The Top Five Job Roles for Certified Cybersecurity Technicians

According to research, 1802 cases of data compromise were recorded in 2022 in the U.S. (Petrosyan, A., 2023). With the rising intensity and frequency of cyberattacks wreaking havoc on businesses, the demand for cybersecurity professionals with the breadth of training and experience necessary to handle these cyberthreats is growing exponentially. The employment of information security analysts is expected to increase by 35% between 2021 and 2031 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). The current scenario represents an attractive and rewarding opportunity for anyone interested in starting a career in the fast-growing field of cybersecurity. While cybersecurity professionals in mid-level and senior-level positions receive handsome compensation, cyber security jobs salaries for entry-level positions are also reasonably high compared to other beginner-level job roles. The average cybersecurity technician salary ranges between $48,426 and $65,517 in the United States (Salary.com, 2023), and the average cyber security specialist salary in the U.S. is $81,537 (PayScale, 2023).

Individuals wanting to apply for entry-level cybersecurity jobs must develop the foundational technical competency to demonstrate relevant skill sets to employers. EC-Council’s Certified Cybersecurity Technician (C|CT) is the world’s unique entry-level cybersecurity certification program that teaches learners the fundamental techniques and knowledge necessary to become trained cybersecurity professionals. In the C|CT course, learners develop a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity that prepares them to succeed in their future endeavors in the industry, including gaining attractive employment opportunities and achieving additional accreditation in their chosen specializations.

This blog highlights the various benefits of the C|CT certification and the top five cybersecurity technicians jobs students become eligible for by pursuing this course.

Benefits of the C|CT Program

The C|CT program helps students build cybersecurity careers by helping them gain and prove their expertise in a wide range of technical skills across essential cybersecurity domains. Below are the unique benefits of the program that make it a highly sought-after entry-level cybersecurity course among aspiring cybersecurity professionals.

• Hands-on training: The C|CT is the only baseline cyber security job training program that offers 85 hands-on labs to help candidates gain practical cybersecurity technical skills required to land an entry-level cyber security job. The program promotes hands-on skill development by exposing candidates to real-world scenarios.
• Multi-domain learning: The C|CT course provides multi-disciplinary learning in four crucial cybersecurity domains: network defense, ethical hacking, digital forensics, and security operations. The program’s comprehensive learning equips learners with a broad range of cybersecurity knowledge and skills and prepares them for popular entry-level cybersecurity jobs.
• Capture the Flag (CTF) style challenges: The C|CT program helps learners acquire a proven record of skill demonstration through the CTF style competitions in a live cyber range environment. Students get exposed to critical thinking challenges and build in-demand skills to validate their competence to prospective employers.
• Performance-based exams: C|CT students are evaluated through performance-based examinations delivered on a live cyber range. Attaining this certification makes learners job-ready for cybersecurity roles such as cyber security specialist, network administrator, IT networking specialist, and more.
• Affordable: Despite being a hands-on course with an immersive practical certification program exposing students to a live cyber range experience, EC-Council’s C|CT certification is highly affordable.

Top Job Roles and Responsibilities for Certified Cybersecurity Technicians

EC-Council’s C|CT certification provides participants with strong foundational skills to pursue various cybersecurity careers, including ethical hacking, Internet of Things (IoT) security, and application security. This means that C|CT-certified professionals can pursue a wide range of roles and responsibilities depending on which cybersecurity niche most interests them. The primary job roles that certified cybersecurity technicians become eligible for are:

• Security Operations Center Analyst
• Network Engineer
• IT Manager
• Ethical Hacker
• Cybersecurity Technician

1. Security Operations Center Analyst

Security operations center (SOC) analysts play an essential role in frontline IT security teams. SOC analysts are responsible for reporting malicious activity and implementing security protocols or changes to defend against cyberattacks. The average annual salary of an entry-level SOC analyst is USD 70,470 in the United States (ZipRecruiter, 2023).

The responsibilities of a SOC analyst include the following

• Analyzing potential and incoming threats
• Analyzing network vulnerabilities
• Investigating and reporting on information security issues and trends
• Searching for and responding to newly discovered hardware and software vulnerabilities
• Creating disaster recovery plans

2. Network Engineer

Network engineers set up and maintain computer systems throughout an organization. Their goal is to ensure that all hardware is optimized and maintained to ensure the integrity of the network and the organization’s infrastructure, including working with cybersecurity teams to ensure that networks are adequately protected. Cybersecurity professionals in this position are responsible for designing and maintaining network infrastructure, installing firewalls, and providing support and troubleshooting to security teams and clients. A network engineer in the United States earns an average base salary of USD 93,048 annually (Indeed, 2023).

The responsibilities of a network engineer include:

• Developing and establishing the network environment
• Designing and implementing new solutions to improve network resilience
• Troubleshooting network errors and outages
• Scheduling network upgrades
• Securing networks by establishing and maintaining policies
• Creating and supporting firewalls
• Providing remote support to cybersecurity teams and customers

3. IT Manager

IT managers ensure that all employees in an organization have the appropriate IT hardware and software to do their jobs effectively and safely. They may also coordinate with other departments, such as HR or finance, to ensure all data is secured. This requires a robust understanding of cybersecurity, which students are taught in the C|CT certification course. The average base salary for an IT manager in the United States is USD 90,446 per year (PayScale, 2023).

The responsibilities of an IT manager include:

• Managing and coordinating IT staff
• Managing and evaluating electronic and data operations
• Managing computer systems and IT equipment within the organization

4. Ethical Hacker

An ethical hacker identifies security vulnerabilities by testing an organization’s security and network infrastructure using the same techniques and approaches as a malicious hacker. Ethical hackers may attempt to hack into an organization’s networks, web servers, and applications in addition to testing for susceptibility to social engineering tactics. The results of an ethical hacker’s tests allow an organization to amend any vulnerabilities relating to current security threats the organization is likely to face. In the United States, the average ethical hacker earns an annual salary of USD 105,656 (Salary.com, 2023). An ethical hacker’s responsibilities include the following:

• Determining the initial scope of the assessment
• Attempting to hack into the organization’s network (with the organization’s consent)
• Reporting all security breaches and vulnerabilities to the organization

5. Cybersecurity Technician

EC-Council’s C|CT certification equips students with skills to become cybersecurity technicians. A cyber security technician job description typically involves designing information security plans and working with other departments within the organization to execute those plans. They use their technical IT knowledge, combined with penetration testing, ethical hacking, and other skills, to strengthen an organization’s network security. The average salary of a cybersecurity technician in the United States is $56,543 (Salary.com, 2023).

Other typical responsibilities for a cybersecurity technician include:

• Troubleshooting security issues
• Responding to security breaches
• Communicating security protocols to other departments
• Identifying network vulnerabilities using penetration testing and ethical hacking techniques

Ready to Get Certified?

If you’re interested in starting entry-level cyber security jobs with no experience, EC-Council’s C|CT certification is a great option, whether you have prior cybersecurity training or not. For many individuals new to cybersecurity, the C|CT certification is an ideal starting point.

After obtaining the C|CT, you’ll be prepared to immediately start a career as a cybersecurity technician. You can also build on the skills you learn in the course to pursue additional certifications in other cybersecurity domains, such as the Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH), Certified Penetration Testing Professional (C|PENT), and Certified Network Defender (C|ND).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)