Table of Contents
[toc headings="h2,h3" title="Table of Contents"] While other areas of the technology industry saw layoffs and job losses over 2022, cybersecurity has continued to grow. According to studies from Grand View Research, cybersecurity jobs are expected to grow at a rate of 12.3% per year through 2030. The reason for this is simple. More people are doing more things online or through networked devices than ever before, and with that expanding use comes a need for professionals to keep data and systems secure. The growth of cybersecurity jobs has coincided with the increase in remote work, and there's a good amount of overlap between these job types. Let's take a closer look at the kinds of information security work from home jobs available, and how you can decide if they're a good fit.
Types of cybersecurity work from home jobs
Since they're focused on computers and networks, jobs in IT can often be done remotely, and this includes many roles related to cybersecurity. However, this doesn't mean that all roles in the security field are available as remote positions. Typically, higher-level security professionals in charge of development and implementation of the company's security architecture are expected to work in person at the location. Most roles that involve leadership or management of other members of the information security team are going to be in-person, as well, though there are exceptions to this rule. So what kind of roles are often available as remote security positions? Generally speaking, remote security employees tend to focus on tasks like monitoring networks and systems for threats, testing them to detect vulnerabilities, and auditing the performance of the company's security technology. Digital forensics and other investigative roles may also be predominantly remote, though they may still need to be in-person for some aspects of the job, such as presenting findings in court or other duties related to law enforcement. While the exact job title of work-from-home cybersecurity positions varies between employers, there are some types of roles you'll see most often. If you're wondering what terms to target in your job search for a remote security role, here are some positions that are often available as a remote job.
IT technician
Average salary: $56,000 per year Technicians are support personnel who help both employees and end users solve problems related to information technology. This often includes hardware and software troubleshooting along with cybersecurity concerns, so while it's not exclusively a security position, it does require knowledge of security tools and principles. These professionals are often the first ones to hear of and report attacks and breaches, giving them a critical role in resolving incidents. Along with helping employees and users fix problems, other responsibilities of the role include maintaining the system and network and assisting with the implementation of new security features.
Cybersecurity analyst
Average salary: $73,000 per year Also known as an SOC analyst, infrastructure analyst, or information risk analyst, these professionals monitor and analyze the traffic and logs of companies' security systems to identify unexpected activity. They're also often the first ones to respond to a potential threat and help the security team develop its disaster recovery plan. When there isn't an active threat or vulnerability to address, a cyber security analyst helps to maintain the security system. This can include installing new software or updates, creating documentation and reports, and general administration of security tools like firewalls.
Security engineer
Average salary: $139,000 per year Security engineers are responsible for both building and maintaining the security systems that protect an organization's digital data. When it's offered remotely, the day-to-day responsibilities will often be more on the monitoring and testing side, though they may still be called on to help develop and implement new features. Other typical duties include planning computer upgrades and software updates, helping with incident response, and developing automated processes to detect or prevent threats. Since this is a more advanced role, most employers look for candidates with several years of security experience as well as a degree or certification in cybersecurity.
IT auditor
Average salary: $86,000 per year An IT auditor helps to ensure data security by performing audits on the security system. This usually means collecting data from information systems to verify they're functioning as expected, then analyzing this data and preparing a report on their findings. Along with checking for threats, they ensure systems are in compliance with any industry regulations, as well as assisting with the organization's risk management and overall security integrity. This means IT auditors need to have an in-depth understanding of security standards, not just within the organization but across the broader security landscape.
Penetration tester
Average salary: $86,000 per year You may also see this job title listed as ethical hacker or pen tester. These professionals help companies find vulnerabilities by using the same techniques and tools a malicious hacker would. By seeking out and exploiting weaknesses, they help organizations close these gaps in their system security to prevent future attacks. Other responsibilities may include researching new attack methods or reverse-engineering malware and viruses to understand how they infiltrate an organization's network security systems. Like security engineers, these professionals need an in-depth understanding of both common attack methods and the security tools that prevent them. Because of this, employers look for someone with several years of hands-on experience in the field, as well as a Bachelor's degree in computer science or security.
