Start a Career in Cyber Security

Are you considering a cyber security career?

Want to learn more about the roles available after graduating with a National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) certified MSc in Cyber Security?

Cyber Security: A rewarding career 

Play an active role in the fight against cybercrime.  

If you want a career in an industry where: 

• Your skills, experience, and knowledge are valued 
• There is strong job security 
• No two days are the same 
• You can make tangible difference in the real world 

then cyber security could be perfect for you. 

Qualified, skilled cyber security professionals are in high demand. Now is the perfect time to join the cyber security industry. 

Read more about the demand for qualified cyber security professionals.

What do you need to start a career in cyber security? 

Organisations are increasingly on the lookout for relevant knowledge and industry-related skills. 

Cyber security skills worth having 

For a successful career in cyber security, it would help if you knew about: 

• Network security control 
• Operating systems 
• Framework 
• Scripting/software development
• Intrusion detection 
• Incident response 
• DevOps 
• Cloud 
• Threat knowledge 

Personal skills 

On top of industry-related skills, it would also help to have the following skills: 

• Attention to detail 
• Problem-solving 
• Communication 
• Risk management 
• A strong desire to learn 
• Critical thinking 
• Adaptability

The good news is that our NCSC certified Cyber Security Masters degrees could help you break into the cyber security industry thanks to the practical knowledge and skills that they teach you.

Want to learn more about how studying an MSc Cyber Security at Northumbria University London could help you make a tangible difference in the fight against cyber crime?

I want to make a difference

Cyber Security roles 

There is a huge variety of roles in the industry, many of which are in high demand.  

Two of the most common are Cyber Security Engineers and Cyber Security Analysts. Engineers design and build the cyber security infrastructure that organisations rely on, and Analysts monitor and maintain it to ensure it remains fit for purpose. 

We’ve outlined some examples of Cyber Security roles where you could be the difference in the fight against cybercrime below, along with average UK salaries (salaries may differ for other countries), but this is by no means a definitive list. 

Cyber Security Analyst – £40k 

Analysts are at the heart of the fight against cybercrime. They protect organisations against cyber criminals by monitoring systems; software; hardware; and networks, evaluating threats, and looking for ways to protect data by improving cyber security. 

Cyber Security Analysts use tools like anti-virus software; password management; and vulnerability protection and evaluate a network’s weaknesses and strengths to report on the state of an organisation’s cyber security. 

The average salary for a Cyber Security Analyst in the UK is £40k. 

Cyber Security Engineer – £50k 

Where an analyst evaluates and identifies possible threats and weaknesses, an Engineer implements security measures to defend against threats from cybercriminals, hackers, and other forms of cybercrime. They are responsible for making sure systems are secure and trustworthy. 

A Cyber Security Engineer develops, operates, and upgrades security protections. They respond to cyber security breaches, troubleshoot concerns, and fix network security problems. On top of this, Cyber Security Engineers also test networks and systems to identify vulnerabilities and protect against exploitation. 

The average salary for a Cyber Security Engineer in the UK is around £50k. 

Digital Forensic Analyst – £30k-£40k 

A Digital Forensic Analyst’s job (also known as a Computer Forensic Analyst) is to investigate computer-based criminal activity. They use various software tools and cyber security skills to investigate incidents, such as data breaches; hacking; and fraud, and mitigate system and network vulnerability. 

Digital Forensic Analysts may also track cybercriminals’ activity and communications, recover and secure data, follow electronic data trails, and present evidence from their findings to a court or employer. 

The average salary for a Digital Forensic Analyst is £30k-40k. 

IT Security Specialist – £55k 

Similar in scope to Digital Forensic Analysts, an IT Security Specialist works predominantly to prevent cybercrime rather than investigating the crime after it has occurred. Both have a very important role to play in the fight against cybercrime. 

The average salary for an IT Security Specialist is around £55k. 

Cryptography Engineer – £40k 

Cryptography Engineers help design and develop complex cyber security systems by encrypting important or sensitive data using algorithms and cyphers, protecting it from cybercriminals. They design, test, implement, and validate cryptographic systems. 

The average salary for a Cryptography Engineer is around £40k. 

Penetration Tester – £60k-£100k 

A Penetration Tester tests networks, systems, and applications to find vulnerabilities and protect them from cybercriminal activity. They perform penetration tests, like hacking, to find out where cybercriminals could gain access and take advantage of networks and systems. Penetration Testers are some of the highest paid cyber security professionals. 

The average salary for a Digital Forensic Analyst is between £60k to £100k. 

Other Cyber Security roles: 

Other roles within the cyber security industry include: 

• Ethical Hacker 
• Information Security Architect 
• Database Administrator 
• Chief Information Officer 
• Cyber Security Advisor/Consultant 
• Cyber Security Project Manager 
• IT Manager 
• Systems Integration Engineer 

If you’re interested in a career in cyber security, one of the best ways to get into the industry is through an accredited programme that will help equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge needed.  

Cyber Security courses at Northumbria University London 

• MSc Cyber Security (with Advanced Practice) 
• MSc Cyber Security Technology (with Advanced Practice) 

Our cyber security master’s degrees offer real-world cyber security experience thanks to practical elements such as hands-on laboratory workshops and head-to-head ethical hacking challenges.  

The Advanced Practice stage offers valuable work experience to enhance your cyber skills and employability through an internship or research placement. You could even experience live cyber security issues as part of your placement! 

After the degree, you could gain further professional development and training through our free Professional Pathways programmes provided by QA, one of the UK’s leading corporate training providers. 

Our MSc’s have been recognised as some of the best cyber security degrees in the UK, receiving official certification from the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) as well as Northumbria University being recognised as a Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACEs-CSR). 

Find out more about how studying with us could help you make a real-world impact as a cyber security professional:

I want to be the difference

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