Cybersecurity Career in India – Top 10 Job Roles

India witnessed a 200% hike in cyber crime incidents in 2023, leading to Rs. 200 crore+ worth of financial losses. The statistics are further expected to escalate to a value of $10.5 trillion by the year 2025. These alarming numbers stress the need for more numbers of cybersecurity professionals who can thwart these malicious threats. In light of the huge demand, the blog explores the booming scenario of cybersecurity career in India.

Huge demand for cybersecurity professionals

According to market reports, 70-75% of tech companies are looking to recruit more cyber experts to prevent and address cyber threats. Cyber experts are in high demand in other industries as well. As per DSCI predictions, the cybersecurity ecosystem is expected to expand to one million professionals by the year 2025. India alone would need a whopping number of 64,000 cybersecurity professionals.

High Pay Package with CyberSecurity Career

The average cyber security salary in India ranges between Rs. 4 LPA to Rs. 23 LPA, based on the job role and years of experience. High school students aspiring for a career in IT can consider cybersecurity career options. Also, IT professionals planning a career shift might opt for this lucrative career field. Besides, the domain of cybersecurity extends opportunities for students and professionals from non-IT backgrounds as well.
The post below offers a listicle of the top job roles in the cybersecurity domain.

Top 10 Jobs in Cybersecurity

1. Network Security Engineer

Annual salary

The national average salary in this job profile is around ₹6.13 LPA.


What do they do?

As a network security engineer, you are expected to know about:
• Troubleshooting of the technology
• Preventing external sources from unauthorised access
• Administration and configuration of networks
• Testing of networks
• Security threat preparation and necessary preventive actions
• Documentation of infrastructure



Certifications required

(ISC)² and CISSP.


Related job designations

Some relevant job designations for Network Security Engineers are Network Administrator and System Engineer.



2. Security Tester

Annual salary

Security testers receive an annual average salary of around ₹5.9 LPA.


What do they do?

A security tester is expected to execute the following functions:
• Identification of threats and measuring vulnerabilities
• Installation of software security
• Monitor security issues in computer network
• Documentation of security breaches
• Implementing and designing security systems



Certifications required

SIEM, CISSP, (ISC)²


Related job designations

Some relevant job designations for Security Tester are Information Security and Application Security Tester.



3. Cybersecurity Analyst

Annual salary

Cybersecurity analysts receive an annual average salary of around ₹5.0 LPA.


What do they do?

The primary job responsibilities of a Cybersecurity Analyst are:
• To review suspicious activities in cyber network infrastructure
• Maintaining a contingency plan in place
• Researching new and emerging IT trends
• Development of new strategies to secure the overall organisation infrastructure
• Report and documentation of security breaches
• Maintenance of security procedures and products



Certifications required

CompTIA Network+, (ISC)², CompTIA Security+, CISSP.


Related job designations

Some common and related job designations to cybersecurity analysts are IT security analyst as well as Cybersecurity Engineer.



4. IT Auditor

Annual salary

Average annual salary of an IT auditor is around ₹9.0 LPA.


What do they do?

Some of the key responsibilities of IT auditor are as follows:
• Performing audit tasks
• Creating audit infrastructure
• Providing recommendations for audit fixing
• Installation of security fixes
• Maintaining overall efficiency



Certifications required

CISM certified by ISACA, (ISC)², CISA certified by ISACA, CISSP


Related job designations

Some related job designations of IT auditor are Security Auditor and Internal IT Auditor.



5. Information Security Specialist

Annual salary

Average annual salary of an information security specialist is around ₹10 LPA to ₹12LPA.


What do they do?

Key responsibilities of an Information Security Specialist are:
• Maintaining antivirus and firewalls
• To research upcoming security risks
• Securing data from cyber attack
• Deploying security training
• Suggesting improvements



Certifications required

CEH, CISSP, CompTIA Security+, (ISC)², CompTIA Network+.


Related job designations

Some job roles that are relevant to the job role of Information Security specialist are IT Security Specialist and Specialist in Cyber Security.



6. Cyber Security Consultant

Annual salary

Average annual salary that a cyber security consultant receives is around ₹ 9.5 LPA


What do they do?

Some of the key responsibilities of Cyber Security Consultant are as follows:
• Maintaining connection with in-house teams in the security department to hinder unwanted interferences
• Implementation of secure systems
• Maintaining compliance in audit in information security
• Development of security processes
• Work may be tenure based on required projects



Certifications required

CompTIA Security+, CISSP.


Related job designations

Relevant job roles of a cyber security consultant are Consultant in Database Security, Consultant in Network Security, and Consultant in Information Security.



7. Cyber Security Manager

Annual salary

Average annual salary of a cyber security manager is around ₹24.7 LPA.


What do they do?

Some of the key responsibilities of Cyber Security Manager are:
• Maintaining client communication
• Compliance and audit
• Maintaining security standards
• Budget compliance of operations in cybersecurity
• Hiring staff in cybersecurity profile



Certifications required

CompTIA Security+, CISSP.


Related job designations

Some of the relevant job designations of Cyber Security Manager is Cyber Security Officer.



8. Ethical Hacker

Annual salary

Average annual salary for an Ethical Hacker is around ₹5.2 LPA.


What do they do?

Responsibilities of an Ethical Hacker include the following:
• Development of scripts for automation of testing
• Conducting social engineering
• Documentation of test results
• Incident handling
• Executing penetration test



Certifications required

CEH, CISSP, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+.


Related job designations

Some relevant job roles are Vulnerability Assessor, White Hat Hacker, and so on.



9. Cyber Forensics Expert

Annual salary

Average annual salary of a Cyber Forensics Expert is around ₹ 4.0 LPA.


What do they do?

Key responsibilities of Cyber Forensics Expert are:
• Investigating incidents of computer security
• Analysis of digital evidences for vulnerability mitigation
• Supervision of interns and professionals
• Recovering and examining data from storage devices



Certifications required

CHFI (Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator), CSFA (Cyber Security Forensic Analyst), CCE (Certified Computer Examiner), CFCE (Certified Forensic Computer Examiner), GCFA (GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst)


Related job designations

Some of the relevant job designations are Computer Forensic Investigator, Information Security Analyst, Forensic Computer Analyst etc.



10. Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Annual salary

Average annual salary of CISO is around ₹19LPA.


What do they do?

The roles and responsibilities of CISO are as follows:
• Documentation of recovery plans and business continuity
• Maintaining relationships with IT services and providers
• Keeping a tab on the IT Budget and maintaining track of return on investment
• Maintaining compliance regarding business leadership



Certifications required

Certified regulatory compliance manager (CRCM)


Related job designations

Some of the relevant designations are Chief Security Architect, Chief Security Officer etc.

Final Words

The domain of cybersecurity offers opportunities for aspiring professionals from both tech and non-tech backgrounds. Cybersecurity enthusiasts who do not have prior experience in cybersecurity can avail prerequisite cyber security courses online.
These courses are especially designed to help people from non-IT backgrounds get acquainted with the basics of cybersecurity.
Leading cybersecurity training institute, DataSpace Academy, offers a Prerequisite cybersecurity course for aspiring professionals in cybersecurity from non-tech backgrounds. After completing, you can sign up for advanced cybersecurity courses like Penetration Testing cyber security training and Advanced Penetration Testing. You can also take up a course in Cyber Forensics after completing the basic cybersecurity program.
Added to theoretical training in cybersecurity, DataSpace Academy provides hands-on training on the utility of tools to help learners develop real-world skills. The practical sessions make learners better job-ready for the cybersecurity domain. The institute further offers internship opportunities as well as placement assistance.