Job titles such as security consultant, security engineer or security analyst are also used interchangeably with security specialist and share a similar job function: to ensure the protection of company data.
With dependence on technology and computerized systems rising exponentially in the workplace, sensitive and proprietary information is under constant threat of being compromised. If you’re an educated, accredited and experienced security specialist, your employability is assured. Randstad Canada can help you take the next step in your career.
Security specialist jobs typically require you to work full-time at a computer workstation. You may also be required to travel to regional offices, branches or stores to evaluate or implement security measures. Security is needed in all industries and locations, so you should have no trouble finding security specialist jobs in most major cities throughout Canada.
The average starting salary for security specialist jobs is in the mid $60,000s. Highly skilled and experienced security specialists will see their salaries climb into 6 figures as their career progresses. You may find security specialist jobs are also listed under job titles such as security consultant, security engineer and security analyst.
Your employer relies on your expertise to secure highly sensitive data, such as customer information, employee data, business networks and other proprietary information. Most companies are willing to pay competitive security specialist salaries in order to ensure all their data is well protected by highly skilled individuals.
A key part of your job is gathering information and offering recommendations that will protect your company from security breaches. You are the first line of defense protecting one of your company's most valuable assets: its data. Some of your daily tasks may include:
Opportunities for security specialists are found in diverse industries such as government, technology, banking, finance, insurance, and retail, among others. In our digital age, wherever there are businesses, there are computer networks that need to be secured.
As with many jobs in the tech industry, security specialist jobs are found in all major city centres in Canada. Security specialist salaries are consistently high in most major cities including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary, so you should be able to find work wherever you choose to live in Canada.
As a security specialist, you are a highly analytical problem solver and extremely detail-oriented. Some other skills that will help you become a successful security specialist include:
Most security specialist jobs will require an undergraduate degree in computer science, math or engineering. The sensitive nature of your work as a security specialist may mean that security clearance is also required.
There are many specializations you can opt for under the "security specialist" umbrella. You can obtain various certifications and accreditations that will demonstrate your expertise to employers. It's also important to continuously update your skills. Technology doesn’t stand still, and you can’t either, not if you want to remain employed.
With an ever-expanding number of databases connected to the internet and cloud services, the need for specialists who can secure information on these platforms is expanding as well. It’s expected that the number of security specialists will increase as much as 40% in the next 5 years, to meet this demand.
When it comes to career advancement, with the right blend of experience, expertise, and proven leadership qualities, you'll find opportunities to advance into supervisory and management roles in IT. You may also consider becoming a freelance security consultant. This path offers you more flexibility and control over your schedule and the projects you take on.