Employers frequently look to certification as a measure of excellence and commitment to quality. Certain employers, including Department of Defense, require certain certifications such as CompTIA Security+ Certification.
Security related positions often cover a wide range of skills in areas such as information security, security analysis, network administrator, security engineer. Some positions may require a more specialized role such as malware engineer, intrusion analyst, and penetration tester. Average salaries vary widely depending on the role and the location. According to salary.com an entry level cyber security analyst salary in Georgia can range from $60k to $85k per year; while ZipRecruiter estimates a salary range for a cyber security analyst of $50k to $100k per year.
Certifications that are in demand by employers include:
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA Security+ is a global certification that validates the baseline skills necessary to perform core security functions and pursue an IT security career.
CompTIA CyberSecurity Analyst (CySA+)
CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) is an IT workforce certification that applies behavioral analytics to networks and devices to prevent, detect and combat cybersecurity threats through continuous security monitoring.
CompTIA PenTest+
CompTIA PenTest+ (approved by the US Department of Defense 8570 for three cybersecurity job categories) is for cybersecurity professionals tasked with penetration testing and vulnerability management.
Certified Ethical Hacker
The Certified Ethical Hacker certification will fortify the application knowledge of security officers, auditors, security professionals, site administrators, and anyone who is concerned about the integrity of the network infrastructure.