Entry Level Cyber Security Jobs in India with No Experience

Can I start a career in cybersecurity with no experience? How to start a cybersecurity career from scratch with zero experience? Can I get a job in cybersecurity as a fresher? How to get a job in cybersecurity with no experience?

Cybersecurity is one of the booming industries with a skyrocketing demand for professionals. According to the World Economic Forum, the world is challenged with a shortage of over 4 million cyber professionals. The increasing global reliance on digital technologies is accompanied by the dire need for a robust cybersecurity workforce that can safeguard and protect the digital expanse, including networks and data from the ever-growing and evolving cyber threats. Thus, for individuals with genuine interests and skills in protecting the global digital world, there is a huge world of opportunities out there.

The key question, however, is how to break into the field. To successfully navigate the job market, aspiring cybersecurity professionals must understand the career paths, skill sets, and qualifications needed. If you’re a recent graduate with a cybersecurity degree and unsure about your next steps, this blog is for you.

It’s a detailed guide aimed at beginners who want to land a cybersecurity job, even without prior experience. If you’re wondering whether it’s possible to break into the field without experience, this blog will provide all the answers you need.

Is experience mandatory for a cyber security job?

To put it straightforwardly, experience is not a mandatory requirement to land a cybersecurity job. This is, however, only limited to entry-level jobs. Individuals without experience but with the right skills and knowledge can land an entry-level cybersecurity job. As one moves further along in the job, higher-level positions demand experience, besides having a strong foundation of cybersecurity skills and expertise. Organizations and firms cutting across industries are competitively seeking skilled cybersecurity practitioners, offering attractive remunerations and perks to attract top talents.

Cybersecurity entry-level job salaries are often significantly higher than those in many other fields. The requirements for skills and experience also rely upon the employing organization. Some organizations may require a minimum of a few years of cybersecurity-related experience even for entry-level positions. So, how to get into the field? Let’s delve in further to learn how to embark on a cybersecurity job without experience and how to prepare yourself for the job.

Key Skills for Cybersecurity Entry-Level Positions

Cybersecurity professionals are expected to have a blend of both technical expertise and soft skills and have in-depth knowledge of the domain. The essential skills of the cybersecurity industry include:

Must-Have Technical Skills

Networking and System Administration
Knowledge of Operating Systems
Incident handling and response
Network security control
Malware prevention and detection
Mastery of programming languages, coding, and encryption
Cloud systems implementation and management
Virtual Machine
Familiarity with compliance and regulations

Must-Have Soft Skills

Effective communication
Collaborative skills
Analytical mindset
Problem-solving skills
Attention to detail
Adaptability
Critical thinking
Active listener

Also Read: What Skills are required for Cyber Security Entry Level Jobs?

What is an entry-level position in cybersecurity?

An entry-level position in cybersecurity means jobs that are often more accessible and in demand, particularly for individuals who are fresh out of college and yet to attain job/industry-relevant experience. These positions further create and offer opportunities to transition and advance into upper-level cybersecurity jobs. Entry-level jobs are typically engaged for basic tasks and responsibilities, including log analysis and incident reporting. The key skills essential for cybersecurity entry-level jobs are:

Networking: Mastery of the movements of data across networks, such as TCP/IP, is essential for cybersecurity entry-level positions. This knowledge is crucial in the identification of potential threats and developing advanced solutions for mitigating threats and risks.

Operating systems: Mastery of operating systems like Linux, Unix, Windows, and macOS is essential for performing on-the-job tasks like security testing, ethical hacking, network analysis, and penetration testing.

Programming and Coding Skills: A strong foundation in programming language is essential for embarking on a cybersecurity entry-level position.

In addition to the above technical prowess, aspirants must have a robust set of soft skills, including:

Problem-solving
Analytical
Communication
Collaboration

Top Entry-Level Cybersecurity Jobs

Junior Security Analyst: A practitioner in this position is tasked with the responsibility of monitoring security breaches, analyzing threats, and assisting in implementing protective measures. On average, the pay package of a Junior Security Analyst in the US is $77,500 yearly and ₹3,50,000 per year in India. They must be skilled in documenting cyber incidents and incident response.

Source Code Auditor: They are responsible for meticulously reviewing software source code and detecting coding errors, security vulnerabilities, and compliance issues. The average salary of a source code auditor in the US is $86,952. To enter this position, an individual must be proficient in programming languages and must have a sharp eye to detect coding flaws and errors.

Security Auditor: Their job roles include auditing protocols, recommending solutions for security enhancements, and verifying the effectiveness of security protocols in protecting data and infrastructure. The average salary of a security auditor in the US is $117,500 annually and ₹900,000 in a year. They must be proficient at operating systems, cloud computing, and databases.

Junior Penetration Tester: The job of a Junior Penetration Tester is to imitate cybersecurity attacks on systems, applications, or networks to detect weak spots and vulnerabilities in the security systems. These practitioners are expected to have strong threat detection skills and must be able to employ security tools and be familiar with securing physical system setups. The annual average salary of a Junior Penetration Tester is USD 119,895 in the US and ₹4,49,858 in India.

Information Cybersecurity Analyst: Their job roles include monitoring, detecting, and responding to cyber threats and ensuring the security of data. An information cybersecurity analyst makes a yearly income of $132,954 as a salary in the US and ₹780,000 in India.

Junior Cryptanalyst: Their job is to assist the activity of analyzing and deciphering encrypted data and ensuring secure transmission of data. They must have strong knowledge of diverse types of encryption and be proficient in data sourcing, handling, and processing. The annual average salary of a junior cryptanalyst in India is ₹5,74,906.

Junior Forensic Analyst: Their work involves analyzing data from systems and digital devices to unearth electronic information-related crimes and interpret them. Their salary in the US ranges from $57,000 to $89,000. They must be skilled at digital storage technologies, ethical hacking, and management of file systems.

Conclusion:

Building a cybersecurity career at the entry level does not typically require experience. An aspirant must first develop all the key skills and knowledge. IT support analysts and system administrators are also popular entry-level cybersecurity jobs that beginners are increasingly seeking.

(salary sources: Glassdoor, Talent.com, and Salary.com)