Cyber Security Jobs

According to Indeed and Payscale, there are more than 10 major cyber security roles for which you can become certified, gain skill in, and move up the perk and salary ranks.

See the average salary for each cyber security role required right now in South Africa, within the table below.

See these, adapted from Indeed and other sources, bulleted below:

• A machine learning engineer: designs, creates and implements algorithms for artificial intelligence (AI).
• A network security engineer: focuses on how devices and computers connect to one another using the internet.
• A chief information officer: provides guidance and leadership to technology specialists and managers within their department, by creating regulations for organisational security procedures.
• A security specialist: dedicates their time to monitoring their company’s current security measures, and curtailing any potential breaches.
• An information security analyst: gathers and assesses data related to an organisation's security profile, and collaborates with other security and information technology professionals to implement security measures.
• A security administrator, often referred to as a security manager: manages security solutions by creating plans and developing training documents to help all those in an organisation adhere to security policies.
• A director of security: leads both information technology staff and managers of security, by providing leadership and guidance, creating and implementing regulations, and communicating with company executives about the state of security in the organisation.
• A highly knowledgeable security consultant: is called on to identify ways in which an organisation can beef up their security measures – say, by suggesting new security systems/products for the organisation to implement.
• A security engineer: is a technical professional with a highly developed understanding of computer networking and operating systems, who focuses on
• troubleshooting new security measures; coordinating a response to any breaches ; and helping the IT team develop cutting-edge solutions for future attempted breaches.
• A security manager: oversees security measures within an organisation, by focusing on cybersecurity rules and regulations; managing IT teams; and developing strategies for cybersecurity efforts.
• An IT security specialist: works alongside a team of IT professionals, to develop strategies that help to protect devices and systems within an organisation from potential cyber attacks.
• A forensic computer analyst: assesses devices and systems, and finds methods for recovering data. He/she often helps to gather the information that is needed by the authorities for use during a cyber-crime-related criminal investigation.

See cyber-security jobs on Executive Placements, by clicking here.

According to Westech, these are:

• BCX, a leading IT solutions provider that specialises in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data analytics;
• Gijima, a well-known IT solutions company that focuses on government and enterprise solutions – particularly digital transformation;
• Westech (of course), which offers IT support and solutions, including managed IT services and cybersecurity;
• Esquire, which is apparently known for its software development and IT consulting services, as a result of helping businesses implement and optimise their IT infrastructure;
• Frontosa Information Technology, which specialises in IT solutions and services – most especially cloud computing, data analytics, and cybersecurity. 

The table below provides a good guide, as you work your way up in the cuber-security niche:

We suggest that you aim high – because the higher you start, the higher you will be able to rise!

According to Werkmans Attorneys, the two most important lessons that we should learn from the major data breaches that have occurred in South Africa are as follows:

• The reputational and financial harm resulting from a data breach is not to be underestimated – it will also adversely affect an organisation’s ongoing operations;
• All organisations should ensure that they have an adequate level of data-breach-response in place – by consulting with the relevant external professionals, and training and equipping their in-house staff members on a regular and ongoing basis.

According to Infosec-Conferences.com, it is wise to investigate the costs and requirements to attend at least a few of the below conferences each year:

• ITWeb Security Summit, Johannesburg;
• BSides Cape Town, Cape Town
• CyberCon Africa, Johannesburg;
• Africa Cyber Defence Summit, Pretoria
• ISACA South Africa Chapter Events, Johannesburg;
• Cape Town Cybersecurity Conference, Cape Town;
  and
• South African Cybersecurity Conference, Durban.

There was a ransomware attack on the South African Department of Defence back in 2023, which claimed 200 tetrabytes of data exfiltration; and port operations were halted following the 2021 ransomware attack on Transnet. Read more, here.