA Security Fundamentals, ISACA CSX Cyber Security Fundamentals Certificate, CompTIA Security+, GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF) and (ISC)2 Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) are great for core knowledge.
A solid understanding of the principles of networking will also always be useful – CCNA for example. There are also clear paths for key areas of Penetration Testing, for example CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) and CREST accreditations. If you’re starting to think about leadership roles, qualifications such as CISSP, CISM, CRISC and CISA will give you the edge.
Is AI becoming more important in cyber security?
In short, yes. Artificial intelligence is set to be a vital tool for helping cyber security experts stay ahead of threats. Through technologies like natural language processing and machine learning, AI is trained on where the risks of cybercrime lie.
Eliminating time-consuming research tasks and providing detailed analysis of threats will give you as a professional the time you need to make crucial decisions and launch a response to remediate them.
What industries are hiring cyber security professionals?
Any organisations that use computerised systems, which means everyone and anyone! Larger organisations in government, financial services, defence, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals are obvious targets.
If you’re more junior looking for training or have specialist experience, big corporates have loads of opportunities. SMEs are more likely to hire a security professional into a broader role, often showing flexibility on technology and experience.