Several well-paying and in-demand cybersecurity jobs allow you to live where you want – and work from wherever you want – without having to worry about the dreaded commute. I’ll go through five distinct cybersecurity-related jobs that some cybersecurity experts can accomplish from home in this article. The options below are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to work-at-home jobs.
Cybersecurity Analyst
Cybersecurity analysts (also known as security analysts or cybersecurity information analysts) are always in demand. You’ll be the backbone of your company’s security as a security analyst. It should go without saying that you should be well-versed in network and system security. “It’s also important to have really good critical thinking skills” As a security analyst, you’re the one who remains one step ahead of cyber threats, proactively discovering and defending any flaws in a business. You should be able to teach others about security dangers and, with the company’s permission, conduct vulnerability assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of your organization’s current security measures. Security analysts are in high demand, with employment anticipated to expand 32% between now and 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While you should have at least a bachelor’s degree in a comparable field (going even farther in your education may only assist), your education can often be used to substitute for practical experience in the field. Many cybersecurity analysts can get work even if they don’t have a bachelor’s degree. You may finish with a degree in computer science or cybersecurity and be qualified for an analyst post right away. A cybersecurity information analyst is a great career for telecommuters, with a typical salary of $98,350 per year.
What does remote cybersecurity analyst work look like?
Cybersecurity analysts spend a lot of their time monitoring the systems or systems they defend and looking for (and responding to, if necessary) any perceived security incidents. Because firms may want or need you to monitor systems in many places as a cybersecurity analyst, this is a position that lends itself to remote work. There are many security analysts who watch networks all around the country, if not the world, and remotely handle concerns. In many cases, the analysts have never visited the sites they are tasked with safeguarding. If they’re remotely monitoring and protecting these systems, they can do it from any location with a good internet connection.
Penetration Tester
Ethical hackers are penetration testers. If an organisation hires you as a pentester, you’ll be required to try to hack the organization’s security either as an insider with a rudimentary understanding of how the organisation works or with no resources and expertise other than your own, depending on your level of clearance. You must be a specialist in cyberattacks to work as a penetration tester. You must understand how a hacker thinks, and you must stay current with current hacking techniques. Consider a pen tester to be the antithesis of a security analyst. You defend your client by detecting a flaw, exploiting it, and showing your client the outcomes of that exploitation, rather than proactively recognising and protecting your organization’s shortcomings. Pen testers are ethical hackers, which means they must obtain complete permission from an enterprise before attempting to attack their system. You should be familiar with multiple programming languages as a pentester (Python, Ruby, and Java are frequently mentioned as desirable). You should have at least two to three years of experience in a similar field. Many occupations demand at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline. The annual pay ranges from $60,000 to $110,000.
What does remote penetration tester work look like?
Although penetration testing as a vocation requires some consumer engagement, which is often done in a face-to-face style, it is not required. Some penetration testers can work remotely with a client, or they are part of a penetration testing team that includes one local member, but they are not. Much of the work of penetration testing can be done remotely, and as more businesses move their technology to the cloud, penetration testing is following suit, allowing it to be done from anywhere.
IT Project Manager
It’s your responsibility as a project manager to oversee a wide range of technology projects. Essentially, you are the brains behind a company’s technological operations. In terms of cybersecurity, this means you’re the person in charge of ensuring that the company’s security policies are followed and that all security-related operations are carried out in accordance with company-specific requirements. You should be comfortable communicating with staff and customers because you may be functioning as a go-between. Project managers are expected to be well-versed in a variety of technological domains. A company advertising a project manager post will usually indicate that the ideal candidate not only has a background in cybersecurity, but also in another subject such as systems engineering. You must have extensive experience, preferably in another managerial or system administration function, in contrast to the pentester and analyst positions. Experience with project management, as well as project management credentials such as the PMP, is a bonus. It is necessary to have a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline. Annual salaries range from $70,000 to $140,000.
What does remote IT project manager work look like?
Project managers are increasingly heading a team of experienced cybersecurity specialists who work from all over the world, which means you can work remotely as well. Although meeting clients or interacting with team leads may necessitate a trip to a specific site, much of the work may be done remotely if you want.
