There is a growing increase in the demand for Cybersecurity professionals in the private, public, and even government sectors due to the widespread increase in cyberattacks. The primary reason behind this high demand for cybersecurity professionals is that they are responsible for organization’s data and security from being compromised. Data is the most critical resource for any organization, and any threats to them could lead to financial and legal repercussions.
According to recent research by ISC, organizations across the globe plan to increase cybersecurity experts despite the COVID-19 and related economic challenges. If you plan to forward your career in this direction, now is a fascinating time for you.
Today with the advent of technology, no other career can be as lucrative as something to do with cybersecurity. Cybercrimes have increased exponentially, demonstrating that all businesses are potential prey, regardless of structure, reputation, and growth rate.
So, if you wish to learn about cybersecurity’s career path and prospects, this comprehensive guide is curated just for you. Let’s understand “How to make a career in cybersecurity.”
What is Cybersecurity?
In simpler terms, cyber security is applying processes, technologies, and controls to protect networks, systems, devices, data, and programs from cyber-attacks. It aims to reduce the risks of breaches from cyber-attacks and protect businesses and individuals against the unauthorized exploitation of networks, technologies, and systems.
A cyber attack intends to exploit computers, networks, and enterprises relying on technology for its operations. Cybercriminals often use malicious codes to alter the data, logic, or code on the computer. It can primarily be divided into the following basic categories:
- Network security: It secures a computer network from intruders, hackers, crackers, and malware
- Application security: It focuses on keeping the software and devices threat-free. For successful application development, security is a concern right from the design stage. It focuses on finding and fixing vulnerabilities in any application.
- Information security: It ensures confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data, both in storage and transit.
- Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning: It determines how an organization responds to an incident that causes data loss and how it will restore its operation to return at the same capacity as before.
Why is Cybersecurity important?
Networking is essential in almost every industry, and cyber security is no exception. Cyber Crimes increased by 50% in 2021 with consists an estimated cost of the world US$6 trillion annually. Today, the world is heavily reliant on technology with remote work and online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This raises a serious concern.
Unauthorized exposure or access to data could lead to adverse consequences, including legal issues, government-imposed penalties, and even the failure of the business itself. But with the help of cyber security professionals’ assistance, the damages can be minimized, and they can help prepare a framework to prevent future cyberattacks. Therefore, a career in cyber security is a lucrative opportunity in the 21st century.
Key Skills for a Successful Cybersecurity Career
Possessing a few soft skills, a college degree, and a training certificate is crucial to shine in a cybersecurity career. To start with, the top skills required includes:
- Be acquainted with database and query platforms like SQL.
- Thorough understanding of mathematical concepts like matrices, calculus, arithmetic, linear algebra, probability,
- Expertise in at least one programming language is the most critical skill a data scientist is a must-have. Data science relies on programming tools, which are the foundation of the discipline. You can consider learning R, Python, SAS, or any other language that meets the requirement.
- Quick understanding of the problem and application of the proper technique to solve it. This requires thorough attention to detail.
- The understanding of cracking and hacking will be helpful as a compromise in data security is huge.
- Problem-solving skills are of utmost importance, as it is the responsibility of cybersecurity professionals to solve the cyber issue and safeguard the data. Keep learning about the challenges in the field and continue delivering effective solutions to resolve them.
- Your learning attitude and quick learning capability will ensure a bright career in the ever-evolving world of cybercrimes. Do it more like help to someone rather than taking it up as a routine job.
- One cannot even lead into this career path without being a technology enthusiast. Always being curious about new technologies is the need of the hour.
- Your critical thinking power, ability to adapt and think outside the box will help you shine in your career trajectory.
How to Begin a Career in Cybersecurity?
The first step is to decide the career path which is right for you, depending on your specific interests and skills. You need first to understand and learn the skills shared above. Thus, it is advisable to cross-check before starting anything thoroughly.
A cyber security degree is often the first step towards starting a career in this demanding field. If you opt for the cybersecurity engineering route, you will probably have an undergraduate degree in engineering. So it is preferable to obtain specialized experience in cyber security while working in this field either and equipping direct experience or through a master’s degree program.
Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving complex field, and hence it is best not to miss practice at any cost after the course completion.
Cybersecurity Professional Career Paths
It is becoming one of the most sought-after career options due to its significantly soaring demand and the lucrative salaries they offer. Various paths are available to land a job as cybersecurity professionals. One can start with an entry-level job in this field and equip themselves with adequate knowledge and experience for swift progression in their career.
This career path opens up an array of job opportunities in the industry, including educational, banking, service organizations, consulting, and IT services. The following are the various job roles to begin a career in cybersecurity-
- Security Architect
- Security Consultant
- Penetration Testing
- Security Analyst
- Chief Information Security Officer
- Ethical Hackers
- Cryptographer
- Security Engineer
- Security Auditor
- Security Specialist, and many others.
Cybersecurity Certifications
To alleviate continuing and possibly catastrophic cyber threats, nearly every company in the world today needs experts who can build and protect systems. If you are skilled in information security and possess the education and experience to prove it. In that case, there are ample job opportunities all around the globe in different sectors and industries.
Project model certification, internship certification, and qualification certificates are among the additional certifications you will need. Some of the most popular short certification courses you can pursue right away include- Certified Information Systems Security Professional, Certified Information Systems Auditor, Certified Ethical Hacker, and many others. You can accelerate your career in cybersecurity by enrolling in cybersecurity certificate programs from the comfort of your homes through digital learning.
Current Scenario
According to KSN (Kaspersky Security Network), India experienced a 37% rise in cyber-attacks in the first quarter of 2020. A report from Statista shows that India’s cyber security market is anticipated to grow from 140 billion INR in 2019 to 290 billion INR by 2025.
To protect against security breaches and cyber-attacks, organizations are now willing to pay a good salary compensation to cybersecurity experts who can safeguard their data. A network security engineer’s salary ranges from INR 4 lakhs to 8 lakhs per annum. At the same time, the salary of a cybersecurity analyst starts from INR 5 to 6 lakhs per annum.
The Bottom Line
Besides the increasing demand for cyber security professionals, the industry faces an acute shortage of adequately trained experts proficient enough to justify the profile. This acute shortage has led organizations to offer premium salary packages to cybersecurity professionals.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and digitalization of almost every industry, there has never been a better time to start a career in cybersecurity. In today’s digital era, almost every company requires cybersecurity professionals; therefore, a career in cyber security is a significant opportunity.