All about the profession information security specialist
With the development of Internet technologies, such a concept as information security has become popular. On the Internet, people not only look for entertainment, but also work. And where there is at least some money, scammers appear. In this regard, in organizations of different levels information security specialists began to appear.
Peculiarities
Information Security Specialist Is a professional who ensures the confidentiality of any information concerning both the company itself and its employees. Also, this person prevents any information leaks. Specialists in this area can work in both private and public companies.
The profession has Benefits and limitations, which should be known to those who want to master it. The positive aspects include the following:
- demand, since information technologies are constantly evolving, and there are not so many qualified specialists in this area;
- high wages;
- the specifics of work implies the study of advanced technologies;
- in the course of work, it becomes possible to go on business trips;
- participation in seminars and forums.
There are also disadvantages. These include great responsibility, frequent inspections by regulatory authorities, daily direct contact with technology (if you think about the negative impact of computers on the body).
Responsibilities
The information security specialist is often assigned a very large a responsibility, since you have to be responsible for the safety of important information.If we talk about the public sector, then a person may have to work with documents that constitute state secrets.
In the course of his professional activity, a specialist of this level performs the following duties.
- Participates in the creation and further configuration of the security system. For example, it creates logins and strong passwords for accounts, works with biometrics (recognition of a person by voice, retina, fingerprints).
- Researches sites and services owned by the company. Identifies vulnerabilities.
- Eliminates breakdowns and vulnerabilities that have arisen.
- Detects the presence of hacks in automated and telecommunication systems, and also eliminates their consequences.
- Keeps all the necessary documentation.
- Instructs employees on issues within his competence.
- Generates and provides reports reflecting the state of IT systems.
A specialist of this level works in a team of testers, system administrators, programmers. But in general, he is the key link in this entire system.
Knowledge and skills
In such a complex and responsible profession, it is rather difficult to do without special knowledge and skills. A highly qualified specialist must have the following qualities and knowledge:
- Analytical mind;
- the ability not only to recognize the problem, but also to quickly solve it in the most advantageous way;
- the ability to quickly make the right decisions;
- ability to work in a team;
- fast learner;
- be attentive even to those details that at first glance seem insignificant;
- fast learner;
- methodicalness and curiosity;
- perseverance;
- sociability;
- stress tolerance.
Another important point is that a specialist simply needs to understand technology and Internet technologies, since professional activity is inextricably linked with this. More specifically, at the initial stage it is necessary to understand such concepts as hard, soft, work with component programs.
Education
There are many higher educational institutions in Russia that train specialists of this level. The most popular among applicants are the following:
- Moscow City Pedagogical University;
- Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography;
- Russian University of Economics. Plekhanov;
- Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation;
- Moscow University of Physics and Technology.
If for some reason it is not possible to enter higher educational institutions, the basics of this profession can be mastered in colleges and technical schools. These educational institutions include:
- College of Automation and Information Technology;
- Educational complex of the service sector;
- College of Urban Planning, Transport and Technology;
- College of Entrepreneurship No. 11.
It should be noted that all of the above educational institutions are located in Moscow. There are also many educational institutions of higher and secondary vocational education in the regions that train specialists of this level. The most important thing is choose the right faculty. You will have to study from 2.5 to 5 years, depending on the type of educational institution. For admission, applicants will need to take subjects such as Russian, mathematics, computer science, and English. The school results of the exam are suitable.
Place of work
An information security specialist is a rather demanded specialty in the labor market.... A person with this profession can work in large (even international) companies, banks, organizations specializing in it-technologies. Career develops gradually, with the accumulation of professional experience. At the initial stage, a person can build his career even with incomplete higher education.At this stage, the employee is already entrusted with the administration of systems such as Windows or Unix. But even from novice employees, managers require high professionalism and knowledge. Working in such a position, a person can count on a salary of 25-30 thousand rubles. But this level in a career is very important, as a person gains invaluable experience.
Further, when a person is already a full-fledged certified specialist, he is transferred to a higher position. Here he can already work independently, and junior employees are given to him. Naturally, at this level the salary is higher, about 100 thousand rubles. If an employee shows himself well, he has a very real opportunity to climb the career ladder one more step. Here he can already work the head of the department or the head of the information security department. At this stage, the level of wages can reach 300 thousand rubles. But this is not the limit. A person, when he already feels confident in his professional skills, can create his own information security agency. The company will need to recruit highly qualified specialists who will fulfill orders for information security from other companies and organizations.
Here we can already talk not about the salary, but about the profit. In this case, the income is not limited to the upper limit. It all depends on the success of the established company.
What salary?
The level of wages directly depends on many factors.
- Specialist qualification. Of course, a person who has just graduated from an educational institution and does not have work experience will not be offered the highest wages. As you gain professional experience and skills, you can gradually climb the career ladder. In parallel with this, wages will also grow.
- The company in which the person will get a job. It is generally accepted that in budgetary organizations, employees of this level do not receive the highest income. This is not entirely true. Of course, small organizations cannot allocate a lot of funds for one employee. But if we talk about the public sector at the highest level, then good information security specialists there receive a good salary. Indeed, in this case, we are talking about the security of the whole country. Private companies are also willing to pay well those specialists who will do their job with high quality.
- The region of employment also affects the level of wages. So, if in the Ivanovo region a specialist with a higher education in this area receives 25-30 thousand rubles, then in Moscow the salary of exactly the same specialist will be about 100 thousand rubles.
If we talk about the average salary in the country, then this figure varies from 50 to 150 thousand rubles. You can earn good money if you work in this position abroad. But here, too, a lot depends on the country, as well as on the status of the company.
Choosing a profession is often very difficult. If a person has firmly decided to link his career with information security, he needs to weigh all the pros and cons. If the latter are not intimidating, you can enter the chosen educational institution at the appropriate faculty. Gradually accumulating knowledge and experience, you can become a truly competent specialist with a high salary.