Why Information Security Is Mission Critical, And How To Get Involved

If you’re wondering just how important information security is becoming, we have an alarming statistic for you: recently, Cisco reported that more than 85% of organizations have had a user interact with a phishing site.

As digital technologies become a more central part of our personal and professional lives, it’s unfortunate that threats like phishing, ransomware, trojans, DNS attacks, and more will only increase.

No one is immune to these threats; not you, not me, not even the biggest corporations in the world. This is why the demand for information security professionals continues to rise. 

In fact, we could see the number of information security and cyber security jobs grow by 33% by 2030, with average salaries falling between $88,325 to $164,861 per year, according to Simplilearn.

It’s one thing to know that these kinds of jobs are on the rise and that they are well-compensated. If you really want to pursue these fields, it’s important to fully understand what they entail.

The Importance of Information Security

Let’s start by making sure we’re on the same page with what information security is. Then we can break down a few of the jobs in the field.

At its most fundamental level, information security is centered on the tools and processes an organization uses to keep its information safe and secure. 

Occasionally referred to as InfoSec, this can also cover any sort of policy setting used to keep unauthorized personnel from accessing information, be it personal or professional.

Now, that sounds broad, and it’s true. In this modern age of data, information is connected to nearly everything we do online. Because of that expansiveness, InfoSec is an ever-evolving field that includes many other sectors, like infrastructure security, network security, testing, auditing, and more. 

The Goal of Information Security

We want to keep critical data safe and private. That includes customer account details, financial information, and IP. Information security is how we go about protecting all of that sensitive data from any sort of tampering, which might include modifying, recording, stealing, or destroying that data.

Should any of those security incidents come to pass, the costs can be high. From real financial costs to harder-to-pin-down costs like damage to your personal or professional reputation, information security’s digital purview has real-world implications. 

Two Information Security Careers You Need to Know About

Now that you have a sense of the importance of information security to our modern world, let’s discuss some tangible ways you can get involved in the sector.

Below are two information security careers offered at ASEC. These positions typically support critical DoD/Navy programs and will require a government security clearance of Secret or Top Secret. 

1. Information Systems Security Manager (ISSM)

The Information Systems Security Manager is responsible for establishing policies and procedures to protect computer systems and networks. To perform their job, this IT professional will select, install, and use security softwares like data encryption programs and firewalls.

In addition to these duties, they will monitor, document, and look up security breaches in order to improve system security. They will also be in charge of setting up emergency plans for lockdown and/or the recovery of sensitive information.

In terms of the security team, ISSMs may manage Information Systems Security Officers (ISSOs), Network Administrators, and System Administrators.  

2. Information Systems Security Officer (ISSO)

At ASEC, the Information Systems Security Officer supports classified computing environments, ensures adherence to our relevant Risk Management Framework (RMF) or Joint Special Access Program Implementation Guide (JSIG) policies.

They also typically serve as the principal advisor to the ISSM on all matters, technical and otherwise, involving an information system’s security.

Continuing Your Career In Information Security

As ASEC, we are passionate about supporting the mission-critical needs of our government customers. One of the most powerful ways we can support those needs going forward is through information security.

If you are ready for the next challenge in your InfoSec career, we want to hear from you.

To find out more about our career opportunities in this exciting field, please visit our Job Openings page today.