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What is an information security officer and how to become one
Information security officers are charged with protecting an organization's Information Technology (IT) programs from internal and external threats. You are expected to ensure that viruses, bots, spyware, or other harmful programs do not compromise an organization's computer system. Information security officers work in basically any type of organization with data and computer systems, such as government agencies, banks, healthcare organizations, retail stores, and educational institutions.
Some of your typical tasks include setting up computer usage protocols for your organization, facilitating training on minimizing threats to the organization's computer system and recommending types of software that they can use. Information security officers also investigate previous episodes where computer systems have been compromised and resolve the problems as well as prevent further episodes from working.
Information security analysts must have a bachelor's degree in a field like a computer science or computer programming. A graduate degree might be preferred by some companies, possibly in information systems. Information security officers could earn as high as $58 an hour and $120,716 annually.
What general advice would you give to an information security officer?
Professor David Sanford
Associate Professor an Department Chair (MIS, CS, CYB MGT, IS CYB), Northwood University
They appreciate the diversity of projects
They enjoy the need for continuous improvement and education
Many see the global impact of their work.
They also desire and appreciate the need for versatile skills
A competitive salary is also an item that employees like
Workers dislike that the work can be stressful
Dealing with tight deadlines and/ or cybersecurity concerns.
This is a positive and a negative: The need to constantly stay up to date with technology can be a bit overwhelming for some.
There may be times of isolation, and
The unexpected system failures can be frustrating as they often require extra hours or the need to be on-call.
The multiple responsibilities and managing repetitive tasks are also issues workers point out in this field.
In short, the workplace offers exciting opportunities but comes with its fair share of pressures and challenges. Different people have different experiences based on their roles and personal preferences.
Avg. Salary $135,040
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 32%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.43%
Asian 9.64%
Black or African American 9.15%
Hispanic or Latino 8.99%
Unknown 6.09%
White 65.70%
Genderfemale 14.07%
male 85.93%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Information security officer career paths
Key steps to become an information security officer
Explore information security officer education requirements
Start to develop specific information security officer skills
Skills Percentages Risk Management 11.66% Risk Assessments 6.93% Incident Response 6.66% Infrastructure 5.66% Governance 5.42% Complete relevant information security officer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New information security officers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an information security officer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real information security officer resumes.Gain additional information security officer certifications
More About CertificationsInformation security officer certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific information security officer certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for information security officers include Certified Information Systems Security Professional - Architecture (CISSP) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).
Research information security officer duties and responsibilities
- Lead vulnerability scanning and penetration testing for PCI-DSS compliance.
- Manage client relationships in conjunction with moving production environment to AWS.
- Manage all printers, switches, routers, and data archiving.
- Manage and ensure all AIS systems are operated in accordance with applicable DoD directives.
Get information security officer experience
Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become an information security officer. The most common roles before becoming an information security officer include information technology director, senior network engineer team lead and network security engineer.Prepare your information security officer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your information security officer resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an information security officer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable information security officer resume templates
Build a professional information security officer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your information security officer resume.
Apply for information security officer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an information security officer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first information security officer job
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Average information security officer salary
The average information security officer salary in the United States is $135,040 per year or $65 per hour. Information security officer salaries range between $95,000 and $190,000 per year.
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Updated January 8, 2025
