Security Administrator Jobs

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What is a Security Administrator?

A Security Administrator is the person responsible for the administration of their organisations cyber security systems. They will have the responsibility for installing, administering and day-to-day troubleshooting of the organisations IT security infrastructure. They will look after the live or production environment primarily but will also have a role in both system and user acceptance testing of new hardware and software solutions, working with other members of the IT Security team to ensure seamless upgrades and maintenance of existing infrastructure.

What are the typical job duties for a Security Administrator?

Typical job duties for the role of Security Administrator include an immediate response to any new security threats or exploits, as they occur. The job will include some vulnerability testing, network management, intrusion detection and prevention plus the maintenance of IT Security in the live environment.

A good understanding of the organisations IT systems will be necessary in order for the duties of the job to be carried out efficiently.
They will monitor traffic for any unusual activity or unauthorised access attempts. They will also configure systems and ensure that network and IT security policies are adhered to. Part of their role may also encompass control of change management, ensuring orderly transitions during upgrades, fixes and patches.

They may be involved in the design, build and implementation of an organisations IT Security infrastructure within their job role and the testing of the organisations IT Security strategy. The role of Security Administrator is often focused on keeping the live IT Infrastructure of the organisation safe and secure at all times.

Management of IT networks such as Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN) will normally be necessary.

More specific Security Analyst responsibilities may include:
1) First-line response and initial management of IT security related issues
As Security Administrator you will work with existing skilled staff, responding to cyber security threats as they take place. Network management of LAN, WAN and connected servers will be part and parcel of the role. An up to date understanding of relevant security standards, authentication protocols, and all security related hardware and software within the organisation would be vital.

2) IT Security – Day to day management
Your role will involve many day-to-day IT Security management activities. These will include managing the LAN (Local Area Network), Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) administration tasks, plus managing the WAN (Wide Area Network), and any VPN’s (Virtual Private Networks). Using the IT Security tools and techniques that you have gained, you will monitor all exploits and threats, providing an initial response as threats emerge. Regular vulnerability testing may be necessary and reporting to senior IT management may be required, especially during issues causing downtime or data loss.

3) IT Security maintenance, change management, training and support
You will likely be responsible for change management, incorporating the administration of upgrades, patches and fixes. Tasks such as the development and implementation of new corporate security policies and staff training on awareness of cyber security threats may need your attention.

4) Implement live IT security fixes, tools, countermeasures and testing
Administrators are often involved in implementing required upgrade paths, bug fixes and workarounds for emerging IT Security issues. Testing of newly installed IT security tools, threat countermeasures and other responses will be part of the job.

5) Implement Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
Security Administrators need to ensure that the organisation will be able to recover in a timely manner from a disaster or attack and need to be involved in the management of disaster recovery with tries and and trusted processes should the worst happen.

What hours will I work?

The job of Security Administrator is usually a daytime role; you will likely be working an average 40 hours per week. Short-term IT Security Administrators, Contractors and Consultants may be paid a day rate. Additional work above agreed hours/days would normally be chargeable.

What skills do I need?

• Up to date knowledge of IT Security hardware, software and solutions
• An understanding of ISO 27001/27002 standards, ITIL and COBIT frameworks
• Practical experience using computer operating systems such as MS Windows, UNIX and Linux
• A problem-solving mind-set
• You will need to be well organised, efficient and able to work unsupervised under your own initiative
• Working as part of a team, you need to be a good team player
• The ability to react quickly and efficiently under pressure
• Good communication skills as you will be reporting regularly to management and other stakeholders

Qualifications

Some cybersecurity jobs require a bachelor’s degree, generally in computer science, or certain certifications. A master’s degree is not usually required but often encouraged, such as a Masters of Science in cybersecurity or data science.

Degrees and Certifications

A CompTIA Security+ certification is often a requirement for most cybersecurity roles, as it teaches foundational cybersecurity skills. According to CompTia, the CompTia Network+ certification and at least two years of experience in IT administration are suggested prerequisites before getting CompTia Security+ certified.

After getting a CompTIA Security+ certification, intermediate and advanced certifications are available, such as CompTIA CyberSecurity Analyst (CySA+) or CompTIA PenTest+. These certifications have hands-on, situational questions in addition to multiple-choice questions, making them a valuable next step.

Skills, Traits, and Experience

Other skills and traits required or suggested for a security administrator job include troubleshooting and investigative skills, attention to detail, and the ability to multitask. It’s especially helpful to have previous career experience in the Information Technology industry, especially in systems administration or networking.

How Much Money Do Security Administrators Make?

Salary varies depending on location and experience, but according to the National Security Agency, an entry-level computer science-related job with the NSA has a minimum yearly salary of $66,568. Entry-level is defined by the NSA as having a bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

According to Glassdoor, the average base pay yearly salary for a security administrator is $85,647, with the lowest being $57,000 and the highest being $129,000.

For more detailed salary information visit our security administrator salary guide.