TrainACE - IT and Cybersecurity Training Blog

Looking for a challenge? Think you have what it takes to be an information security professional? CompTIA's Security+ is the industry standard when it comes to cybersecurity certifications!

The internet is a continually-changing environment where digital threats evolve and seek to erode, compromise and destroy networked systems or even steal essential and sensitive information from these systems. The need to further enhance network security has never been higher, with the demand for people qualified to fill in gaps within organizations at an all-time high.

Here are 7 of the most common jobs you can expect to apply for once you pass the CompTIA Security+ certification:

System Administrator

Role Description: You’ll be working with operating systems, numerous applications, security and antivirus suites, and other essential applications while keeping them in working order.

Typical Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, and computer engineering of the equivalent from an accredited university, CompTIA Security+

Typical Benefits: System admins can apply for higher level certifications such as Cisco’s CCNA cert or the highly sought-after CISSP for higher-level management positions.

How Security+ prepares candidate for the role: When it comes to Security+, chances are you will probably be working hand in hand with network and security administrators to ensure the organization’s network is hardened against outside threats.

Career progression after this role: People who work in this field can expect to advance to network administrator positions.

Average U.S. Salary: $60,440.00 (payscale.com)

Network Administrator

Role Description: As a network administrator, your ability to maintain and monitor networks is no exception. Administrators of networks are expected to work with switches, routers and other devices that connect different network segments in an organization.

Typical Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, and computer engineering of the equivalent from an accredited university, CompTIA Security+

Typical Benefits: As a network admin, you can expect to learn and earn extra certifications that become beneficial to you and adds additional value to your skill set.

How Security+ prepares candidate for the role: Network hardening, how networks and devices within them communicate with each other and how security plays a role in keeping them in working order.

Career progression after this role: Numerous paths are available for network administrators to take, such as being promoted to specialized or managerial positions within the workforce based on the amount of experience.

Average U.S. Salary: $58,000.00 (payscale.com)

Security Administrator

Role Description: Security admins operate complex security suites that deal with the protection of computer networks. As such, should you take this role, you’ll be handling network security over one or more computer networks that your organization owns.

Typical Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, and computer engineering of the equivalent from an accredited university, along with communication and analytical skills, CompTIA Security+

Typical Benefits: Security admins learn about the complex suites that they operate and how to best use them.

How Security+ prepares candidate for the role: Security+ adds value in your technical skills by teaching you how to harden network systems, securing them and cryptography.

Career progression after this role: Based on specific skill sets and years of experience security admins can elevate to security specialists/consultants or managerial positions such as information systems security manager.

Average U.S. Salary: $64,430.00 (payscale.com)

Junior IT Auditor/Penetration Tester

Role Description: And if you want to hack systems, (legally, of course) the IT auditor position may be the job for you. You’ll also regularly assess the effectiveness of current cybersecurity processes and activities of your organization.

Typical Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, and computer engineering of the equivalent from an accredited university, Certified Penetration Tester and analytical skills, CompTIA Security+

Typical Benefits: Since you’re playing the role of the “bad guy,” you’ll learn how hackers exploit network systems and work with others to defend against them. Can prepare you to test for the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification.

How Security+ prepares candidate for the role: Security+ can prepare students in learning the CEH program.

Career progression after this role: Auditors/pentesters will eventually have the opportunity to serve as security consultants due to their expertise in breaching network defenses.

Average U.S. Salary: $79,000.00 (payscale.com)

Security Specialist

Role Description: As a security specialist, your work will entail interacting with architects and engineers to standardize security within an organization’s network.

Typical Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, and information technology or the equivalent from an accredited university, strong technical and analytical skills, CompTIA Security+

Typical Benefits: You’ll develop practical skills on how to defend networks.

How Security+ prepares candidate for the role: The program teaches risk management as well as design, test, and implement security standards.

Career progression after this role: Serve as a consultant for a firm based on the amount of experience you have.

Average U.S. Salary: $64,006.00 (payscale.com)

Security Consultant

Role Description: As an IT security consultant, you will serve as a subject matter expert and advisor for organizations that need security solutions tailored specifically for them.

Typical Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, and computer engineering of the equivalent from an accredited university, and other applicable certifications, Security+

Typical Benefits: Years of experience in the security field can lead to higher level certs such as CCNA or CISSP.

How Security+ prepares candidate for the role: Security consultants are usually experienced IT professionals with grounded knowledge of security practices for networks.

Career progression after this role: Can prepare you as a security manager based on the amount of experience you have.

Average U.S. Salary: $77,746.00 (payscale.com)

Security Engineer

Role Description: Focused primarily on providing engineering solutions for better security infrastructure.

Typical Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, and computer engineering of the equivalent from an accredited university, ISSEP, Security+

Typical Benefits: You’ll develop a working knowledge of large network architecture and network defense from an engineering perspective.

How Security+ prepares candidate for the role: Teaches in-depth about security and penetration testing as well as give ideas of what to design.

Career progression after this role: System and network administrators can promote to this role so that they have a more grounded knowledge of how to design networks from the ground up.

Average U.S. Salary: $96,359.00 (payscale.com)

Get Security+ Training and Certification 

If you are in the Maryland, Virginia or Washington DC region, getting hands-on, instructor-led Security+ training is easy. TrainACE runs regular CompTIA Security+ training courses at our Greenbelt, MD and Ashburn, VA locations. We provide the best regional training service at the best prices. Along with our expert instructors we will make every effort to work with you and give you the Security+ training you need to ensure that you pass the test on your first try!

For more information on our CompTIA Security+ training, give call us on (301) 220-2802