Need Help with Job Title Change

Hey guys!

My boss informed me that my department's jobs titles will be changed to better suit our current job roles as the company matures. My boss asked me what job titles I believe would fit my position, so he could take that into consideration. As background, I was hired May 2016 and I am the only security specialist on staff as the beginning of a security program. I am struggling to come up with a job title that accurately conveys my job roles. I currently do everything from policy development, security awareness program development, vulnerability scanning, firewall configurations, security incident response, etc. (typical one man show stuff). I am currently a general "Network Analyst" and work under a Network Manager/Director.

I'd like to propose Security Administrator, but I'm not sure that would be well received due to my lack of experience. what do you guys think?

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Comments

leboratorical

I would say that you have an opportunity to:
a) define what you want your role to be going forward
b) do some homework into what you want to do next/what your career track will be. Depending on what you want to do, you could standardise your title with what the sorts of roles you want are looking for? Could be anything from Security Analyst, Security Specialist, Security Consultant, etc.
Since you're the only one in the business, I don't see why you can't put the word 'Principle' in front of any of those titles, either.

From where I sit*, as long as you have those skills on the CV, then the title isn't such of a big thing.

*Grain of salt - I don't sit very high up.

TechGromit

Network Security Analyst, oh and after your title change, point out to your boss that the median salary is 65k.

yoba222

Search the tech job web sites for the word "cyber" and also the word "security" and decide which title you like.

TheFORCE

Put the word Engineer in it.

jstock

Thank you of the responses! From my research and your responses, I think Security Engineer is more in line with what I do on a daily basis. If I am unable to get that title, I think a reasonable backup would be Information Security Analyst. From the job posts and from people I know in the Security field. Information Security Analyst is more respected than Network Security Analyst/Security Analyst. I could be wrong though.

BerkshireHerd

Other than firewall changes (I approve them but do not do the actually config), your role sounds similar to my current title as Information Security Analyst

srabiee

Shoot for Cybersecurity Engineer, which sounds more specialized. If they won't allow "engineer" to be used, try to work in the term cybersecurity rather than plain old "security."

Hell, if they are extremely flexible, try for Cybersecurity Architect. That would look amazing on a resume.

(presuming you have the experience and expertise to back up the job title)

jstock

srabiee wrote: »

Shoot for Cybersecurity Engineer, which sounds more specialized. If they won't allow "engineer" to be used, try to work in the term cybersecurity rather than plain old "security."

Why cybersecurity over security or information security? As for the architect, I wouldn't feel comfortable attaching that to my title. I definitely need more experience before I can consider myself worthy.

leboratorical

Cyber seems to be the new buzzword. If you're dealing with systems in the way that you already are, then you're doing the 'cyber'. I don't like it, but marketing (and @srabiee) says that that's the thing that people look out for right now. Even if you don't like the term, I'd find a way to put it in your profile so it gets picked up by autofilters.

TechGromit

Network Sanitation Engineer, if you deal with garage on the network.
Cyber Security Enforcer, if you deal with cracking the whip for end users, ie Phishing campaigns.

leboratorical

TechGromit wrote: »

Cyber Security Enforcer

I've just found the job I want.

DatabaseHead

I try to avoid 3 worded titles. Security Administrator sounds solid and not fabricated.

srabiee

jstock wrote: »

Why cybersecurity over security or information security? As for the architect, I wouldn't feel comfortable attaching that to my title. I definitely need more experience before I can consider myself worthy.

Just my opinion of course, but "security" seems really plain to me, and is too unfocused. (Security Guard or Security Officer, for example, which has nothing to do with IT).

Cybersecurity pertains directly to computer security and can be written as a single word, which I recommend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_security

I also agree that you may want to avoid a triple-word job title, but it isn't a deal breaker. My resume title was once "Advanced Information Systems Specialist" and it didn't hinder me from landing a position making almost 6-digit figures at the time. My job title then subsequently became Systems Engineer II.

If you don't have the experience for an engineer or architect level position, then definitely don't go that route. I was just throwing ideas out there to see what would stick based on your personal experience and qualifications.

Honestly, I think your best bet (and this is what I would do) is to get on Indeed and Dice and search for similar positions that pertain directly to what you do or want to achieve in the future (based on your chosen IT career path). That should give you many examples of position titles based on experience and skill set, and you can tailor your job title accordingly.

Good luck!

yoba222

How about Securitas Officer

On a more serious note, hadn't thought of cybersecurity as one word. Seems to have more job hits, and helps avoid three word title (good idea).

srabiee

"Security Officer" reminds me of the police or a security guard. I would stick with something like administrator, analyst, engineer, or specialist.

TechGromit

NetworkNewb wrote: »

I'd lean towards something with Cybersecurity. My title right now is Systems Security Analyst and when I tell people that, they usually ask me if I'm the person who watches them on the security cameras.

I have the same problem when I do a job search, any search with the word "security" in it, yield lots of security guard positions.

twodogs62

Look on places like Monster.com and look for jobs similar to what you do.
look at their job titles.
use as examples to justify your new job title to your boss.
if he asked you for input that is a good thing. No guarantees, but provide data to help!

jstock

So its looking like Security Engineer or Cybersecurity Engineer will be my new title. Thank you everyone!

cyberguypr

The definitive authority for setting infosec titles is this.