Don’t Take Your Next Cybersecurity Job for Granted
… role and function, has a budget for that function, and, most importantly, values the work that is being done and the employees doing it,” she said. “For example, ask the CISO how many times they present to the Board of Directors, or ask how the security budget is determined. If the budget is determined by percentage of the IT budget, it would suggest that the function is also subordinate to IT, and that may not be the best situation for security. And ensure that security is an integral part of the business function.”
It’s also important to look at the retention and turnover statistics of a company you’re considering joining.
“Retention is very difficult for a lot of these organizations, so it’s important to find an organization that not only offers you the salary and benefit you want, but has proven that it does what it takes to keep employees happy,” Downs said.
Ideally, benefits will include not only a competitive salary and leave, but training and education, he added.
But finding your next job isn’t the end game. Technology continues to change, and cyber professionals must continue to change with it. That means committing to a continuing focus on education and training. Today, that might focus on machine learning, AI and blockchain, but it will change over time.
“Imagine someone who got a cybersecurity degree in 2015 and then just stopped learning,” Downs said. “How do you think they are going to do handling ransomware, which didn’t really pop up until the end of 2016? You’ve got to stay relevant.”
Karen D. Schwartz is a technology and business writer with more than 20 years of experience. She has written on a broad range of technology topics for publications including CIO, InformationWeek, GCN, FCW, FedTech, BizTech, eWeek and Government Executive
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