| As the information systems industry has grown, so | | | | The best way to advance in security is through gaining |
| has the number of those who want to use it for more | | | | certifications in one area or another. This usually |
| nefarious reasons. Spyware, malware, hacking, and | | | | means one has already gotten a vocational certificate |
| identity theft are just the tip of the cyber crime iceberg. | | | | or a minimum two year degree from an online or on |
| From the looks of things it's only going to get bigger. | | | | campus college. Among the areas one can get |
| Because of this, computer security has become one | | | | certification from are Security Essentials, Firewall |
| of the hottest growing occupations of the last decade. | | | | Analyst, Forensics and Systems Auditor. The more |
| The thing is, as the need for security experts has | | | | certificates one earns, the more areas they can work |
| grown, so has the field diversified. It's getting to the | | | | in. |
| point where being an expert in the entirety of it doesn't | | | | As each different certificate involves different classes, |
| happen overnight. In fact, most security experts didn't | | | | one should sit down and consult with a career |
| start in the field at all. They usually start as support | | | | counselor before choosing any specific program. |
| techs, programmers or systems administrators. These | | | | Another important thing to discuss is possible financial |
| people not only understand system fundamentals, but | | | | assistance. If the company one works for won't offer |
| also can get the experience they need to decide | | | | any help (although many do) one can also go for a |
| which aspect of security they want to enter. | | | | number of other routes, including private, professional |
| Among the possible responsibilities are detecting and | | | | and public institutions. For instance, computer security is |
| eliminating any viruses or other malicious software | | | | considered a STEM profession, so one can apply to |
| slipped into a computer system, creating firewalls and | | | | the National Science Foundation for S-STEM |
| other security programs to prevent such infiltration, | | | | assistance. |
| repair any damaged systems, perform risk | | | | As it stands, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports |
| assessments and keep a user's hardware as up to | | | | there are about 135,000 security experts in the |
| date as possible. | | | | workforce. They project there will be a need for an |
| Computer security specialists may also do forensics | | | | additional 20%, or 27,000, by the year 2020. The |
| for the police and other law enforcement | | | | average salary is estimated at $67,000, and that's |
| organizations. They may also be called in by courts for | | | | dependent on the level of certification, years of |
| advice or to testify as experts. These last two areas | | | | experience, and where one works. Top experts |
| are rapidly growing places of employment within this | | | | working in international finance or national security are |
| profession. | | | | capable of earning considerably more. |