IT Technician: Job Description & Education Requirements

What do IT technicians do? Information technology (IT) technicians advise people in computer installation processes and troubleshooting, and also maintain company systems. There are several education and certification options in this field.

What Is an IT Job?

Information technology (IT) technicians maintain computer systems, provide technical support, and teach their clients the basic skills they need to operate newly installed programs. Aspiring technicians can find certificate and degree programs in information technology and acquire industry-recognized certifications.

IT Technician Job Description

More specifically, IT technicians diagnose computer problems, monitor computer processing systems, install software, and perform tests on computer equipment and programs. Technicians may also set up computer equipment, schedule maintenance, and teach clients to use programs. Other job duties can include minor repairs and computer parts ordering.

IT job requirements include strong knowledge of computers and how they operate, which includes having a broad understanding of hardware and software, operating systems, and basic computer programming. Familiarity with electronic equipment, Internet applications, and security may also be required. Technicians may also need good communication skills because this position requires frequent interaction with clients.

IT Education Requirements

Many employers prefer to hire an IT technician who has some level of formal training. Future IT technicians can find certificate, associate, and bachelor's degree programs in computer science, information technology, or computer information systems. Coursework in these programs may cover computer security, hardware configuration, and technical support. Students can also learn about database programming, operating systems, and software installation.

What skills are needed for job in cyber security?

Cyber security is a gigantic field of study, I’ve come to known a lot of people that are so different from anyone else and we are still combined in the cyber security career. You can think of someone methodical that needs to have everything in order and set in place and you would have a compliance auditor for standards such as PCI, Security Management Programs, etc. And then you could think of the opposite type of person, a more messy mind and personality, tons of different ideas per minute, everything out of its place (because it doesn’t have a “place”) and you’ll have in front of you a good penetration tester.

Those are two basic (over exaggerated) examples that I could think of. Personally, I am kind of in between those types and have been a pentester for around 7+ years. I think the important “skills” needed for cyber security (and basically any job or career) is attitude. You MUST HAVE attitude to learn, to discover, to go deeper, if you don’t understand a concept, research it, research how it works, how is it built. That set of skills is so important, because it won’t let you stay outdated and that is a major must in this field.

cyber security jobs requirements

How to Land an Entry-Level Cyber security Job

These are some of the common types of entry level cyber security jobs you can apply for and the career paths they help jump start.

• IT Technician. ...
• Network Engineer. ...
• Information Security Analyst. ...
• Junior Penetration Tester. ...
• Systems Administrator.
• Now is an exciting time to work in cybersecurity. Not only is the demand for security professionals still very strong, but young workers seeking an entry-level cybersecurity job have more information at their disposal than ever before. This information can help them show potential employers the value they can bring to an organization.
  The field is still fresh and rapidly evolving, so a career started today could go anywhere in the years to come. Given this volatility, how can aspiring security professionals identify the right career path for them and get started today?

  Use the Workforce Framework

  One key source of information for those on the security job market can be found at the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), an effort led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to address the cybersecurity talent shortage. The program offers an invaluable tool called the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework (NCWF).
  The NCWF, also known as NIST Special Publication 800-181, describes all the various fields under the broader cybersecurity umbrella and groups all security activities into seven categories:
  1. Securely Provision (SP)
  2. Operate and Maintain (OM)
  3. Oversee and Govern (OV)
  4. Protect and Defend (PR)
  5. Analyze (AN)
  6. Collect and Operate (CO)
  7. Investigate (IN)
  Within each category are specialty areas — 33 in total — such as risk management, knowledge management and executive cyber leadership, to name a few. The NCWF also specifies what knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) are required for each task and supports keyword searches across all of its attributes, including categories, work roles and, of course, KSAs. This can help you contextualize your experience and interests within potential pathways in a security career.

How do I become a computer security specialist?

Security Specialist is a catchall description for a wide variety of entry- to intermediate-level IT security jobs. In the majority of cases, you will be responsible for designing, testing, implementing and monitoring security measures for your company’s systems. You’ll see a fair amount of crossover in this role with Security Analysts, but junior-level specialists usually have to deal with a lot more administrative tasks.

In addition, Security Specialists tend to be all-rounders. You’ll know how to configure firewalls and implement compliance measures. But you’ll also be adept in pen testing, auditing, and post-incident analysis. In some cases, you may be the one responsible for developing an infosec strategy, recommending security products, and even training other employees.

As part of your day-to-day tasks, you could be required to:

• Analyze and establish security requirements for your systems/networks
• Defend systems against unauthorized access, modification and/or destruction
• Configure and support security tools such as firewalls, anti-virus software, patch management systems, etc.
• Define access privileges, control structures and resources
• Perform vulnerability testing, risk analyses and security assessments
• Identify abnormalities and report violations
• Oversee and monitor routine security administration
• Develop and update business continuity and disaster recovery protocols
• Train fellow employees in security awareness, protocols and procedures
• Design and conduct security audits to ensure operational security
• Respond immediately to security incidents and provide post-incident analysis
• Research and recommend security upgrades
• Provide technical advice to colleagues

In a large organization, you will typically report to a Security Managerhttps://www.fieldengineer.com/skills/cyber-security-specialist.

Information System Specialist Job Description

Information Security Analyst Job Description :
We are hiring an Information Security Analyst to work in our growing IT Security team. You will monitor our computer networks for security issues, install security software, and document any security issues or breaches you find. To do well in this role you should have a bachelor's degree in computer science and experience in the information security field.

