Cyber Security Advice and Assessment Specialist

A cyber security advice and assessment specialist evaluates organisational information systems, networks, and digital infrastructure to identify vulnerabilities, threats, and compliance gaps against Australian and international security standards. They conduct security assessments, penetration testing, and risk analyses, then advise senior management and IT teams on mitigation strategies, policy implementation, and security architecture improvements to protect sensitive data and maintain regulatory compliance.

Conduct vulnerability assessments and penetration testing on networks, applications, and systems to identify security weaknesses. Analyse security incidents and breaches to determine root causes and recommend remediation actions. Assess organisational compliance with Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) Essential Eight mitigation strategies and other mandatory frameworks. Review and evaluate information security policies, procedures, and access controls against NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO/IEC 27001 standards. Test disaster recovery and business continuity plans to ensure data restoration and system resilience following cyber incidents. Map threat landscapes and attack vectors relevant to the organisation's sector, industry peers, and geographic location. Document security assessment findings in detailed technical and executive reports with risk ratings and prioritised recommendations. Configure and deploy security monitoring tools such as SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems to detect anomalies and threats.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll need deep technical skills that take years to build: most employers want 5+ years in IT ops or network administration first. The certification burden is heavy (CISSP, CEH, Security+), and you're constantly learning new attack methods just to stay relevant. Pay plateaus quickly unless you move into management.

Remote work is common once established, but you'll need in-person time for initial assessments and incident response. Regional Australia has very few positions.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2621, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Confidentiality and Privacy Compliancecore
• Digital Literacycore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy Interpretationcore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Process Documentationcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Active Listening
• Cloud monitoring and reporting
• Cloud technologies
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Escalation Management
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Negotiation
• Policy and Procedure Adherence
• Process Improvement Identification
• Quality Assurance and Checking
• Reporting and Analytics

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026