Security jobs are those that provide protective services for a business, facility, event, or location. Security jobs include law enforcement, private security, and private investigators. There are also many jobs available in cyber security, providing digital security. Each type of security job has a unique set of required skills and qualifications. For example, a correctional officer needs specialized escalation and physical training, while a digital security specialist needs education and experience related to information technology, backup, and authentication protocols.
With a background in the armed forces, you can find increased opportunities in physical security, such as corrections officers, personal security, or private security advisors. You may even be able to work as a security contractor employed by the armed forces. Cyber security positions require you have an associate or bachelor’s degree in computer science, network security, or a related subject.
Director of Physical Security
The duties of a director of physical security revolve around the physical protection of clients, companies, or members of an organization. In this career, you are responsible for the management of security operations. You come up with policies and a security process to safeguard clients and their assets. You may be involved in hiring and training other security personnel. In addition to protecting against physical or criminal attacks, you may work to ensure general safety during travel.
Security Operations Engineer
As a security operations engineer, your job is to monitor a network or system and help implement new methods of protection and data recovery. In this role, you may conduct a vulnerability assessment for each emerging threat, coordinate with other security specialists, and help develop responses with industry peers. This job title refers to maintaining network security systems and should not be confused with non-electronic security operations, such as safeguarding VIPs or facilities. A security operations engineer works regular hours, but employers may call you in for emergency help as needed. This position usually reports to someone, such as a chief information security officer. You may occasionally brief executives or other managers on relevant topics, so presentation skills are helpful.
Security Architect
A security architect helps to build, implement, oversee, and maintain cyber- and network security systems for a business or another organization such as a government or university. As a security architect, your duties and responsibilities are to plan and test technical measures to maintain the IT security, such as designing firewalls and other security measures for a business enterprise network or database. You work with other security experts and continuity managers to prepare for contingencies related to security breaches or network interruptions.
Security Engineer
A service provider is responsible for delivering professional quality services on behalf of a business or organization. The types of services vary depending on the businesses they work with. Many companies partner with experts in the local community to perform functions on their behalf rather than developing the expertise in-house. A service provider performs the services based on a written legal agreement and charges fees for their work.
Privacy Director
Privacy directors design, develop, and oversee an organization’s privacy programs. They implement and maintain procedures and policies to streamline IT security, monitor compliance, investigate issues or breaches, and supervise the department. Other duties may include developing strategies to examine security issues and researching new policies and programs that protect private information. Qualifications to become a privacy director include a bachelor’s degree in cyber security, computer science, or a related field, and five years of experience in managing an IT security department.
Security Controls Assessor
A security controls assessor (SCA) evaluates the security controls within network systems to identify vulnerabilities and recommend actions to correct problems, working either alone or as part of a team. As a security controls assessor, your duties begin with conducting an in-depth assessment of the management, operations, and technical security controls. You must analyze information and prepare reports describing the vulnerability level of the network with specific detail as to what compromises data systems. You then develop a plan to address vulnerabilities and continue to monitor the security of network systems.