How Hard is a Cybersecurity Degree?- People frequently inquire about the difficulty of working in the sector of cyber security. Many people, understandably, want to know how difficult a cyber security career is before deciding to pursue it as a profession. Because this subject has been raised so frequently, I wanted to investigate how difficult a job in cyber security can be.
How difficult is it to maintain cyber security? Depending on the precise field of cyber security you pursue and the requirements of the individual position, cyber security careers can range from moderately demanding to difficult. Individuals can choose from a wide range of occupations in cyber security, allowing them to pursue a career that is as easy or tough as they desire.
So, what is it about a cyber security career that makes it easier or more challenging than others? Let’s look at some of the aspects that impact how difficult or easy cyber security will be for the profession you chose.
Factor #1: Job Responsibility Increases Difficulty
Employees in many areas can expect to earn more money as their responsibilities grow. While this is true in general, it is also true in cyber security that the difficulty of a task often increases as the responsibility of the job grows. For example, a lower-level cyber security post in charge of a smaller network or a low-impact system would likely be easier to fill than a position with the same title at a larger company with more information security assets to safeguard. While the positions are similar and the job descriptions may appear to be the same, the position that is responsible for protecting a bigger technological surface is likely to be more demanding and stressful. Consider that larger systems may be targeted more frequently than less well-known systems, adding to the severity of the situation.
Another perspective is for positions that are not on the same level as others, but are on a higher level. Senior cyber security positions, for example, may demand additional responsibilities, such as reporting to management. Very high-level jobs, such as Chief Information Security Officers, may be in charge of informing the CEO on a regular basis about cyber security issues. Again, having more responsibilities can make the cyber security role you want more challenging.
Factor #2: The Learning Process is Difficult
Few subjects evolve as quickly as cyber security, and few fields necessitate as much continuous learning as cyber security. Continuous learning is a difficult task in and of itself. Consider that in fields where change is substantially slower or non-existent, any learning is elective, may be finished at any moment, and contributes to advancement. In fast-changing sectors like cyber security, the learning process can make the job difficult because it becomes a treadmill, requiring you to learn new things merely to keep your job.
Factor #3: A Bad Employer Can Make Cyber Security More Difficult
A demanding employer, just like in any other industry, can turn a work that would otherwise be fun into a nightmare. We’re not talking about a nasty boss or a horrible work environment here; we’re talking about an employer who doesn’t give proper training.
Almost any successful cyber security specialist will tell you how much they value an employer who gives frequent training at no cost to the firm and on company time. This investment by your organisation will make the cyber security learning curve considerably smoother for you. If you have the misfortune of working for an employer who does not give training, you will be compelled to develop your knowledge and invest in your training on your own time and at your own expense. This can make cyber security more difficult for you because you’ll have to work longer hours merely to keep up with the field and stay relevant.
Factor #4: Our Increased Use of Technology Can Make Cyber Security Difficult
Another aspect that has made cyber security more challenging, and will continue to do so in the future, is our greater reliance on and use of new technologies. Years ago, technology departments had fewer duties, but with the addition of VoIP, Cloud, BYOD, and other technologies, the sheer amount of technologies that a cyber security professional must be aware of has grown significantly. This increase in knowledge needs has made cyber security much more difficult. Consider that the tendency of using more technologies to support and protect cyber security will continue, and you can expect this factor to raise the difficulty of cyber security.
Factor #5: Non-Technical Skills Have Increased Cyber Difficulty
The rise in technology isn’t the only factor that has made cyber security more complex. Many cyber security occupations today necessitate a wide range of non-technical abilities. Additional abilities, such as the capacity to produce reports, connect with coworkers or customers, or confer with management, can all make the job of a cyber security expert more challenging, particularly if you lack confidence in these areas. Some people who are new to cyber security undervalue the importance of being able to write well and how much writing they will need to do in order to document their job. In this case, in addition to all of the technical skills already listed, a cyber expert would need to learn how to write well.
Consider that higher-level cyber security positions may require even more soft skills or non-technical skills, such as the ability to create a budget, negotiate with customers, or deliver presentations, and you can see how the expanded set of non-technical skills can make a cyber security job more difficult for anyone who lacks these skills and needs to learn them.
There is, however, some good news out there. Let’s take a look at some of the things that can make cyber security more manageable.
Factor #6: Having a Cyber Security Passion Makes Things Easier
Examining an individual’s love and passion for the field, including a career in cyber security, is one of the finest methods to estimate how challenging any work will be for them. Someone who has a great interest and curiosity in cyber security will find the job’s required learning and demanding responsibilities to be more interesting and valuable than someone who does not.
It’s no secret that folks who are enthusiastic about cyber security are more inclined to read literature in the field, experiment with technology at home, and share their enthusiasm with others. Those tasks are not difficult for these folks; rather, they are fun and fulfilling.
Make an honest assessment of your own technological interests and passion. You should be able to assess whether your passion in security, penetration testing, hacking, or anything else makes the field more interesting for you and hence easier. Remember that there is a distinction between tough and difficult, and the difference typically comes down to how much you enjoy and care about the subject.
Take, for example, someone who is a gamer. Because gamers like the process of gaming and learning how to beat a game, they are more likely to find a game challenging than difficult. They are enthusiastic about it, which makes things easier for them. The same may be said for cyber security. Cyber security will be easier for you than for many others if you have a passion for technology.
What You Can Do to Make Cyber Security Easier
Fortunately, there are a number of things we can do to make cyber security more manageable and so more pleasurable and gratifying. As you choose a job in cyber security, keep these items in mind.
- Have a strong desire to succeed. Any job that you are not enthusiastic about will be difficult. Having a passion for technology puts you in the zone and simplifies cyber security. Make sure you’re enthusiastic about whatever you’re doing.
- Every day, learn something new. The greatest approach to understand cyber security is to learn a little every day, just like the best way to eat an elephant is one mouthful at a time. It has been reported that if someone reads one hour a day in their area, they will be world class in their expertise within three to five years. If you simply get up an hour earlier than normal and read something on the internet, you can go a long way.
- Look for a company that offers regular training and cares about your success. An employer who does not support your learning will set you back over the course of a few years. It only makes things more harder for you if your boss isn’t willing to help you learn. Look for a job that allows you to learn more easily.
- If your employment or learning opportunities get stale, be open to move jobs. Someone who has been in the same job for ten years may frequently claim to have ten years of experience. Unfortunately, for others, what they really have is a year’s worth of experience ten times over. Recognize when your career is becoming monotonous and decide whether you need to move on to a position that offers new learning possibilities.
- Remember that the same things that make cyber security difficult for you also make it difficult for others. This is what keeps a lot of people out of cyber security or makes them give up. This is what allows you to have the possibilities and earn the great salary you do.
