Cybersecurity Careers: Types, Quiz, and How to Land One

If you want to be at the forefront of our increasingly digital world, look no further than cybersecurity careers. As companies use more new programs, devices, and technology to communicate crucial business information, ensuring that data is secure is of the utmost importance. That’s where cybersecurity professionals come in.

While cybersecurity professionals all work to ensure the safety of companies and their information, they do so differently and at different points in the security process. For example, some professionals work on proactively setting up secure systems, while others react to security threats and incidents.

In this guide, we’ll go over the main types of cybersecurity careers, including what projects these professionals might work on and the skills they need. Then, we’ll share a free, fun quiz to help you figure out what type of cybersecurity career is right for you — and give you some tips on how to land those roles. 

What Are Cybersecurity Careers?

Cybersecurity careers focus on protecting organizations’ digital assets, data, and systems from threats and attacks. These roles combine technical expertise with problem-solving skills to defend against evolving cyber threats. Whether working to prevent data breaches, responding to security incidents, or ensuring compliance with security standards, cybersecurity professionals play a crucial role in modern businesses. 

As cyber threats grow in sophistication and frequency, the demand for cybersecurity talent remains strong across industries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the estimated job growth for these positions is 33% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average of 4%. The world needs cybersecurity professionals. The World Economic Forum reported a talent shortage of 4 million cybersecurity professionals worldwide, with 71% of organizations looking to fill cybersecurity positions. 

Main Types of Cybersecurity Careers 

While all cybersecurity careers share a common goal of protecting organizations from cyber threats, different types of these careers require different combinations of skills, knowledge, and approaches. Some professionals focus on hands-on technical work, like analyzing security threats or testing system vulnerabilities. Others take on strategic roles, developing security policies or managing entire security programs. Many positions combine technical and business aspects, requiring professionals to balance security needs with organizational goals.

Security Analyst/Operations

Security analysts and operations professionals focus on monitoring, detecting, and responding to security threats and incidents. Their responsibilities include analyzing security logs, investigating security breaches, and implementing security controls to protect an organization’s systems and data. For example, a security analyst may work on developing a security incident response plan or automating threat detection. 

Critical skills for these roles include:

• Strong analytical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Familiarity with security tools and technologies
• The ability to communicate technical information to non-technical stakeholders

The work environment is often fast-paced, with the need to respond rapidly to emerging threats.

Types of jobs in security analysis and operations include:

• Incident response analyst
• Cybersecurity analyst
• Security operation engineer
• Security operations center (SOC) analyst
• Vulnerability management specialist 

Security Architecture and Engineering

Security architects and engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining secure systems and infrastructure. Their work includes securing networks, protecting cloud environments, managing identity and access controls, and integrating security into the software development lifecycle. They may work on projects such as deploying secure access controls or hardening systems against common attack vectors. 

For these roles, you’ll need a solid technical background, including expertise in areas like networking, cloud computing, and software development. The work environment is more project-oriented and collaborative, with architects working closely with engineers and developers to build security solutions. 

Types of jobs in security architecture and engineering include: 

• Application security engineer
• Cloud security engineer
• Identity and access management specialist
• Security architect
• Security engineer

Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)

Security professionals in GRC roles ensure that an organization’s cybersecurity practices align with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards. They conduct risk assessments, develop security policies, and monitor compliance across a company. For example, they may implement a risk management framework or conduct audits to identify control gaps.

Strong research, analytical, and communication skills are vital, as GRC professionals often need to present findings and recommendations to leadership. Their work environment tends to be more process-oriented, focusing on developing and maintaining robust governance structures. 

Types of jobs in governance, risk, and compliance include:

• Audit and assurance specialist
• Compliance analyst
• Information security manager
• Policy and standards manager
• Risk manager

Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking

Penetration testers and ethical hackers actively attempt to breach an organization’s security defenses in order to identify vulnerabilities. They use their network exploitation, web application hacking, and social engineering expertise to help organizations improve their overall security. For example, an ethical hacker may conduct a phishing simulation to see if employees fall for their test and then use the simulation to educate them on best security practices. 

These professionals need technical skills like scripting, reverse engineering, and knowledge of hacking methodologies. Their work is often project-based, with penetration testers collaborating with security and IT teams to remediate the issues they uncover. Strong communication skills are key, as they need to present their findings and recommendations effectively.

Types of jobs in penetration testing and ethical hacking include:

• Ethical hacker
• Infrastructure security tester
• Penetration tester
• Red teamer
• Vulnerability analyst

Security Program Management

Security program managers oversee the strategic planning, implementation, and ongoing management of an organization’s entire cybersecurity program. Their responsibilities include budgeting, resource allocation, policy development, and stakeholder engagement. For example, these high-level, strategic positions may involve building a security awareness training curriculum or overseeing the deployment of a new security technology. 

In these roles, you’ll need strong leadership skills, business acumen, and the ability to translate technical concepts into business impacts. The work environment is more high-level and cross-functional, with security program managers interfacing with executives, business units, and other IT/security teams. They need to balance technical expertise with strategic thinking and effective communication.

