Answers to the most frequently asked questions about a career in cybersecurity.
Key takeaways
Cybersecurity analysts monitor cyber threats to various technologies, such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, mobile devices, and more.
Cybersecurity can be a good career option, with ample job opportunities and a higher-than-average salary.
Build your cybersecurity skills by earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in cybersecurity, or choose a certification to develop foundational skills in the field.
You can explore various cybersecurity careers, including penetration tester, IT auditor, or cybercrime investigator.
Explore frequently asked questions about cybersecurity to decide whether the field is right for you. If you’re ready to develop your skills, enroll in the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate. In as little as six months, you’ll have the chance to learn how to protect networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access and cyberattacks. Upon completion, you’ll have earned a shareable credential for your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Cybersecurity FAQ: Skills, certifications, and more
You've probably heard of cybersecurity analysts before. They're the ones who monitor cyber threats and report them to companies or government agencies. What exactly does a cybersecurity analyst do? Explore this and many more frequently asked questions in this article. We'll cover several key cybersecurity categories.
Cybersecurity skills
With the rise of new technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, big data analytics, mobile devices, social media, and artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity professionals are needed more than ever before. If you want to get into cybersecurity, you'll need to develop several skills.
What are the five Cs of cybersecurity?
The five Cs of cybersecurity are change, compliance, cost, continuity, and coverage. Change indicates the ever-evolving nature of cybersecurity threats and staying up-to-date with them. Compliance involves adhering to industry regulations and standards. Cost involves investing in cybersecurity measures to minimize the financial repercussions of a cyberattack. Continuity calls for having a consistent cybersecurity plan even in the face of ongoing threats. Finally, coverage involves ensuring your organization has extensive coverage against cyberattacks, which may even include cybersecurity insurance coverage.
Cybersecurity degrees and certifications
Are you looking for cybersecurity training or certification? The demand for cybersecurity professionals has never been higher. If you want to get into the field, now is the time to start preparing with a cybersecurity degree or credential.
Penetration testing and ethical hacking
Penetration testing is a method of evaluating the security posture of a system or network. This involves identifying vulnerabilities and weaknesses within a computer network. The goal is to identify potential threats and prevent them from being exploited. Ethical hacking is the practice of using computer security tools to test network security systems and identify vulnerabilities. These professionals are trained to perform penetration tests or scan networks for weaknesses.
Expert tip on choosing a cybersecurity certification
Narrowing your certification options based on your current job can be helpful, but you might also consider thinking more broadly about your future and what certifications could support your long-term goals across a variety of industries.
"Stop limiting which certification you're going after because, in this industry, you have the ability to navigate it. The opportunity is everywhere, and it's with almost every type of organization and every industry," said Steve Graham, senior vice president head of product at EC-Council, during Coursera's virtual panel, "How can online learning accelerate cybersecurity careers and talent?"
Computer security engineering
Security engineering is the practice of designing secure systems. This involves identifying risks and vulnerabilities, developing countermeasures, and testing them. The goal is to ensure the system is safe from attack or misuse.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Cybersecurity as a field typically has more open jobs than there are qualified candidates to fill them. There were over half a million cybersecurity job openings in the US as of 2025, according to CyberSeek [1]. These jobs also tend to be well-paid. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a median salary of $124,910 for information security analysts in the US [2].
Most cybersecurity analysts work full-time, but they don’t always work typical nine-to-five hours. Since cyberattacks can happen at any time, some organizations and security companies keep security analysts on call outside of typical business hours. If you’re looking for a job with the flexibility to work evenings or weekend hours, cybersecurity could be a good fit.
No, cybersecurity does not require a lot of math. But it is considered a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concentration, and familiarity with math will certainly get you further as you move forward in your career.
Security professionals often calculate risk, which involves using math, statistics, and logic. Writing and understanding software code also requires some basic math. Finally, cryptography is the science of codes and encryption, and a part of cybersecurity, in which knowledge of math can help decipher and create algorithms for automated reasoning and data processing.
As you begin a career in cybersecurity, you’ll find a variety of different roles and specializations to pursue. Earning a degree in cybersecurity could be a step toward career opportunities like:
A bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity typically takes four years of full-time study to complete. A master’s degree involves another two years of full-time study, though some universities offer accelerated or part-time programs that may take shorter or longer to complete.
Cybersecurity degree programs tend to have fewer higher-level math and science requirements than computer science and other STEM degrees. This means that you might not have to take classes like calculus and chemistry, often considered among the most challenging for college students. While some courses require labs, these are generally not research-based.
On the other hand, you can expect courses to get increasingly challenging as you move through a cybersecurity program. The material can also be quite technical and challenging to read.
The length of time you’ll need to prepare for a certification exam will depend on what you already know and what you’ll need to learn. Preparing could take anywhere from a week to several months (assuming you meet the work prerequisites).
You don’t necessarily need a related degree to work in penetration testing. Earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, cybersecurity, or information security could make you a more competitive candidate.
While no two career paths are the same, it’s possible to transition into a pen testing role after gaining one to four years of work experience in information technology and information security.
Ethical hackers help organizations improve their security by breaching computer systems and networks to find vulnerabilities before cybercriminals exploit them.
Working as an ethical hacker can mean abundant job opportunities and high salaries with the right skill set. It’s also a role where you can constantly challenge yourself and develop new skills. Knowing that your work keeps people’s data secure can be rewarding in its own way.
As the cost and severity of cyber attacks continue to rise, so too does the demand for cybersecurity professionals with the skills to help defend organizations. This includes ethical hackers. In fact, both the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) certifications rank among the cybersecurity certifications that appear most frequently on job descriptions.
Upon completing ethical hacking courses, learners can obtain credentials that may support their professional development:
• Professional Certificates that indicate a foundational understanding and practical skills in ethical hacking
• Specializations that focus on advanced topics in cybersecurity, potentially enhancing both knowledge and practical application skills
• Certificates that may demonstrate proficiency to employers in the cybersecurity field, potentially supporting career advancement or new opportunities
Ethical hackers in the US make a median total salary of $172,000, as of April 2026, according to Glassdoor [3]. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.
Ethical hacking courses on Coursera are designed to cater to both newcomers and experienced professionals:
• Beginners interested in cybersecurity can start with introductory courses that cover the basics of network and information security.
• Those with some IT background can advance their skills in specific areas of ethical hacking, such as network penetration testing or malware analysis.
• Advanced cybersecurity professionals can deepen their expertise with courses on complex hacking techniques and advanced defense strategies.
About 50 percent of online job listings for security engineers request a bachelor’s degree, according to CyberSeek. Another 4 percent of listings request a master’s degree [4]. While a bachelor’s degree is the most common entry-level qualification, it is possible to have a successful career as a security engineer without one, so long as you have the right skills. Common majors for cybersecurity professionals include computer science, cybersecurity, or information technology.
Security engineers in the US can make a median total salary of $170,000, according to Glassdoor [5]. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.
Get started in cybersecurity with our free resources
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US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Information Security Analysts, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm.” Accessed April 28, 2026.
3.
Glassdoor. “Ethical Hacker Salaries, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/ethical-hacker-salary-SRCH_KO0,14.htm.” Accessed April 28, 2026.
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