With dependence on technology and computerized systems rising exponentially in the workplace, sensitive and proprietary information is under constant threat of being compromised. If you’re an educated, accredited and experienced security analyst, your employability is assured.
Security analyst job titles also vary slightly. For example, security consultant, security engineer, and security specialist are often used interchangeably and share a similar job function: to ensure the protection of company data.
Security analyst jobs typically require you to work full-time in an office, however, however some travel may be required to evaluate or implement security measures at other locations. In our information age, security measures and experts who can evaluate and implement them are needed in all industries and locations, so you should have no trouble finding security analyst jobs in most major cities.
An average starting salary for a security analyst job is in the mid $60,000s. Highly skilled and experienced security analysts can see their salaries climb into 6 figures as their career progresses. You may find security analyst jobs are also listed under job titles such as security consultant, security engineer and security specialist.
Your employer relies on your expertise to secure highly sensitive data, such as customer information, employee data, business networks and other proprietary information. Most companies are willing to pay competitive security analyst salaries in order to ensure all their data is well protected by highly skilled individuals.
An important part of your job is gathering information and offering recommendations to protect your employer from security breaches. You are on the front line of defense protecting one of your company's most valuable assets: its data. Some of your daily tasks may include:
You will find opportunities for security analysts in diverse industries such as government, technology, banking, finance, insurance, and retail, among others. Wherever computers and business networks are used, your skills are needed to ensure the data they contain is protected.
As with many jobs in the tech industry, security analyst jobs are found in all major city centres in Canada. Security specialist salaries are consistently high in most major cities in Canada, including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary, ensuring you should be able to find work wherever you choose to live in Canada.
As a security analyst, you must be a problem solver who is highly analytical and detail-oriented. Some skills that will help you become a successful security analyst include:
Most security analyst jobs require an undergraduate degree in computer science, math or engineering. Due to the sensitive nature of your work as a security analyst, on-the-job experience may also be required. Companies are willing to pay for experienced talent in order to ensure the safety of their information.
There are many specializations you can opt for under the "security analyst" umbrella. You can obtain various certifications and accreditations that will demonstrate your expertise to employers. It's also important to continuously update your skills. Technology doesn’t stand still, and you can’t either, not if you want to remain employed.
With an increasing number of databases connected to the internet and cloud services, the need for experts who can secure the information on these platforms is expanding as well. It’s expected that the number of security analysts will increase as much as 40% in the next 5 years, to meet this demand.
In terms of options for career advancement, with the right blend of experience, expertise, and proven leadership, you'll find opportunities to advance into management roles in IT. Another option is to become a freelance security consultant. This path offers you more flexibility and control over your schedule and the projects you take on.