OVERVIEW
What Is a Cyber Auditor?
A cyber auditor works with companies and organizations to provide comprehensive audits of online security systems involving a detailed report about existing cybersecurity systems, analyses of whether the systems run efficiently or effectively, and recommendations on changes to protocols and infrastructure.
Cyber auditors are also known as security auditors.
Depending on the size of the organization, audits might be rolled out at the department level, but some organizations are small enough that the entire system can be audited at once.
A cyber auditor or security auditor is not the same as a penetration tester although some duties overlap (e.g., a cyber auditor assesses a computer system based on established standards and makes recommendations to help the system become compliant, whereas a penetration tester is responsible for finding and exploiting vulnerabilities and providing an assessment and recommendation report to the management.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Cyber Auditor Do?
- Providing an independent or internal review of security controls and information systems
- Testing the safety and effectiveness of individual components of cybersecurity defenses
- Providing an overview of the audit process
- Executing cybersecurity audits
- Analyzing/investigating any recent breaches or security concerns
- Evaluating internal security systems, controls, and policies
- Ensuring compliance with application-related laws and regulations
- Writing technical reports that analyze/interpret audit results
- Writing stakeholder reports that use accessible language to explain the process and recommendations
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Cyber Auditor?
- Step One: Earn a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity.
- Step Two: Consider a master's degree in cybersecurity.
- Step Three: Gain experience. Have 3-5 years of experience in general information technology or information technology security.
Best Degrees for a Cyber Auditor
Technology
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – B.S.
Protect your career and earning potential with this degree....
Protect your career and earning potential with this degree.
- Time: 60% of graduates finish within 29 months.
- Tuition: $4,365 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 34 total courses in this program.
Certifications included in this program at no extra cost include:
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) - Associate of (ISC)2 designation
- Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) - Associate of (ISC)2 designation
- ITIL® Foundation Certification
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst Certification (CySA+)
- CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Network Vulnerability Assessment Professional
- CompTIA Network Security Professional
- CompTIA PenTest+
- CompTIA Project+
- CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Security Analytics Professional
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Secure Systems Analysis & Design
- Data Management
- Web and Cloud Security
- Hacking Countermeasures and Techniques
- Digital Forensics and Incident Response
Technology
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – M.S.
Become the authority on keeping infrastructures and information safe....
Become the authority on keeping infrastructures and information safe.
- Time: 63% of graduates finish within 18 months.
- Tuition: $4,655 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 9 total courses in this program.
Certifications in this program at no additional cost include:
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
- CompTIA PenTest+
- CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) Optional Voucher
- ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Optional Voucher
- (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Cybersecurity Strategy
- Information Assurance
- Incident Response
- Penetration Testing
The curriculum is closely aligned with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workforce Framework. The program was designed in collaboration with national intelligence organizations and IT industry leaders, ensuring you'll learn emerging technologies and best practices in security governance.
How Much Does a Cyber Auditor Make?
$102,600
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual salary for information security analysts, including cyber auditors, is $102,600.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
33%
The BLS job growth projections for the field are likewise positive, as they expect the field to expand by a healthy 33% through 2030.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Cyber Auditor Need?
- Ability to identify risky IT procedures
- Ability to identify potential software and hardware vulnerabilities
- Experience with risk management and mitigation
- Technical skills required to assess the status of networks and systems
- Penetration testing
- Policy development
- Ability to develop recommendations for heightened security
- Ability to communicate recommendations to stakeholders
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Interested in Becoming a Cyber Auditor?
