Top 12 Cyber Security Jobs in India in 2024

What Does This Mean for IT Professionals?

Regardless of the reasons for the increase in demand, the pressing problem is a shortage of people trained and capable enough to fill the growing number of cyber security roles. NASSCOM reports that despite having the largest IT talent pool in the world, India simply lacks skilled cyber security professionals. In fact, the need for experienced professionals is so high that companies are willing to pay a premium salary of over Rs 1.5 to 4 crore to top talent. This has increased the cyber security budget by 71% as observed by PwC in its 2016 report.

What is a Cybersecurity Professional?

Cybersecurity professionals are skilled and trained individuals who protect your data, networks, systems, and devices from malicious threats, cyber-attacks, phishing attacks, and unauthorized access. Protecting your data, client information, cloud, and mobile networks and systems is a challenging job. 

However, along with the relevant education, cybersecurity personnel are highly creative, passionate about research, have a keen eye for detail, and always think on their feet for out-of-the-box solutions to unconventional problems.

A cybersecurity career in India is in high demand due to the increasing need for IT professionals and cyber-focused individuals. A key responsibility of a cybersecurity professional is protecting the organization's valuable data and networks. Another title for a cybersecurity professional is a cybersecurity analyst. As the name suggests, a cybersecurity analyst analyzes and tackles cyber attacks and malware on your networks, data, and information.

How to Become a Cybersecurity Professional? 

Cyber Security jobs in India are currently at a peak. It takes more than just an unconventional outlook and out-of-the-box approach to becoming a successful and hands-on cybersecurity professional.

Cybersecurity is a relatively new career path in the Information Technology field. Thus, there are many ways to become a cybersecurity analyst or professional. Individuals who wish to make a career in this high-demand industry must have a bachelor's degree in computer science, IT systems, engineering, programming, and similar fields. 

You need to have relevant technical experience in order to become an active cybersecurity personnel. However, companies are taking a different route in hiring cybersecurity analysts. One of the best ways is to get cybersecurity training and attain certification. You can also learn and master coding languages like Python, Java, HTML, C++, and others. 

Last but not least, you need to understand the cybersecurity fundamentals and the requirements of the current IT industry or the requirements of the organization. Thoroughly researching and understanding these fundamentals and putting them into technical practice should give a jump-start to your cybersecurity career.

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The jobs that are seeing this sharp increase in pay include the following cyber security job in Inda:

Top Cyber Security Jobs in India

1. Network Security Engineer

This is crucial for any organization's cybersecurity team. A network security engineer is responsible for protecting company assets from threats. A firm quality check on designing, implementing, and protecting robust security systems for the organization is vital to this role.

Role Level- Fresher/Mid-Career/Experienced

Role Type- Technical

Average Salary- ₹513,169

Education and Skills- 

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity, or a similar field.
• IT Networking and Programming.
• Cyber Laws and Compliance Knowledge.
• Firewall Design, Configuration, Maintenance, and Administration.

Certifications-

• Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)
• CompTIA Security+ 
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH v11)
• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

Also Read: Top Network Security Certifications and How to Choose the Right One for You

2. Cyber Security Analyst

Implementing security systems to counter and stop threats is the primary role of a Cybersecurity Analyst. Identifying vulnerabilities in the system and maintaining systems is a vital part of this role.

Role Level- Fresher/Mid-Career/Experienced

Role Type- Technical

Average Salary- ₹539,675

Education and Skills- 

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, cybersecurity, infosec, or a similar field.
• Proprietary Network Management.
• Data Encryption.
• Firewall Design, Configuration, and Maintainance.

Certifications-

• Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)
• CompTIA Security+

3. Security Architect

As the name suggests, this person has a primary role in developing the architecture for the computer and network security of the organization. Researching, planning, and designing security elements are vital to this role.

Role Level- Mid-Career/Experienced

Role Type- Technical/Managerial

Average Salary- ₹2,182,678

Education and Skills- 

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or a similar field.
• Master's degree in Cybersecurity
• TCP/IP Network and Networking Security Knowledge
• Risk Management
• Protocol Encryption

Certifications-

• GIAC Defensible Security Architect
• CompTIA Network+
• Information System Security Architecture Professional (ISC)

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4. Cyber Security Manager

A cybersecurity manager manages and implements a plan of action when the company faces IT issues and network breaches. A manager plans and implements a management protocol for countering and solving software and network threats.

Role Level- Mid-Career/Experienced

Role Type- Technical/Managerial

Average Salary- ₹870,667

Education and Skills- 

• Bachelor's degree in IT engineering, cybersecurity, system engineering, or computer programming.
• Proprietary Network Management.
• Data Encryption.
• Firewall Design, Configuration, and Maintainance.

Certifications-

• Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Information System Auditor (CISA)
• GIAC Security Leadership (GSLC)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISM)
• Information Systems Security Management Professionals (CISSP-ISSMP)

5. Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

According to a report by PWC, over 80 percent of companies now have a CISO on the management team. This trend shows that companies have grown aware of the threats of cyber crimes and the potential damage such attacks can cause. The CISO is a senior-level executive within an organization that ensures that the cyber security plan is aligned with the business’s vision, operations, and technologies. The CISO works with the staff to identify, develop, implement, and maintain processes across the organization to ensure there are no security breaches. They respond to incidents and set up appropriate standards and controls to mitigate security risks without causing any interruption to the business. They are also responsible for overseeing the implementation of security policies and procedures within the organization.