Should I get a remote cybersecurity job?
Earning a high salary without needing to leave your home sounds like a dream for many people. The variety of cybersecurity jobs available remotely makes it an appealing sector for information technology professionals who want to do just that. That doesn't necessarily mean an online security job is right for you, though. One tricky thing is that landing a work-from-home cybersecurity job isn't always easy. Not all roles in the industry can be done remotely, for one thing. Many employers are also hesitant to hire first-time remote workers, or those without work experience in security, for these roles. If you want to take advantage of this option, you may need to start off working in some less ideal positions first, to prove you have both the technical proficiency for the security industry and temperament for remote work. The job type you're looking for can also impact whether working from home is a feasible option. If your goal is to be a security architect, or take on a leadership role like information security manager or security director, you're unlikely to find many WFH opportunities. Even businesses that are open to hybrid and remote work want these high-level individuals in the office, at least part of the time. One last thing to keep in mind: remote work isn't always synonymous with work from home. Someone employed as a cybersecurity consultant may work remotely because they need to travel between client businesses. The same can be true for freelance or contract professionals, or those on the investigative and digital forensics side of the industry, who may be called on to testify in court or inspect physical drives or internal systems that can't be accessed from outside the business office.
Advantages of working from home in cybersecurity
Full control over your work environment
In an office, you can't stop your coworkers from swinging by your desk for a chat, and usually don't have control over environmental factors like the temperature and lighting. When you work from home, you have full power to limit distractions and create an ideal setting for work. Many professionals find they're both more productive and feel less workplace stress as a result.
More flexibility
Some cybersecurity professionals need to be on call for their employer's needs, like incident response teams and IT support. Many of these roles can be performed on their own time, though, giving you the ability to choose when you work as well as where you work.
Greater workplace autonomy
Micromanagement is frustrating for any employee, but often especially so for technical professionals. Employers may use monitoring and tracking tools for remote workers, but it's much more difficult for managers to hover, interrupt, or interfere. This gives remote professionals the freedom to do their work their way.
Disadvantages of work-from-home cybersecurity roles
It's difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance
Working from home breaks down the barriers between your professional and personal life. If you're not careful to assert those boundaries, the flexibility to work any time can turn into working all the time, especially in a field like cybersecurity where there's always work of some sort to be done.
Fewer advancement opportunities
It was mentioned earlier that many leadership roles in cybersecurity are on-site by default. For those committed to remote work, this limits the paths your career can take. Remote work can also make it more difficult to stand out as a top performer, impacting your chances of getting promotions or raises when they are available.
Access to office resources
Cloud-based systems and networks make sharing information and collaborating feasible at a distance. Not every employer takes full advantage of this option, though. If your coworkers or company aren't great at communication and sharing knowledge, you can be left feeling out of the loop and without the tools and knowledge you need to do your job effectively.
Qualifications and skills for remote cybersecurity jobs
Remote security professionals need a combination of technical skills and soft skills. While that's true in a general sense for almost any job, working from home complicates the question by adding to the list of soft skills you'll need to thrive. Truly entry-level jobs are rare in cybersecurity as an industry, and even more so when you look at remote jobs. Even if you have the skills and knowledge, you're unlikely to land a remote cybersecurity job without a few years of work experience in the industry on your resume. Having a strong cybersecurity education can help. Earning a college diploma in programming, computer science, network administration, or information security gives you a solid knowledge base to build on. You can further validate your skills with certifications in areas like cloud security, mobile security, encryption, or penetration testing. Finally, there are some crucial soft skills you'll need to thrive in a remote job. Foremost among them is strong time and task management. Remote professionals need to be strong self-starters able to complete tasks and projects with little outside influence. Strong communication skills are also crucial, especially written communication, which is the main way most remote workers interact.
Finding your ideal cybersecurity role
Before you get your heart set on a cybersecurity work-from-home job, spend some time perusing job sites. Evaluating the types of opportunities out there, and which ones are aligned to your education, background, and work experience, can help you decide if a remote job is the right move for your life and career.
