What in the world is a cybersecurity professional? A guide for students

Find out what cybersecurity is all about and whether you'd want to pursue an internship in the field!

1. What's a cybersecurity professional?

　🤔 But first, what's "cybersecurity"?
　✨ "Cybersecurity professional" defined
　🌈 What are the different types of cybersecurity professionals?

2. Where can I find internships?

Part 1. What's a cybersecurity professional?

🤔 But first, what's "cybersecurity"?

Cybersecurity is like a digital security guard who protects you while you do go about your online business—whether that's chatting with friends, streaming videos, or just doing homework.

For instance, whenever you log into a website, you need to enter your username and password. If you're using a different device than usual, you may be asked some personal questions like "What was the name of your first pet?"

These are all cybersecurity measures that do what security guards do—they let the right people in and keep the wrong people out. Without them, anyone could access your accounts, stealing your identity, money, and more.

Like you, businesses stand to lose a lot from cyber attacks. They can lose customers, face crippling fines, and see their reputation tank overnight. Even places that you wouldn't expect to be prime targets are actively under attack. Schools and hospitals, utilities companies, small non-profits—you name it.

That's why cybersecurity is so important these days. Organizations of all sizes are just one breach away from disaster. For them, cybersecurity isn't just a shield; it's a lifeline keeping them afloat in a sea of digital threats.

✨ "Cybersecurity professional" defined

Technically, anybody that works to keep the internet safe for users could be considered a "cybersecurity professional." 

🌈 What are the different types of cybersecurity professionals?

Let's explore some common technical and non-technical roles in this space.

Technical roles

• Security administrator: Sets up defenses (like firewalls) to keep bad guys out of a company's network.
• SOC analyst: Works in a 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC), monitoring for security threats across a company's systems. The least technical of technical roles, since software tools do the actual monitoring and you mainly try to determine if the alerts they raise are real or false.
• Vulnerability analyst: Uses software to scan computer systems for weaknesses that bad guys might exploit and figures out how to fix them. 

• Penetration tester (Pen Tester): Uncovers more weaknesses in a system by manually hacking the system.

• Incident responder: When a security breach occurs, incident responders are on the frontline. They manage the aftermath of attacks, mitigating damage and coordinating recovery efforts.

Non-technical roles

• GRC (Governance, Risk and Compliance) analyst: Helps companies manage the ever-changing world of cybersecurity rules and regulations so they don't get fined.
• IT auditor: Checks that organizations follow cybersecurity rules, usually for certification reasons. Hear a former IT auditor share their experiences.[LINK]

• Cybersecurity awareness trainer: Teaches a company's employees how to stay safe online. 

• Cybersecurity project manager: Leads cybersecurity projects so they stay on time and within budget.

• Cybersecurity sales engineer: Help organizations understand and choose the right security solutions.
• Cybersecurity insurance broker: Recommends insurance policies for companies in case they fall victim to a cyberattack.

To get a fuller picture of cybersecurity roles, check out this diagram, courtesy of cybersecurity professional Henry Jiang.

Part 2. Where can I find internships?

You can find plenty of internships on Prosple. We have a vast selection of internships curated for students like you. Just filter 'til you find the right fit!