How can one take advantage of the situation and become a cybersecurity specialist?- We walk you through the stages to become a cybersecurity specialist and embarking on a successful and exciting career path.
Cybersecurity is currently one of the most rapidly expanding fields. As a result, the cybersecurity industry has a significant skills shortage. This chasm has been growing. Since 2016, organisations have reported an increase in the scarcity of cybersecurity capabilities.
In a 2019 research, the World Economic Forum stated that the United States has over 200,000 cybersecurity specialist roles that are difficult to fill.
However, due to an increase in cyber-crime, businesses are placing a higher priority on cybersecurity. As a result, we have a question:
What steps can one take to take advantage of the circumstances and become a cybersecurity expert?
First, Identify your desired career path
Cybersecurity is a large field with many different employment options. Before you enter the sector, you should first find a suitable career. Different duties and responsibilities are assigned to various cybersecurity occupations. For various roles, different talents are necessary. Identifying your dream job initially will help you stay on track for a rewarding career.
The following are examples of common professional paths:
- Chief Information Security Career (CISO)
- Cybersecurity Consultant
- Security Architect
- Penetration Tester
- Ethical Hacker
Gain general IT experience
The ability to use computers in general is a must. To protect technology from hackers, you must first understand how it works. Some cybersecurity experts obtain experience while still in college. Others wait till later in their careers to focus on IT.
The following are some examples of entry-level employment that can be used to obtain experience:
- Web developer
- Systems administrator
- IT technician
- computer software engineer
Continuously Learn
Due to the advent of new technology and hacking techniques, cybersecurity evolves on a daily basis. Every day, cybercriminals produce around 350,000 new malware and harmful programmes. New risks necessitate a cybersecurity professional’s ongoing learning of new methods for securing information systems and data.
Continuous learning is the only way to achieve success. Developing new cybersecurity abilities also offers up new doors for you to advance in your job.
An ethical hacker, for example, should be knowledgeable with all of the abilities a hacker employs to break into systems. Otherwise, the ethical hacker may be unable to detect some flaws. Such errors may result in a data breach.
In the ever-changing sector of cybersecurity, continuous learning allows one to acquire new abilities.
Obtain cybersecurity certifications
By 2021, the number of cybersecurity employment will have risen to over 3.5 million.
There will be plenty of career opportunities! However, this does not imply that job searchers would have an easy time finding work. Organizations are only interested in the best and brightest employees. You should endeavour to earn cybersecurity certifications to demonstrate that you have the necessary skills.
Certifications demonstrate that you possess the necessary abilities for the work and can assist you in obtaining the position you desire. Certifications are required for many employment in the cybersecurity field.
The following are some examples of certificates that can help you advance your cybersecurity career:
- Certified ethical hacker (CEH)
- CompTIA Security+
- SANS GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)
- Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Certified Information Systems Security Practitioner (CISPS)
Select a holistic cybersecurity course
In most cases, a complete cybersecurity course provides two learning options:
Practical – how-to, hands-on, and step by step (lab work and on the job training)
Theoretical – classroom training
If you want to become proficient in your chosen cybersecurity sector, you’ll need to do both forms of learning.
You obtain enough skills through a holistic cybersecurity approach to be able to predict security issues and threats and be proactive in generating new solutions. It also equips you with the information you’ll need to deal with cybersecurity incidents when they arise.
Because technology developments have such a big impact on the cybersecurity scene, a holistic approach allows you to adapt. A cybersecurity expert must be able to adapt to changing trends using hands-on experience. Such capabilities can be found in a comprehensive cybersecurity programme.
Understand the cybersecurity industry
Before pursuing a cybersecurity job, it is critical to gain a thorough understanding of the field. You ought to:
- Know what types of cybersecurity employment are available.
- Find out what kind of training is required for each career.
Understanding the cybersecurity sector is critical to making an informed decision about the field to focus in. People occasionally hurry into a career only to change their minds later. Learn everything you can about the industry so you can be sure you’re going in the right direction.
Choose a cybersecurity field in which you have a strong interest
Professionals in the cybersecurity field have a lot of options for following their personal interests. As a result, you should pursue the field in which you are most enthusiastic. A hacker with a penchant for ethical hacking, for example, would be an excellent ethical hacker. An Incident Response position would be ideal for someone who enjoys fighting the bad guys.
Make connections with other cybersecurity professionals
Many prospects for advancement in a cybersecurity job can be found through networking. Cybersecurity necessitates a great deal of imagination. Interacting with other professionals can provide opportunities for learning and development. You can attend a variety of cybersecurity-related events and meetups.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity jobs are both rewarding and lucrative. As a result, it is an excellent moment to consider a career in cybersecurity. There are numerous methods for learning about cybersecurity. Many websites provide instruction in various aspects of cybersecurity. Obtaining credentials can help you advance your career in cybersecurity.
