How to Start a Cybersecurity Career in India?

Introduction

A cybersecurity career stands out as one of the best and is in demand worldwide. As our digital landscape grows increasingly, data, systems, and networks are needed to be protected from cyber threats. The realm of Cybersecurity can bring about changes in one’s life in many ways. It presents a challenging and captivating career path that empowers anyone to acquire the required skills in order to tackle challenges and make an impact on society.

Moreover, this field offers promising opportunities for development, recognition, and financial gains. According to Pay scales research, the average annual salary for cybersecurity professionals in India is ₹6,20,000—significantly surpassing the average of many other fields of IT. If you are interested in pursuing a career in Cybersecurity, this blog post will navigate you through the different aspects of Cybersecurity, why it is an ideal choice for you, and how you can start your cybersecurity career in India.

Before getting into more details, let’s first understand what cybersecurity really is and some of the responsibilities that are carried out by cybersecurity professionals.

What is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity refers to safeguarding information systems and networks against access, manipulation, or destruction of data by any anonymous individual. It encompasses a range of disciplines, including network security, application security, cloud security, web security, mobile security, cryptography, digital forensics, malware analysis, ethical hacking, penetration testing, incident response, risk management, compliance, and governance.

Cybersecurity is a multidisciplinary field that requires expertise in various areas. Its objective is to uphold the confidentiality integrity, and availability of data as well as resources by identifying threats and afterwards preventing attacks via detecting breaches and responding effectively.

When we talk about the responsibility of cyber security professionals, they play a major role in designing, implementing, maintaining, and enhancing an organization’s overall security posture. They utilize tools, techniques, and best practices to fortify defences against internal and external threats.

Is Cybersecurity the Right Career Choice in India?

Before starting a cybersecurity career, one must ask themselves if it is the right career choice or not. As per the current trend, Cybersecurity is definitely the right career choice in India for several reasons. Let’s discuss these reasons in detail.

There is a huge gap between the supply and demand of cybersecurity professionals in India.

This indicates that there are opportunities for individuals with the right skills to secure employment in this field.

The field of Cybersecurity offers a wide range of roles and specializations.

Depending on your interests, skills, and aspirations, you can pursue a career as a security analyst, engineer, consultant, auditor, manager, architect, researcher, or educator. Furthermore, you can specialize in domains such as network security, application security, cloud security, and more.

Cybersecurity offers potential for growth and advancement.

Given the evolving technology landscape and changing threatscape, updating your knowledge and skills is vital to remain competitive. As you progress in your career journey, you must work under tight deadlines and responsibilities. Tackle challenges that contribute to your professional development while enhancing your career prospects.

Engaging in Cybersecurity offers job satisfaction and recognition.

By working on projects that directly impact organizations’ security, you contribute to security and social welfare by safeguarding critical infrastructure and sensitive data from cyberattacks. You will also be praised by your colleagues, supervisors, and customers for your efforts.

Now, the question that arises is how one should start a cybersecurity career in India.

How to Start a Cybersecurity Career in India?

Below we have explained how one can begin their career in the field of Cybersecurity in India.

Understanding the Cybersecurity Landscape

The first step for any individual to make a career in cybersecurity is to familiarize themselves with the basics of cybersecurity, such as concepts, terminologies, and principles. One can get basic knowledge of Cybersecurity from books, blogs, podcasts, and many videos available on the internet.

Go for Higher Education or Cybersecurity Courses

Any career choice demands at least a graduation and, after that, skills that are required specifically for the job role one is looking for. Once you are done with your graduation, the next step is to choose the cybersecurity course. Various courses are available, such as CEHv12 for beginners and many others. Enrolling in a course will help you learn the fundamentals of Cybersecurity. One can choose either the online or offline course as per their choice.

Practical Experience

The next step is to gain some practical experience in Cybersecurity by applying the knowledge that you have learned through the courses. One can also participate in various projects, internships, or competitions to enhance their knowledge.

