How to become an IT Security Specialist

The world of information technology is vast and ever-expanding. According to GlobeNewswire, the Global Information Technology Service Management Market size was valued at $9.8 billion in 2023 and that's just a small part of the industry.

Given the sheer size and complexity of the IT industry, it's no surprise that data breaches are frequent. Nearly every aspect of this industry experiences significant data breaches regularly, which can be extremely costly for organizations. IBM reports that the global average cost of a data breach in 2024 is $4.88 million, a 10% increase over the previous year and the highest total ever recorded.

IT security specialists play a crucial role in bringing those numbers down as they, alongside other specialists like cybersecurity analysts and information security managers serve as the first line of defence against attacks like this

Who is an IT Security Specialist? 

As the name suggests, an IT security specialist is a person who specializes in protecting an organisation's digital assets from cyber threats. They are the guardians of an organization's sensitive data, systems, and networks.

How much does an IT Security Specialist earn? 

Based on data from Glassdoor, IT security specialists can make anything between $117K a year on the low end and $185K a year on the higher side of things. But, on average, you would make about $146K a year as a decent specialist.