2 The cybersecurity career landscape

In chapter 1, you began to explore just what cybersecurity is and why it even exists. Now it is time to dig a little deeper and explore the various career paths and disciplines that make up the modern day cybersecurity community.

You also saw in the first chapter how diversity is so important to our efforts to defend the digital way of life that we have come to rely on in society. As we now begin to explore the disciplines of cybersecurity, you will see just how diverse they can be as well.

2.1 The many disciplines of cybersecurity

Anyone considering a career in a cybersecurity-related field should take the time to understand the high-level disciplines that exist within this community. Each of these disciplines, depicted in figure 2.1, categorizes numerous job roles that are constantly evolving and changing. Understanding which disciplines best fit your abilities, experience, and interests will help you better focus your efforts as you seek to build a career. Given the dynamic nature of security specializations, an exhaustive list cannot be put together and kept current.

2.1.1 Security operations

2.1.2 Digital forensics and incident response

2.1.3 Security architecture and design

2.1.4 Security assessment and verification

2.1.5 Application, software, and product security

2.1.6 Governance and compliance

2.1.7 Education and awareness

2.1.8 Sales and sales support

2.1.9 Leaders and executives

2.2 Characteristics of a security professional

2.2.1 Inventors and creators

2.2.2 Obsessively inquisitive