Information Security Analyst Responsibilities:
Monitor computer networks for security issues.
Investigate security breaches and other cyber security incidents.
Install security measures and operate software to protect systems and information infrastructure, including firewalls and data encryption programs.
Document security breaches and assess the damage they cause.
Work with security team to perform tests and uncover network vulnerabilities.
Fix detected vulnerabilities to maintain a high-security standard.
Stay current on IT security trends and news.
Develop company-wide best practices for IT security.
Perform penetration testing.
Help colleagues install security software and understand information security management.
Research security enhancements and make recommendations to management.
Stay up-to-date on information technology trends and security standards.
Information Security Analyst Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field.
MBA in information systems.
Experience in information security or related field.
Experience with computer network penetration testing and techniques.
Understanding of firewalls, proxies, SIEM, antivirus, and IDPS concepts.
Ability to identify and mitigate network vulnerabilities and explain how to avoid them.
Understanding of patch management with the ability to deploy patches in a timely manner while understanding business impact.
Information Security Analyst FAQ:
What do information security analysts do?
Information security analysts design, implement, monitor, and evaluate the security systems that protect an organization’s computer systems and data. Add your information security analyst roles and responsibilities to our information security analyst description to begin creating a detailed, professional job listing for your business.

Can I edit your information security analyst description?
We encourage you to add details about the information security analyst duties and responsibilities at your organization. Feel free to customize any section of our info security analyst description to get a job listing that works for your organization.

What information should I include when I post an information security analyst job?
When you advertise an information security analyst job, you should let applicants know about your expectations and requirements. Tell candidates more about the information security analyst education requirements, duties, and skills you’re looking for in your next hire. Add you details to our information security analyst job description template to design a job listing that will attract top talent.

The Role of An IT Security Professional

An IT Security Professional is someone responsible for protecting the networks, infrastructure and systems for a business or organisation.

What is IT Security Specialist?

IT Security Specialist is the information security which is applied to technology and computer systems. It focuses on protecting computers, networks, programs and data from unauthorized access or damage. IT Security can also be referred to as Cyber Security. IT Security plays a vital role within the government, military, finance companies, hospitals and many private businesses as they store a large amount of data and information on their computer systems that need to be kept secure.  

What does it entail?

The main use for IT Security and the main role for an IT Security specialist is to:

• Protect computer systems by creating barriers deterring external access to them
• Recognise problems within systems by identifying uncharacteristic activity
• Assess current situations with the network security and carry out audits
• Implement improvements where needed and keep the users informed by completing performance reports on a regular basis to communicate the status of the system security.

The general working hours of an IT Security specialist will be the normal 37 or 40 hours a week. However, you will likely have the responsibility of being on call 24/7 in case of any security breaches.  You will need to be aware of this.

Areas in IT security

There are many different areas within IT Security itself. You can specialize in one of these areas or a number of these areas if you wish. They include:

• Network Troubleshooting
• System Administration
• Firewall Administration
• Information Security Policies
• Penetration testing
• Ethical Hacking
• Security Analyst

The salary can vary depending on the area of IT Security, the qualification level and the location of your work. The salary can vary from £25,000 to £85,000. To give you a more specific idea of salary ranges, an IT Security Officer can earn around £34,000, an IT Security Engineer can earn around £58,000 and Head of IT Security can earn around £85,000 or higher in certain sectors and large businesses. Ethical hacking is also a growth sector and specialized consultants in this area can earn high incomes.

Required skills

If you are looking to work in the IT Security sector it would be beneficial for you to have the following skill set:

• Analytical
• Logical
• Ability to prioritize work load
• Aware of developments in Cyber Security
• Understanding of Database, Networking and Systems
• Understanding of applicable UK law and regulations in relation to IT Security
• Experience with Antivirus software and web proxy management
• An IT Security / Computer Science related degree or certification
• A strong background in IT

Network Security Job Description

How do I become a network security specialist?

Network Security Specialist: Job Description and Requirements

Network security specialist require a moderate amount of formal education. Learn about the education, job duties and certifications to see if this is the right career for you.

Keeping criminals out of computer systems requires network security specialists to monitor systems and upgrade security measures. Network security specialists have a wide range of job duties, depending on the security needs and protocols of the organizations where the work. These professionals must be ingenious enough to anticipate potential problems, and they must use analytical skills to fix problems and maintain system security at all times.

Essential Information

Network security specialists detect, prevent and resolve security threats to computer networks. They also play an important role in maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of a company's data and information systems. Employers prefer to hire candidates with a bachelor's degree and industry certification.

Job Description of a Network Security Specialist

Network security specialists monitor computer networks for security threats or unauthorized users. They may identify compromised machines and report on security measures taken to address threats. Network security specialists also analyze security risks and develop response procedures. Additional duties may include developing and testing software deployment tools, firewalls and intrusion detection systems.

Some network security workers research, evaluate, recommend and implement other security devices as well. This may include installing computer security software, conducting regular security audits, preparing security status reports, educating users on computer security, creating security documentation for users, assisting in disaster recovery and gathering evidence regarding cybercrimes.

Employment Outlook and Salary Information

Network security specialists can also be called information security analysts, and the employment outlook in this profession is favorable. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the field of information security analysts should see an 32% increase in demand, adding over 35,500 jobs between 2018 and 2028. The average salary for information security analysts was $ 98,350 in May of 2018.

Requirements to Become a Network Security Specialist

According to the BLS, employers often require network security specialists to have a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field. Relevant degree programs include computer science, information technology and management information systems. Some employers may be willing to hire applicants who don't have a degree as long as they have the equivalent experience.

Employers may prefer applicants who have years of experience working in networking systems, network security or information technology, according to multiple job listings found on Monster.com in October 2010. Areas that aspiring network security specialists should be knowledgeable in include network access control (NAC) systems, firewalls, routers, incident response techniques, intrusion prevention systems, information security methodologies, authentication protocols and different attack types.