According to statistics, cybercrime is up a whopping 600% since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, costing American businesses over $6.2 billion last year alone. But the damage to businesses is far beyond monetary, damaging reputations and costing companies businesses and future clients.
With ransomware, viruses, and malware rampant throughout the world, companies are hiring for remote cybersecurity jobs constantly. As a result, the demand far outpaces the number of individuals with cybersecurity expertise, making this job one of the hottest across all industries. Total job growth, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is expected to be 33%, giving it around five times more growth than the average for all other jobs.
Do you have an interest in policing the bad guys remotely? Then a career in remote cybersecurity is just what you need to find meaning and excitement.
Everything You Need to Know About Remote Cybersecurity Jobs
Cybersecurity analysts are a motley crew, coming from a variety of backgrounds and working in a number of industries. So if you want to enter the field of cybersecurity, some research is ideal. By understanding the various job roles within the cybersecurity industry and what your job roles are, you can narrow the scope of your search. Moreover, developing a network of cybersecurity professionals enables you to ask the right questions, hunt down job leads, and get your foot in the virtual door.
Education Required
In most cases, a bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, engineering, or a STEM-related field is a necessity to land a remote cybersecurity job. However, gifted analysts and self-starters may also find entry-level employment with the right mix of certifications and prior experience, such as the military. Advanced and mid-level cybersecurity professionals may also hold a Master of Science in information assurance and cybersecurity or a master’s in computer science. Despite this, the proper amount of experience can often offset a degree.
In addition to your educational background, you should also have knowledge of one or more of the following:
- Programming languages, including PHP, C++, or Java
- Cisco hardware and software, especially for networking security
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- UNIX, Linux, and Windows operating systems
- Mitre Att&ck framework
Skills Needed
Cybersecurity professionals are under a tremendous amount of pressure and up against deadlines to keep their employers safe. However, they also need soft skills beyond their technical knowledge. Some of the most highly sought-after soft skills needed in the industry include:
- Attention to detail
- Clear communication skills and active listening
- Ability to make quick decisions in the event of an emergency
- Creative and technical problem solving
- Critical thinking
- Adaptability to work by yourself or with a team
Certifications
Thanks to the advent of cybersecurity software and other products, cybersecurity professionals must have a vast knowledge of the latest technology and programs. As a result, certifications have become standard at almost every level of the cybersecurity industry. While entry-level remote cybersecurity jobs may not require these certifications, having them can make you a more attractive candidate to many employers.
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA, Routing, and Switching)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Systems Administration and Network Security Certifications (SANS)
- EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- CompTIA Security+ Base-Level Certification
Salary Information
According to the BLS, cybersecurity and information security analysts earn a median average wage of $103,590 per year or $49.80 per hour. The lowest 10% of earners made less than $60,060, and the highest 10% took home more than $163,300 annually. The top industries in terms of pay for remote cybersecurity jobs are:
- IT
- Finance
- Insurance
- Administrative and support services
Common Remote Cybersecurity Job Titles
Remote cybersecurity is a broad field, creating an endless amount of common job titles. However, part-time and full-time jobs are available for veterans and long-time workers, as well as entry-level positions. Here are some of the most popular.
- Remote Senior Cybersecurity Software Engineer
- Telecommute Cybersecurity Technical Writer
- Remote Cybersecurity Operations Manager
- Remote Senior Cybersecurity Project Manager
- Remote Cybersecurity Commercial Sales Manager
Companies Hiring for Remote Cybersecurity Jobs
With small and medium-sized businesses increasing their online operations, remote cybersecurity jobs are available in an almost limitless amount of industries and companies. So whether you have your eye on joining a particular company or you just want a great company culture, here are some of the top companies hiring for remote cybersecurity jobs.
Akamai Technologies
Founded in 1998, Akamai Technologies is a publicly traded company that specializes in content delivery networks, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. The company’s Intelligent Edge Platform is one of the world’s most distributed computing platforms and its flagship product, generating a generous portion of Akamai’s $3.2 billion in sales. And with offices around the globe and a huge remote workforce, the company is consistently lauded for its company culture and flexibility offered to employees.
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, Cisco Systems is a software and computer networking hardware company. With nearly $50 billion in revenues and a workforce of over 77,000 professionals, it’s one of the biggest companies of its size. While it’s a highly praised company for its products and services, employees should rejoice. In 2021, Cisco became #1 on Fortune’s list of the Top Places to Work For, solidifying its status as a superb company from top to bottom.
CrowdStrike
CrowdStrike is one of the country’s largest companies that specializes almost solely in cybersecurity. In the past decade, the company has worked closely with large corporations and the U.S. government. Its employees help assess cybersecurity risks and find the guilty parties involved. In 2020, the company earned more than $800 million in revenue — a number that’s expected to rise in the coming years.
Stop the Bad Guys and Become Part of the Virtual Police With a Remote Cybersecurity Job
The threat of cybercrime looms large in today’s online-driven world. If you want to be on the front lines, a remote cybersecurity job is the career path that you should pursue, but only with the proper search tactics.
That’s when Virtual Vocations can help. Sign up with Virtual Vocations today to search thousands of job listings, study remote industry guides, and use the Career Center to improve your remote work skills. You might just become the next Elliott Ness of the virtual law enforcement world.
What appeals to you about remote cybersecurity jobs? Which role would you like to try your hand at? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to share your comments. We’d love to hear from you!
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