Types of Cybersecurity Roles

Cybercrime is an increasing global concern.

Cyberattacks rose an alarming 58 percent between 2023 and 2025, according to the World Economic Forum. In uncertain times, organizations in both the private and public sectors consider cybersecurity a basic need. This creates demand for numerous types of cybersecurity roles. Here’s what the data says:

A report by CyberSeek, which tracks cybersecurity workforce supply and demand using real-time job postings, indicates increased openings for cybersecurity professionals — over 514,000 cybersecurity jobs between 2024 and 2025, a 12 percent year-over-year increase.

A 2024 cybersecurity workforce study by ISC2 found a widening gap between supply and demand for cybersecurity professionals. It estimated that 4.8 million additional cybersecurity professionals are needed worldwide to adequately protect organizations. That is a 19 percent increase from the previous year, while the global active cybersecurity workforce held roughly flat at around 5.5 million.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a long-term growth trend in employment for information security analysts, with positions projected to increase by 29 percent between 2024 and 2034.

The challenges and rewards of the field, driven by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, point to cybersecurity as a career to consider. For individuals interested in advancing their cybersecurity careers, a master’s degree in cybersecurity can provide significant leverage in the job market.

What Do Cybersecurity Professionals Do?

Cybersecurity roles span the finance, healthcare, government, defense, manufacturing, and technology sectors. The following are examples of different types of cybersecurity roles:

Information security analysts, who monitor networks and investigate anomalies

Cybersecurity engineers, who focus on developing defensive tools and turning security designs into working protections

Penetration testers, who use hackers’ tactics to expose weaknesses before real threats can exploit them

Network security architects, who design secure systems that keep infrastructure running

Computer forensics analysts, who act as digital investigators to reconstruct breaches and gather evidence for legal proceedings

The NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity, developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, provides a common language and national taxonomy for understanding the full range of cybersecurity careers.

The scope of cybersecurity is expanding into areas that many didn’t anticipate. Reshmi Mitra, PhD, an associate professor of computer science at Southeast Missouri State University, researches distributed systems security. Her research investigates the challenge of protecting networks that connect a wide variety of devices for tasks such as scientific research computing, multiplayer gaming, or cryptocurrency processing.

Under a grant from the National Security Agency, Mitra and her colleagues have also investigated zero trust architecture for aerial drone security, developing protections against adversarial jamming and hijacking threats that drones face in battlefield environments.

“If you get into cybersecurity, this field is not going to get old,” Mitra says. “It is only growing. There are always new devices and new protocols coming up.”

How to Become a Cybersecurity Professional

Entering the cybersecurity field often requires a bachelor’s degree. Computer science and information technology (IT) are common entry points. However, the broad reach of cybersecurity means that professionals can also enter the field from engineering, mathematics, law, military service, and other sectors.

Certifications are increasingly important for candidates to demonstrate competency. According to the ISC2 study, 86 percent of cybersecurity workforce professionals reported valuing their certifications, with many describing them as essential to career advancement.

Many sectors, like government, finance, and healthcare, require a master’s degree for senior cybersecurity roles. A master’s degree gives graduates a distinct advantage when competing for higher-responsibility positions.

5 In-Demand Cybersecurity Professional Careers

Here are five types of cybersecurity roles that consistently appear among the most in-demand positions in the field. Find what each role involves, what skills and credentials employers look for, and cybersecurity salary information.

Information Security Analyst

Information security analysts protect computer networks and systems from cyberattacks and unauthorized access. The role often involves a combination of technical implementation and organizational risk management. A scenario could include:

Assessing risks, emerging threats, and vulnerabilities through proactive networking monitoring

Installing and maintaining security tools such as firewalls and data encryption software

Identifying signs of a breach and developing steps to contain the damage

The role can vary depending on an organization’s size. Larger organizations typically perform this work in a dedicated security operations center. In smaller settings, an information security analyst might handle everything from real-time monitoring to employee training on cybersecurity hygiene. Typical activities for information security analysts can include:

Establishing and regularly testing disaster recovery plans to help organizations continue to operate following security incidents

Evaluating new security technologies and making recommendations to management about which tools and upgrades will best address risks

Developing security standards and best practices

According to the BLS, information security analysts earned a median annual wage of $124,910 in 2024. Positions for the role are projected to increase by 29 percent between 2024 and 2034.