Be a Part of Online Community

The next step is to join online communities or forums that will assist you in connecting with other cybersecurity professionals. This will help you learn from their experiences and advice.

Stay Updated

The most crucial step is to stay updated with the latest trends and developments in Cybersecurity. You need to follow the news and events related to Cybersecurity regularly and keep an eye on emerging threats and vulnerabilities. One can do so by reading blogs, and reports or also being part of communities.

We have explained how one can start a career in Cybersecurity. Now, let’s get into the details of the cybersecurity career roadmap.

Cybersecurity Career Roadmap

When we talk about Cybersecurity, it is a vast and diverse field that offers various career paths and ample opportunities. Depending on one’s interest, education, experience, and skills, they can choose from different job roles available. Below, we have explained the overview of the cybersecurity career roadmap.

Entry-Level Career Pathway

It is the starting point from where one starts their cybersecurity career and performs some basic tasks such as monitoring, analyzing, and reporting security incidents. At this beginning phase, one must assist in implementing as well as maintaining security policies.

Below, we have shared a table to better understand the job roles at this level and the average salary.

Entry Level (1-3 Years)

*The salary mentioned above totally depends on your knowledge level and your years of experience.

Entry Level Courses – CEHv12 course, CompTIA A+, Linux + Basic Cyber Security, CompTIA Security+, and Web application Penetration testing (WAPT).

Mid-Level Career Pathway

This is an intermediate-level cybersecurity career where one will be responsible for designing, testing, and evaluating security solutions. Here, cybersecurity professionals are also responsible for conducting security assessments and audits and providing recommendations and guidance to strengthen the organization’s security. Take a look at some cybersecurity Interview Questions.

Below, we have shared some of the job roles at this level, courses, and average salary.

Mid-Level (3-7 years)

Mid-level Courses for these job roles – CISSP (Certified Information System Security Professional), WAPT (Web application Penetration testing), Linux + Cyber Security + WAPT, OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor), and CISM (Certified Information Systems Manager).

Advance-Level Career Pathway

This is the highest level of a cybersecurity career where one will lead as well as manage complex and strategic security projects and initiatives. Apart from that cybersecurity professionals will oversee as well as coordinate the security operations and activities of the organization.

Advance Level (8+ years)

Advance Level Courses for these job roles – CRISC (Certified in Risks and Information Control), CISSP (Certified Information System Security Professional), CISM (Certified Information Security Manager), Linux + Advance Cyber Security, and OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) + OSEP (Offensive Security Expert Program).

Note: All the courses we have shared concerning the job titles and the salary are just to give you a general idea of how one can prepare themselves step by step in the cyber security domain. There are many other courses that one can go through for better understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is cyber security a good career?

Yes, Cyber Security is a good career choice. As technology advances, so does the need for organizations to protect their data as well as systems. Hence, there is and will be a high demand for cybersecurity professionals in the coming years.

Q2. Is cyber security a good career salary?

The salary aspect totally depends on one’s knowledge and experience. Still, there is scope for a good salary range starting from 3 to 4 lakhs per year.

Q3. Is cyber security an IT job?

Yes, Cyber Security is an IT job.

Q4. Is cybersecurity a future job?

The demand for cybersecurity professionals will increase as time passes. Everyone, including small as well as large organizations, wants to protect their data and provide a seamless service to their customers without any cyberthreat. Hence, the future of the cybersecurity field seems positive.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity is a vast field that offers a wide range of opportunities to learn and grow. If someone is passionate enough about technology and security, they can start their journey in this field by following the steps that have been explained in this blog. Always remember that cybersecurity is an evolving field; in return, it will ask enthusiasts to always stay updated and improve themselves. Hence, it is highly recommended to keep updated and motivated. In this blog, we have explained how one can start a cybersecurity career in India, what are the career opportunities in cybersecurity, and cleared other similar doubts regarding a cybersecurity career.