The average salary for top CISOs is anywhere between Rs 2 crores to 4 crores.

6. Information Security Manager 

An information security manager detects loopholes that make information systems susceptible to attacks. They are responsible for detecting and preventing cyber threats within the company’s data, computers, and networks. Businesses can face major losses if they fail to protect sensitive customer information and violate data protection laws. Hence, large corporations hire information security managers to make sure that the company data, systems, and networks do not get hacked.

The average salary of an information security manager in India ranges from Rs 15 lakh per annum to Rs 16.5 lakh per annum.

7. Cybersecurity Engineer 

A cybersecurity engineer creates and executes secure network solutions. In order to strengthen technology initiatives and take them to the next level, cybersecurity engineers are an integral part of the system. There is a huge demand-supply gap in the required workforce capabilities for this position, so companies value the in-depth knowledge and experience these professionals bring to the table. 

The average salary of a cybersecurity engineer in India ranges from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 11 lakh per annum.

8. Application Security Engineer 

An application security engineer looks after the stability of the internal and external applications of an organization. They would have in-depth knowledge and expertise in dealing with the privacy and compliance aspects of third-party applications such as Azure or AWS. Any organization that wants to integrate such software into its day-to-day operations would want to hire these cybersecurity professionals. Application security engineers also prevent cyber threats that disrupt the integrity of the entire application infrastructure. 

The average salary of an application security engineer in India stands at Rs 9 lakh per annum.

9. Ethical Hackers 

Ethical hackers are a valuable resource to organizations because they have a lot of intuitive knowledge and skills to reveal hackers’ logic. They test and pick apart the vulnerabilities of networks, systems, and applications. They also conduct security tests daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly depending on the needs of the organization. Ethical hackers are gaining momentum in the market today because they provide insider information to protect organizations from high-level cyberattacks. 

In India, ethical hackers with 0-3 years of experience can make Rs 3.5 lakh per annum. Certified professionals with industry experience can earn as high as Rs 15 lakh per annum.

10. Incident Manager 

An incident manager determines the appropriate resources and proficiencies to resolve security incidents in an organization. They form teams when something goes wrong, and take full ownership of the results. Hence, it is an executive-level role that requires leadership aptitude and problem-solving abilities. Typically, you can advance to this managerial role after obtaining suitable credentials that demonstrate your skills. 

The average salary of an incident manager in India ranges from Rs 5 to 8 lakh per annum.

11. Cybersecurity Consultant 

A cybersecurity consultant works independently with businesses with their cybersecurity issues. For this, you must have enough industry experience with professional certifications and showcase your potential to employers. Most companies usually hire cybersecurity consultants on a contractual basis. 

The average salary of a cybersecurity consultant is approximately Rs 6.5 lakh per annum. 

12. Cloud Security Engineer 

A cloud security engineer builds, maintains, and continuously improves the cloud-based networks and systems of an organization. They handle all of the organization’s cloud computing environments and core infrastructure, platforms, and software. They also provide security recommendations on service design and application development.

The average salary of a cloud security engineer is approximately Rs 7.9 lakh per annum. 

How Much Do Cybersecurity Professionals Make? 

A cybersecurity career in India is flourishing due to the increasing number of companies and the spike in need for good cybersecurity professionals. However, cybersecurity jobs in India for freshers and experienced individuals pay differently based on academic qualifications and on-field experience. 

Cyber Security jobs in India have an average pay of ₹600,000 per annum. Different roles have different pay ranges and depend on the type of skills and experience you bring to the table. 

For more details on salary trends of each cyber security job, you can also check out this salary calculator.

Conclusion

Those are the top cyber security jobs in India today, but plenty of other roles exist and go unfilled, including information risk auditors, firewalls, and security device development professionals, security analysts, intrusion detection specialists, computer security incident responders, cryptologists, and vulnerability assessors. Enroll in our Advanced Executive Program in Cybersecurity course and start your cyber security journey today!

As organizations across a wide range of different industries such as banks, government, retail, and BFSI sectors actively recruit cyber security professionals, the job demand will only go up. The challenge is to meet that demand by making sure people are getting trained for these critical security roles. And once they are trained, exciting and well-paying jobs await!  

The article was originally published on CSO.

FAQs

1. Which Degree is Best for Cybersecurity in India? 

The best degrees for cybersecurity in India are BSc Cyber Security, MSc Cyber Security, and PG Diploma in Cyber Security. You can pursue these courses after the 12th.

2. Is Cybersecurity in High Demand? 

Yes. Cybersecurity in India is in high demand due to the increasing technology threats faced by multiple organizations and individuals.

3. What is the Rank of India in Cybersecurity? 

According to the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) released in June 2021, India ranks in the 10th position worldwide.

4. Is Cybersecurity a Future Job? 

Cybersecurity is a fast-growing market, and the need for cybersecurity professionals will increase more in the coming days as our world is getting more technologically sound and comfortable.