Information Security Analyst Skills

A bachelor’s degree in computer science, cybersecurity, and engineering is typically the minimum educational requirement. A master’s degree in cybersecurity can help professionals advance in their careers. The top skills that employers look for in information security analysts include the following:

Analytical thinking

Cryptography and coding

Strong attention to detail

Problem-solving under pressure

The ability to communicate technical risk clearly to both technical and nontechnical audiences

Analysts need to stay current on evolving threats, including ransomware, phishing, social engineering, and data theft. They also need to understand how attackers approach their targets.

Some employers may prefer candidates who hold professional certifications such as CompTIA Security+, ISC2 certified information systems security professional (CISSP) or CompTIA cybersecurity analyst (CySA+).

Cybersecurity Engineer

Cybersecurity engineers take an architectural and preventive approach to security. While information security analysts are monitoring and responding, cybersecurity engineers are the ones building. They design information security infrastructures, establish protocols that govern how these systems operate. Cybersecurity engineers also create emergency plans to restore operations quickly if breaches occur. Cybersecurity engineers earned a median annual salary of approximately $108,000 as of April 2026, according to Payscale.

Typical responsibilities of cybersecurity engineers can include:

Conducting penetration testing to identify system vulnerabilities before they can be exploited

Deploying and updating firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDSs)

Implementing encryption protocols and evaluating new security tools

Coordinating incident response efforts, including working with outside teams or law enforcement to contain damage and recover affected data

Cybersecurity Engineer Skills

Employers require a bachelor’s degree or higher in computer engineering, cybersecurity, or closely related fields. For this type of cybersecurity role, employers look for candidates with the following skills:

Secure network design and firewall architecture

Risk assessment

Identity and access management

Virtualization technologies

Computer forensics

The ability to translate complex technical findings clearly for nontechnical stakeholders

Cybersecurity engineers’ role in security architecture includes both hands-on systems work and presenting findings to decision-makers, from IT leaders to law enforcement officials. This means that they must be as fluent in organizational communication as they are in technical implementation. Common certifications for cybersecurity engineers include CompTIA SecurityX, Cisco certified network professional security (CCNP Security) and CISSP.

Penetration Tester

Penetration testers, sometimes called ethical hackers or “white hats,” identify security gaps before malicious actors can exploit them. To do this, they use methods that may sound counterintuitive. They attack their employers’ systems, simulating the tactics of real-world cybercriminals. This provides insight into weaknesses that criminal hackers can take advantage of. Penetration testers earned a median annual salary of approximately $104,000 as of April 2026, according to Payscale.

Typical responsibilities for penetration testers can include:

Stress-testing networks, operating systems, devices and web-based applications

Documenting findings and recommending specific steps to fix issues

Helping with incident handling and forensic analysis when security breaches occur

Sharing knowledge to help improve an organization’s overall security

Penetration Tester Skills

Employers typically require a bachelor’s degree or higher in information security, computer science, or a related field. The top skills that employers look for in penetration testers include the following:

Proficiency in tools such as Kali Linux

Scripting in languages such as Python, Bash and PowerShell

An understanding of common vulnerability frameworks such as the OWASP Top 10

The ability to think creatively like an attacker

Writing skills to produce detailed technical documents

Because threat techniques and attack methods are always changing, penetration testers must monitor the latest developments and update their skills and tools regularly. Well-known certifications include offensive security certified professional (OSCP), GIAC penetration tester (GPEN), CompTIA PenTest+ and CompTIA Security+.

Network Security Architect

A network security architect is a type of cybersecurity role focused on ensuring that security controls are in place throughout a network’s life cycle. They build security frameworks that protect entire networks. Network security architects earned a median annual salary of approximately $126,000 as of March 2026, according to Payscale.