While other areas of the technology industry saw layoffs and job losses over 2022, cybersecurity has continued to grow. According to studies from Grand View Research, cybersecurity jobs are expected to grow at a rate of 12.3% per year through 2030. The reason for this is simple. More people are doing more things online or through networked devices than ever before, and with that expanding use comes a need for professionals to keep data and systems secure.
The growth of cybersecurity jobs has coincided with the increase in remote work, and there’s a good amount of overlap between these job types. Let’s take a closer look at the kinds of information security work from home jobs available, and how you can decide if they’re a good fit.
Types of cybersecurity work from home jobs
Since they’re focused on computers and networks, jobs in IT can often be done remotely, and this includes many roles related to cybersecurity. However, this doesn’t mean that all roles in the security field are available as remote positions. Typically, higher-level security professionals in charge of development and implementation of the company’s security architecture are expected to work in person at the location. Most roles that involve leadership or management of other members of the information security team are going to be in-person, as well, though there are exceptions to this rule.
So what kind of roles are often available as remote security positions? Generally speaking, remote security employees tend to focus on tasks like monitoring networks and systems for threats, testing them to detect vulnerabilities, and auditing the performance of the company’s security technology. Digital forensics and other investigative roles may also be predominantly remote, though they may still need to be in-person for some aspects of the job, such as presenting findings in court or other duties related to law enforcement.
While the exact job title of work-from-home cybersecurity positions varies between employers, there are some types of roles you’ll see most often. If you’re wondering what terms to target in your job search for a remote security role, here are some positions that are often available as a remote job.
IT technician
Average salary: $56,000 per year
Technicians are support personnel who help both employees and end users solve problems related to information technology. This often includes hardware and software troubleshooting along with cybersecurity concerns, so while it’s not exclusively a security position, it does require knowledge of security tools and principles. These professionals are often the first ones to hear of and report attacks and breaches, giving them a critical role in resolving incidents. Along with helping employees and users fix problems, other responsibilities of the role include maintaining the system and network and assisting with the implementation of new security features.
Cybersecurity analyst
Average salary: $73,000 per year
Also known as an SOC analyst, infrastructure analyst, or information risk analyst, these professionals monitor and analyze the traffic and logs of companies’ security systems to identify unexpected activity. They’re also often the first ones to respond to a potential threat and help the security team develop its disaster recovery plan. When there isn’t an active threat or vulnerability to address, a cyber security analyst helps to maintain the security system. This can include installing new software or updates, creating documentation and reports, and general administration of security tools like firewalls.
Security engineer
Average salary: $139,000 per year
Security engineers are responsible for both building and maintaining the security systems that protect an organization’s digital data. When it’s offered remotely, the day-to-day responsibilities will often be more on the monitoring and testing side, though they may still be called on to help develop and implement new features. Other typical duties include planning computer upgrades and software updates, helping with incident response, and developing automated processes to detect or prevent threats. Since this is a more advanced role, most employers look for candidates with several years of security experience as well as a degree or certification in cybersecurity.
IT auditor
Average salary: $86,000 per year
An IT auditor helps to ensure data security by performing audits on the security system. This usually means collecting data from information systems to verify they’re functioning as expected, then analyzing this data and preparing a report on their findings. Along with checking for threats, they ensure systems are in compliance with any industry regulations, as well as assisting with the organization’s risk management and overall security integrity. This means IT auditors need to have an in-depth understanding of security standards, not just within the organization but across the broader security landscape.
Penetration tester
Average salary: $86,000 per year
You may also see this job title listed as ethical hacker or pen tester. These professionals help companies find vulnerabilities by using the same techniques and tools a malicious hacker would. By seeking out and exploiting weaknesses, they help organizations close these gaps in their system security to prevent future attacks. Other responsibilities may include researching new attack methods or reverse-engineering malware and viruses to understand how they infiltrate an organization’s network security systems. Like security engineers, these professionals need an in-depth understanding of both common attack methods and the security tools that prevent them. Because of this, employers look for someone with several years of hands-on experience in the field, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in computer science or security.
Should I get a remote cybersecurity job?
