Top Cybersecurity Employers in Charleston: Who's Hiring and What They Look For

Charleston is totally blowing up as a tech capital, and the cybersecurity game is where it's at! According to this report, there are over 1,100 tech companies in Charleston, and the city is ranked #1 for the fastest-growing IT job market in mid-sized metros.

Crazy, right? It's like a Silicon Valley vibe, but with that chill Southern charm.

The cybersecurity job market is especially poppin'. This article says Charleston tech companies are hiring like crazy, with 63% adding jobs in 2023 and 88% planning to keep hiring in 2024.

The average salary for tech workers is over $123,000! That's some serious cash, my friends.

But it's not just about the money. Charleston is attracting major players like Blackbaud, ECS, and Blue Acorn iCi, who are doing cutting-edge work in cybersecurity and other tech fields.

Plus, with resources like Nucamp's coding bootcamps, you can level up your skills and get hired in no time.

The future is bright for Charleston's cybersecurity scene, so why not join the party?

Charleston is where it's at for anyone looking to get into cybersecurity jobs! The city's got a bunch of major players setting up shop, and they're all hiring like crazy.

Check it out:

• Adapt Forward Security: Defensive and offensive cyber ops. With 90 employees in North Charleston, they're hiring cybersecurity analysts to join their team of experts.
• Boeing: Yup, the aerospace giant has a massive presence here with 12 offices and over 141,000 employees. They need cybersecurity pros to protect their defense, space, and security systems from threats.
• Soteria - Security Solutions & Advisory: Founded by former NSA experts, this cyber firm offers managed detection, penetration testing, and more. They're always on the hunt for skilled security analysts and engineers.
• General Dynamics Corporation: This defense contractor is seeking entry-level cybersecurity engineers to join their team in Charleston. The pay range looks pretty sweet too, around $80K to $134K annually.

Tons of other top cybersecurity companies like GeoWireless, Sentar, and Kotori Technologies are based here too.

With an average cybersecurity analyst salary of around $92K per year, Charleston is definitely the place to be for anyone trying to make it big in this field.

The cybersecurity game in Charleston is lit right now, and companies are hungry for the right talent. It's all about having that next-level skill set to keep those cyber threats at bay.

According to the inside scoop from the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, the mad skills every employer wants in 2024 include network security, ethical hacking, and threat analysis.

Network security is a major deal, especially with everyone working remotely and relying on cloud services.

Knowing how to lock down those networks with firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and VPNs is like a golden ticket. Ethical hacking, or penetration testing, is also a huge asset.

Companies want peeps who can think like a hacker and sniff out vulnerabilities before the bad guys do.

But it's not just about technical know-how. Being able to analyze threat data, assess risks, and come up with solid strategies to mitigate those risks is crucial.

It's like having a sixth sense for danger and knowing exactly how to neutralize it.

Charleston employers are also all about those fancy certifications.

The ones that really make them swoon are CISSP (the big daddy of cybersecurity certs), CEH (for all you ethical hacking mavens), and Security+ (the entry-level must-have).

Earning these badges shows you're serious about your cybersecurity game.

But book smarts alone won't cut it. As Jessica Wilson, CISO of a major Charleston fintech firm, puts it, "We want candidates who have the theoretical foundations down, but can also bring practical skills from internships, bootcamps, or real-world projects." It's all about striking that perfect balance between knowledge and hands-on experience.

When you're on the hunt for a cybersecurity gig in Charleston, tailoring your resume and prepping for interviews is key.

The Charleston Digital Corridor's survey shows over 60% of local tech companies want applicants who customize their resumes to fit the job description. Highlighting your relevant cybersecurity skills, certs, and experience that align with the role can seriously boost your chances of scoring an interview.

For resume customization, Charleston cybersecurity pro Michael Jones says,

"Thoroughly review the job description and strategically add the required skills and qualifications to your resume. Quantify your achievements with metrics to show your impact."

In-demand skills for Charleston cybersecurity roles often include:

• Network Security: Firewalls, VPNs, intrusion detection/prevention
• Ethical Hacking: Penetration testing, vulnerability assessment
• Risk Management: Threat analysis, incident response, compliance
• Cloud Security: AWS, Azure, GCP security best practices

Certs like CISSP, CEH, and Security+ can give you an edge too.

Once you land an interview, Charleston recruiters recommend researching the company, its products/services, and prepping for cultural fit questions.

Practice technical and behavioral questions through mock interviews to confidently show off your expertise.

Charleston is a rising tech hub, and there's no shortage of ways to level up your cybersecurity skills. Coding bootcamps like Nucamp offer crash courses to get you job-ready fast, with programs covering the essentials like network defense, ethical hacking, and threat analysis.

But if you're looking for a more traditional path, Charleston universities like the College of Charleston and The Citadel have solid cybersecurity degree programs to build that theoretical foundation.

Online platforms are a clutch option too, with sites like edX offering self-paced courses from top schools, often for free or cheap.

And don't sleep on the networking game - groups like the Charleston Cyber Club and Charleston DefCon chapter bring together cyber pros, hobbyists, and students to swap knowledge and make connections.

The Charleston Cyber Club's mission is to "foster a community dedicated to advancing the field and promoting best practices," according to their site.

If you're trying to break into cybersecurity in Charleston, there's no lack of opportunities to learn the ropes - whether through intensive bootcamps, traditional degrees, online courses, or the city's buzzing cyber community.

With the right skills and competitive salaries on offer, Charleston could be your gateway to an exciting career protecting the world's networks and data.