Typical responsibilities of network security architects can include:

Setting up firewalls, antivirus systems, and access controls

Overseeing penetration testing to identify weaknesses

Supervising network changes to reduce risk

Working with IT teams, informing senior leaders, and training users or system administrators

Network Security Architect Skills

Employers typically require a bachelor's degree in computer science or a closely related field and prefer candidates with a master’s degree in cybersecurity. The top skills that employers look for in network security architects include:

Experience with zero trust architecture

Knowledge of network/web protocols, virtual private network architecture, and protocol encryption

Understanding of IDSs and access control mechanisms, including role-based and mandatory access control

Familiarity with IT governance frameworks such as Information Technology Infrastructure Library and Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies (COBIT)

Strategic planning and cross-functional communication

Network security architects are expected to be as effective in boardroom conversations as in systems reviews. ISC2 information systems security architecture professional (ISSAP), GIAC defensible security architect (GDSA) and CompTIA Network+ are notable certifications for this specialization.

Computer Forensics Analyst

Computer forensics analysts, also known as digital forensics examiners, investigate cyberattacks and other digital crimes. After data breaches or network intrusions, they reconstruct the chain of events to investigate how attackers gained access and identify accessed or exfiltrated files. They look for markers that indicate where breaches were initiated and track the attackers. Forensic analysts may also help security teams determine processes that must be changed.

Computer forensics analysts earned a median annual salary of approximately $92,500 as of January 2026, according to Payscale. Demand for this specialization extends across the private sector, government agencies, and law enforcement. This gives trained professionals a broad range of potential employers.

Typical responsibilities of computer forensics analysts can include:

Examining log files to identify sources of intrusions

Performing file system and binary analysis on affected systems

Gathering and preserving intrusion artifacts, such as source code or malware samples

Preparing documentation for legal proceedings

Providing expert testimony during court proceedings when investigations lead to criminal charges

Computer Forensics Analyst Skills

Employers typically require a bachelor’s degree or higher in computer forensics, cybersecurity, or related discipline. The top skills that employers look for in computer forensics analysts include the following:

Knowledge of anti-forensics tactics, techniques, and procedures

Experience with data carving tools and malware analysis methods

Bit-level analysis and the ability to extract information from memory dumps and volatile data

Clear technical writing skills and the ability to communicate findings to nontechnical audiences, including legal professionals

This type of cybersecurity role demands a combination of cybersecurity knowledge, investigative methodology, and legal procedures. All of which typically takes considerable time to develop. Most positions are mid- to senior-level, though some government agencies and private-sector employers hire at the entry level for candidates who can demonstrate a solid foundation in forensics.

Certifications that are well regarded by employers include the International Society of Forensic Computer Examiners (ISFCE) certified computer examiner (CCE) credential; the GIAC certified forensic examiner (GCFE) and GIAC certified forensic analyst (GCFA) certifications; and the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS) certifications.

Start Developing the Skills Employers Value

Employers in every sector are trying to attract skilled cybersecurity professionals. Cybersecurity roles have vast opportunities. They involve everything from monitoring networks to designing secure systems, as well as ethical hacking and digital forensics.

People who think analytically often do well in roles such as information security analysts or computer forensic analysts. Those interested in designing systems and architecture may prefer cybersecurity engineering or network security architecture. People who like hands-on problem-solving may be interested in penetration testing. Emerging areas of interest include distributed systems security and drone security.

What’s common across the field is the high value that employers place on curiosity and ongoing learning — as well as their competitive cybersecurity salaries. An advanced degree in cybersecurity is one way to quickly advance in an industry that’s always changing.

The SEMO Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity program offers students a foundation in the skills that employers are looking for. With a curriculum covering topics such as cloud computing, ethical hacking, and computer forensics, students can tailor their degrees to their career interests. The best part is that this can all be done fully online and is designed for working adults.

Find out how SEMO Online can help you advance in cybersecurity.

Recommended Readings

5 Reasons to Choose SEMO

Computer Scientist Career Path

How to Become a Cybersecurity Consultant

Sources

Belkasoft, Carving and its Implementations in Digital Forensics

Cisco, CCNP Security Certification