Types of jobs in security program management include:

• Chief information security officer (CISO)
• Cybersecurity program manager
• Cybersecurity strategy consultant
• Information security director
• Security portfolio manager

What Cybersecurity Careers Are Right for Me? Quiz

How to Land Cybersecurity Careers

Now that you know what kind of cybersecurity career is right for you, how do you land one? We asked cybersecurity professionals for their top advice on how to get into the field. 

Build Your Technical Skills

Cybersecurity is a technical field, which means that you’ll need specific hard skills to complete everyday work. Building core technical skills can help you succeed regardless of what field you specialize in:

• Networking fundamentals: a strong understanding of networking concepts, including IP addressing, subnetting, DNS, TCP/IP, and the OSI model, is crucial, as these professionals secure networks
• Knowledge of operating systems: proficiency in Windows, Linux, and Unix, as different environments require different security approaches
• Programming and scripting: knowledge of programming languages like Python, JavaScript, and C/C++ is valuable for automation, vulnerability analysis, and developing security tools

Other more specialized skills include:

• Cybersecurity tools like Kali Linux, Metasploit, and Nmap
• Encryption and cryptography
• Threat detection and incident response
• Risk assessment and vulnerability management 
• Cloud security
• Reverse engineering and malware analysis 

There are tons of ways (even free ones!) to build up these skills. For example, to understand networking fundamentals, platforms like Cisco’s Packet Tracer or GNS3 offer virtual environments to configure networks, practice IP addressing, and experiment with network protocols. Wireshark offers sample capture files to help you learn how to analyze network traffic. Students can start with basic packet capture analysis and move on to identifying specific traffic patterns or potential malicious activity.

>>MORE: 10 Best Cybersecurity Bootcamps 

Websites like LeetCode offer programming challenges to practice programming skills. To learn more about different security tools, TryHackMe and Hack The Box offer labs on specific security tools and introductory courses. 

But Don’t Ignore Soft Skills

While technical skills are the foundation of cybersecurity careers, soft skills are how you navigate actually bringing cybersecurity solutions into an organization. You need to be able to tell leaders why your solution will be effective or do research on why you need to implement the latest and greatest cybersecurity technology. 

Edward Starkie, director of GRC at Thomas Murray, says that “being able to understand and articulate complex problems (and potential solutions) to both technical and non-technical audiences” is one of the most crucial skills for succeeding in the cybersecurity career path.

Starkie says that in addition to these communication skills, a growth mindset and “a constant desire to question, learn, and improve” are essential for continued success. However, he also acknowledges that the field is incredibly vast. You also need “the ability to show humility and be honest,” he says. “You will not be able to learn everything in this space, and it is important to recognize this.”

Learn From and Talk to Professionals

Like in most job searches, networking is everything when trying to find a cybersecurity career. 

“An introduction is going to go far, far further than even the best resume, and talking to people and building relationships is how to get those introductions,” says James Bore, a cybersecurity expert and director at Bores Group Ltd. 

But how do you go about getting these connections? 

Kris Bondi, CEO and co-founder of Mimoto, a proactive detection and response cybersecurity company, recommends using your school as a resource. 

“While still in school, students can ask professionals with different cybersecurity titles and backgrounds for informational interviews,” she says. “Many universities have one or more organizations that help pair undergraduates with alumni for career guidance. This is a great starting place.”

Bore also recommends looking into the cybersecurity community at large, including local community conferences such as BSides, a security conference in New York City. 

“It’s largely a very open, supportive community actively seeking new members, and that sort of support is priceless in seeking a role,” he says.

Get Real-World Experience

When applying to cybersecurity roles, the best way to show you have the skills you need to succeed is to get real-world experience.

“The cybersecurity field values experience over college certifications,” says Seth Geftic, vice president of product marketing for Huntress, a cybersecurity platform. “While it’s important to have a grounding in technical skills and knowledge, college is far from the only way that people can get this. Your best bet will always be looking for opportunities that give you hands-on work in the field that you’re interested in.”

While internships, part-time work opportunities, or even volunteering can help you get that experience, there are also ways to build experience at home by working on your own projects. 

For example, doing a Forage job simulation helps you understand what it’s like to put cybersecurity skills into practice, simulating a day in the life of a cybersecurity role. You’ll build skills that employers look for and have real projects to point to when it comes time to submit your application. 

The goal is not just to tell employers you have the technical and soft skills needed to thrive in a cybersecurity career but also to show them that you’ve done the work before. 

Cybersecurity Careers: The Bottom Line

Cybersecurity careers are technical careers that aim to protect companies’ data, assets, and systems by ensuring their security. While all cybersecurity careers use technical skills to defend against cyber threats, the part of the security process they’re a part of and the systems they work on differ depending on the type of role.

For example, security analysts and operations professionals are more reactive, focusing on squashing threats as they come. Security engineering and architecture roles are more proactive, building systems that can protect against those threats. Risk, governance, and compliance careers are more process-oriented, ensuring companies follow security best practices. 

Landing a cybersecurity career involves getting the foundational hard skills and the soft skills you need to navigate a business and share solutions. Focus on not just learning these skills, but actively building them — including real-world projects you can show employers in the application process.

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