Common CASP+ Job Titles [2022 update]

The CASP+ certification suits practitioners at the advanced skill level of cybersecurity. It is a great option for professionals who work in or aspire to positions that have them architect, engineer, and implement secure solutions across complex environments and make the organization more resilient while still meeting governance, risk, and compliance requirements. This credential is not for managers and is geared towards practitioners with at least ten years of hands-on IT experience, with five of them being of hands-on security.

The current cyber-security environment needs specific skills to diagnose and fault find through the use of customized tools and applications and a unique approach to specific issues, meaning that the CASP+ professional must be able to build their own solutions to many problems. The CASP+ certification shows employers that candidates can devise innovative solutions to complicated IT issues within stringent security requirements environments.

CASP+ covers technical skills in security architecture and senior security engineering as applied to a variety of environments (traditional, cloud, and hybrid); knowledge of governance, risk, and compliance requirements; ability in properly assessing an enterprise's cybersecurity readiness; and the capability of a professional to lead technical teams to implement cybersecurity solutions in the organization.

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What kind of jobs can I get with the CASP+ certification?

The need for cyber-security professionals is growing globally, and to fill their upper or senior level positions, companies are looking to hire candidates who can demonstrate their high level of expertise not only through their work history but also through the possession of credentials that can incontrovertibly demonstrate they have the knowledge and skills to succeed in the role. Certifications also prove their will to stay current in a field that changes and advances quickly.

If you aspire to an upper-level to senior-level position, then a certification like CASP+ can be a great addition to your resume. Roles as a chief information security officer (CISO), security architect or security engineer all relate to the knowledge validated by this credential.

CASP+ is not only valuable when looking for positions in the private sector, but it is also a great addition for those looking for government positions and jobs in the DoD information assurance (IA) workforce (contractors, military officers, Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) personnel, local nationals, and civilians who are involved in IT departments). CASP+ fulfills Directive 8140 (DoDD 8570) requirements and is one of the IA baseline certifications needed to qualify for IAT Level III, IAM Level II, IASAE I and II positions.

What are the most common CASP+ job titles and descriptions?

The CASP+ is different from other mastery-level certifications in that it offers a more hands-on approach, teaching real-world skills that can be used in the field. Other certifications such as the CISM or CISSP are seen more as management track courses and offer more managerial and oversight skills than the deeper topics like hacking. 

Jobs that use CASP+, then, include:

• Security architect
• Senior security engineer
• SOC manager
• Security analyst

Security architect

Security architects are senior-level employees responsible for planning, designing, testing, implementing and maintaining an organization's computer and network security infrastructure. To do so, they need to have advanced knowledge in authentication, access management, incident response and network protocols, and security engineering and communication security. Some of their duties include:

• Provide guidance and leadership on cybersecurity policy
• Recommend security controls
• Collaborate with business leaders, developers and engineers to identify business needs and make a plan for implementation
• Identify solutions that enhance security while supporting the identified business objectives
• Research and design security features for IT projects
• Use cryptography to protect the organization's data

Cyber security analyst

The main job function of a Cyber Security Analyst is to develop and implement security plans to protect IT systems, network infrastructure and data within an organization. They proactively monitor the environment to detect issues, evaluate threats and implement steps to mitigate cyberattacks before they occur. Some of their duties include:

• Develop disaster recovery plans
• Investigate and respond to alerts within the IT environment
• Review reports for security or compliance violations
• Conduct vulnerability analysis of systems and networks
• Perform risk assessments and make recommendations
• Maintain security systems like firewalls and security appliances
• Keep abreast of emerging cyber threats
• Design and implement IT policies

Security Engineer

Security engineers are responsible for data systems within a company. They have a similar role to that of the Cyber Security Analyst, but with more focus on implementation than on monitoring, reporting and policy creation. Security engineers develop technical solutions to automate security-related tasks, identify needs and build defenses in the organization's systems to harden the infrastructure adding new security features, troubleshooting and responding to attacks. Some of their duties include:

• Implement and monitor security controls to prevent data loss or compromising
• Create new solutions to solve existing security issues
• Enhance security capabilities by evaluating new technologies
• Define, implement and maintain corporate security policies
• Recommend modifications in legal, technical and regulatory areas that affect IT security
• Enforce security plans and policies
• Perform vulnerability testing
• Monitor network for security incidents
• Investigate and report identified issues

SOC manager

A SOC Manager is a senior-level IT professional who leads the security operations team. A group tasked with improving an organization's security posture through continuous monitoring, detecting and responding to all cybersecurity incidents.

The SOC Manager is responsible for administrative activities, including supervising the team staff members and is also expected to provide technical guidance and coordination of all activities thanks to advanced incident and problem management expertise. Some of their duties include:

• Devise processes and plans
• Assess incident reports
• Create compliance reports
• Measure SOC performance metrics
• Report to executive management

What salary can I expect after getting certified?

The average base salary for professionals with a CASP+ certification is $92,000/year.

Let's now look at the expected salary for those with a CASP+ certification in a broad range of job titles.

Job title Range Average

Cyber Security Analyst $61k - $120k $90,378

Cyber Security Engineer $73k - $140k $99,382

Information Security Manager $60k - $152k $102,063

Systems Administrator $50k - $105k $70,000

Information Security Officer $70k - $141k $99,496

Information Security Analyst $58k - $117k $81,318

Information Security Engineer $71k - $127k $100,050

More job titles and salaries can be found at PayScale.

Your salary will obviously be impacted by factors such as job title, city/location and years of professional experience.

Earn your CASP+, guaranteed!

Enroll in a CompTIA CASP+ boot camp and earn one of the industry’s most respected certifications — guaranteed.

Get Pricing

Why you should earn the CASP+ certification

CompTIA’s CASP+ is an excellent way to validate your advanced IT Security skills and will support your career progression by providing you with skills and knowledge for implementing and maintaining information security systems in senior positions.

Sources:

• CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+): Validating Cybersecurity Skills for Government and Corporate Teams, CompTIA
• 5 Cybersecurity Jobs You Could Get With CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+), CompTIA
• Cybersecurity Jobs: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know, CompTIA
• How Much Can I Make with a CASP+ Certification?, CompTIA
• What Jobs Can I Get with CASP+ Certification?, CompTIA
• CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+), CompTIA
• Salary for Certification: CASP+, PayScale