Security Engineer
If you enjoy coding, security engineering could be the ideal work-from-home position for you. Security engineers create systems that assist organisations uncover holes and offer an extra layer of defence. They also create automation scripts to help with the logging of security issues. Security engineers understand how exploits are developed, how to create their own exploits, and how to protect a system from known or expected attacks. A security engineer has no trouble working at the command line due to the low-level nature of various defence activities. You must know PowerShell or another programming language utilised in security design, such as Python, and you must be able to demonstrate expertise with many operating systems, including Linux, Mac OS, and Windows. Security engineering is a tough job, and it’s your responsibility, as with most security-related fields, to stay up with continually changing security trends. Employers frequently demand the ideal candidate to have a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of similar experience—but if you enjoy a challenge and can’t get enough of fighting cyber dangers, this could be the career for you. The remuneration for this vital role is more than competitive, ranging from $70,000 to $140,000 per year.
What does remote security engineer work look like?
Because many security engineers spend a significant amount of their time writing code, they do so in front of a keyboard. It doesn’t matter where the security engineer and the keyboard are located. Security engineers, like IT project managers, may be required to attend meetings on-site, such as with the entire DevOps team, although they may find that these meetings are few, or that they may work from home multiple days a week at worst.
Cybersecurity Instructor
While this option may appear to be a divergence from the other options, if you’re searching for a job that allows you to work from home, a cybersecurity instructor could be ideal. Although you won’t be expected to actively defend networks, the need of training new cyber professionals should never be overlooked. In our modern, technological world, cybersecurity is a critical profession, and a classroom setting introduces many people to the concepts that are critical to their success. As crucial as it is for cyber experts to fight hackers and secure our data, it is also critical that students be taught to fill these responsibilities. A Master’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or a similar discipline is typically required of a cybersecurity educator. Previous teaching experience is required, as is expertise with online learning. A cybersecurity instructor’s annual pay might range from $70,000 to over $100,000.
What does remote cybersecurity instructor work look like?
Many professors and instructors give classes online, and as a result, they may be teaching multiple classes for various institutions, universities, or trade schools. This effort is made easier if the instructor is able to pick up similar, if not identical, courses numerous times in order to maintain consistency in their syllabus and preparation.
Securing Your Remote Job
Work-at-home or remote cybersecurity jobs have different criteria depending on the employment. Education and experience, in general, are great advantages to any résumé. In many circumstances, certificates, particularly the CompTIA Security+, are essential. When looking for remote jobs, make sure to read all of the requirements. Employers frequently prioritise different skill sets depending on the organisation or company’s focus. The need for cyber professionals has never been higher, and telecommuters’ salaries are on par with those of on-site employees. With so many options, the greatest decision is ultimately determined by what works best for you.
Steps you can take to secure a remote job
If you’re looking for a remote or work-from-home cybersecurity career, explore the following choices.
Keep in mind that you may be required to work on-site until you can demonstrate your worth. Companies may choose to reward proven employees with remote work opportunities or implement a phase-in period to get to know you. Make it a foregone conclusion for your firm. When you’re given the opportunity to work from home, an employer will assess if the amount of work you’re accomplishing appears to be comparable to what you’d get done if you were in the office. Be extremely productive when working from home, especially in the first several months. Make sure your supervisor isn’t inconvenienced. Your remote employment may come to an end if your manager believes that having you onsite would be more convenient for them. When working from home, be sure to communicate effectively with your supervisor and others, which entails keeping them informed, being available when they call, and immediately replying to queries. Make the most of your time. Do you have spare time on Sunday evenings when you don’t have anything planned? Or maybe you pass the time while waiting for the kids during piano lessons? Using this time to get ahead on a job or respond to emails can keep you on top of your work, making you more productive and, more importantly, appearing more productive to your supervisor. Be willing to travel on occasion. The home office may not be in your location if you want to get an excellent work-from-home career. Consider whether going to the home office once in a while is worth the convenience of working remotely the rest of the time.
