How to Start a Career in Cybersecurity- As the private, public, and government sectors struggle to secure their systems and data in the wake of significant cyber attacks, cybersecurity specialists are in high demand. Cybercrime is expected to cost the world $6 trillion per year by 2021, according to industry analyst Cybersecurity Ventures.
Information security analysts are in such high demand that U.S. News & World Report ranked them as the fifth best technology job in 2019 (and #38 of its 100 Best Jobs) based on compensation, employment rate, growth, stress, work-life balance, and job prospects.
It’s easy to see why: the median compensation for an information security analyst is $98,350, and the industry as a whole has a “zero percent” unemployment rate. There has never been a better moment to start a career in cybersecurity because of the tremendous demand and numerous benefits available to people with the proper combination of education and experience.
Cybersecurity Career Paths
The first step in starting a cybersecurity career is selecting which path is best for you. Before investing in school and training, you should choose between two basic job paths. However, once you’ve chosen your path, you’ll have a variety of career possibilities and positions to select from, based on your individual interests and skills.
Leadership and Operations Route
The first choice is to pursue a career in leadership and operations, which necessitates a diversified skill set and a desire to continue learning throughout one’s life. You must be a strong leader with a solid understanding of information technology systems and procedures, as well as advanced cybersecurity skills and expertise, to be considered for this position.
Top job opportunities for information security experts with a significant amount of education and expertise in the industry include:
- Chief Information Security Officer
- Information Security Analyst
- Global Information Security Director
- Cybersecurity Consultant
- Lead Software Security Engineer
- Cybersecurity Architect
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Penetration Tester
- Network Administrator
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Cybersecurity Specialist
- Security Auditor
Engineering Route
The second alternative is to pursue a career in cybersecurity engineering. Those with technical skills and an interest in learning how to develop safe systems in order to limit threats are most suited for this vocation.
Information security engineers that have a solid understanding of what it takes to create a secure system could work as:
- Lead Software Security Engineer
- Cybersecurity Architect
- Cybersecurity Engineer
How to Start a Career in Cybersecurity
Invest in Your Education
A cybersecurity degree is frequently the first step toward launching a career in this profitable and in-demand profession. If you have a degree in information security and some experience, your opportunities are numerous and varied.
The majority of aspiring cybersecurity leaders have a bachelor’s degree in information technology, information systems, or computer science. A master’s degree in cybersecurity operations and leadership or information technology is the next step after acquiring an undergraduate degree and getting experience in the industry. It will broaden your career prospects and increase your appeal to businesses searching for higher-level roles.
If you want to pursue a career in cybersecurity engineering, you should first earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering and then gain specialised knowledge in the field through years of direct experience, a master’s degree programme devoted only to cybersecurity engineering, or both.
Education is crucial no matter which path you take. Employers continue to have difficulty finding talented professionals with the advanced education and high-level skills they require, which is one of the primary reasons for the many unfilled cybersecurity jobs — Cybersecurity Ventures estimates there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally by 2021.
The amount of empty cybersecurity roles is startling, and it’s only expected to rise as cyber criminals become more sophisticated in their attacks and businesses struggle to recruit security experts with the skills and expertise needed to counter them.
Those with a cybersecurity degree have a significant edge in such a dire scenario, when so many jobs stay vacant due to a lack of skilled personnel. Not only are career opportunities plentiful for those with an information security degree, but salaries are also high due to a scarcity of supply and high demand.
Get Certified
You should also consider acquiring industry certification in a certain area or subject matter that you are interested in if you want to work in cybersecurity. The following are some of the most popular and sought-after cybersecurity certifications:
- CompTIA Security+
- CISSP — Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- CISM — Certified Information Security Manager
- CISA — Certified Information Systems Auditor
- GIAC — Global Information Assurance Certification
- CEH — Certified Ethical Hacker
Furthermore, several vendor-specific certifications, like as those given by Cisco, RSA, and Symantec, are appealing to employers. Of course, what you’ll need and what employers will expect will be determined by the career or roles you’re pursuing.
Network
In practically every business, networking is critical, and cybersecurity is no different. If you’re seeking for networking possibilities, you have several options:
- Become a member of a local cybersecurity organisation like the San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence. Many towns have their own cybersecurity organisations, which may be good places to learn as well as network with industry professionals.
- Join a cybersecurity organisation as a volunteer. A number of groups are working to raise awareness about cybersecurity and attract new recruits to the sector. Participating in one of these groups will help you build your network and improve your résumé.
- Return to school. One of the most significant advantages of a graduate degree is the opportunity for networking and collaboration with instructors, companies, and colleagues in the industry. Furthermore, the majority of good cybersecurity colleges will feature a career centre with strong linkages to employers. Your school’s career centre can assist you in identifying possible employers and providing advice on how to get your foot in the door.
There has never been a better moment to begin a cybersecurity profession. To combat ongoing and potentially catastrophic cyber attacks, almost every firm in the world now requires people who know how to create and safeguard systems. There are urgent cybersecurity job opportunities all around the world, across all sectors and industries, if you are adept in information security and have the education and expertise to show it.