Earning a high salary without needing to leave your home sounds like a dream for many people. The variety of cybersecurity jobs available remotely makes it an appealing sector for information technology professionals who want to do just that. That doesn’t necessarily mean an online security job is right for you, though.
One tricky thing is that landing a work-from-home cybersecurity job isn’t always easy. Not all roles in the industry can be done remotely, for one thing. Many employers are also hesitant to hire first-time remote workers, or those without work experience in security, for these roles. If you want to take advantage of this option, you may need to start off working in some less ideal positions first, to prove you have both the technical proficiency for the security industry and temperament for remote work.
The job type you’re looking for can also impact whether working from home is a feasible option. If your goal is to be a security architect, or take on a leadership role like information security manager or security director, you’re unlikely to find many WFH opportunities. Even businesses that are open to hybrid and remote work want these high-level individuals in the office, at least part of the time.
One last thing to keep in mind: remote work isn’t always synonymous with work from home. Someone employed as a cybersecurity consultant may work remotely because they need to travel between client businesses. The same can be true for freelance or contract professionals, or those on the investigative and digital forensics side of the industry, who may be called on to testify in court or inspect physical drives or internal systems that can’t be accessed from outside the business office.
Advantages of working from home in cybersecurity
Full control over your work environment
In an office, you can’t stop your coworkers from swinging by your desk for a chat, and usually don’t have control over environmental factors like the temperature and lighting. When you work from home, you have full power to limit distractions and create an ideal setting for work. Many professionals find they’re both more productive and feel less workplace stress as a result.
More flexibility
Some cybersecurity professionals need to be on call for their employer’s needs, like incident response teams and IT support. Many of these roles can be performed on their own time, though, giving you the ability to choose when you work as well as where you work.
Greater workplace autonomy
Micromanagement is frustrating for any employee, but often especially so for technical professionals. Employers may use monitoring and tracking tools for remote workers, but it’s much more difficult for managers to hover, interrupt, or interfere. This gives remote professionals the freedom to do their work their way.
Disadvantages of work-from-home cybersecurity roles
It’s difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance
Working from home breaks down the barriers between your professional and personal life. If you’re not careful to assert those boundaries, the flexibility to work any time can turn into working all the time, especially in a field like cybersecurity where there’s always work of some sort to be done.
Fewer advancement opportunities
It was mentioned earlier that many leadership roles in cybersecurity are on-site by default. For those committed to remote work, this limits the paths your career can take. Remote work can also make it more difficult to stand out as a top performer, impacting your chances of getting promotions or raises when they are available.
Access to office resources
Cloud-based systems and networks make sharing information and collaborating feasible at a distance. Not every employer takes full advantage of this option, though. If your coworkers or company aren’t great at communication and sharing knowledge, you can be left feeling out of the loop and without the tools and knowledge you need to do your job effectively.
Qualifications and skills for remote cybersecurity jobs
Remote security professionals need a combination of technical skills and soft skills. While that’s true in a general sense for almost any job, working from home complicates the question by adding to the list of soft skills you’ll need to thrive.
Truly entry-level jobs are rare in cybersecurity as an industry, and even more so when you look at remote jobs. Even if you have the skills and knowledge, you’re unlikely to land a remote cybersecurity job without a few years of work experience in the industry on your resume.
Having a strong cybersecurity education can help. Earning a college diploma in programming, computer science, network administration, or information security gives you a solid knowledge base to build on. You can further validate your skills with certifications in areas like cloud security, mobile security, encryption, or penetration testing.
Finally, there are some crucial soft skills you’ll need to thrive in a remote job. Foremost among them is strong time and task management. Remote professionals need to be strong self-starters able to complete tasks and projects with little outside influence. Strong communication skills are also crucial, especially written communication, which is the main way most remote workers interact.
Finding your ideal cybersecurity role
Before you get your heart set on a cybersecurity work-from-home job, spend some time perusing job sites. Evaluating the types of opportunities out there, and which ones are aligned to your education, background, and work experience, can help you decide if a remote job is the right move for your life and career.