Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important in today’s world as technology advances, and our reliance on it increases. The need for effective cybersecurity measures has never been greater, as cyber threats become more frequent and sophisticated. As businesses, organizations, and individuals move more of their operations and activities online, they become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical issue but also a business and organizational issue, as data breaches can cause serious financial, reputational, and operational damage. It is essential to protect data, networks, and systems from malicious activity and to ensure the safety and security of all stakeholders.
The demand for cyber security experts is growing exponentially in response to the increasing cyber threats that businesses and organizations are facing. To keep up with the ever-changing landscape, organizations need to invest in cybersecurity professionals with the necessary knowledge and expertise to protect their networks and data. This means that more and more companies are looking to hire cyber security experts to ensure their systems remain secure. Additionally, governments are increasingly turning to cyber security professionals to protect their data and critical infrastructure from malicious actors. With the right qualifications and experience, a career in cyber security can be highly rewarding. Further, if you can achieve a cyber security bootcamp certification online from a reputed university such as Caltech, then your earning potential can increase even more.
Do you find the job of a cyber security expert interesting? If yes, then this article is for you. We have discussed how you can gain the right skills and become a cyber security expert.
Steps Required to Become a Cyber Security Expert
Here are some of the effective steps that you can take to start a career in cyber security.
Educational qualifications
For a cyber security expert, it is recommended that you have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity, or related fields. Note that it is not compulsory, and some employers accept individuals with graduate degrees in other fields if they have relevant experience and certifications. We will discuss how a training course can be helpful in such cases.
Polish your cyber security skills
Next, it is important to figure out what skills employers seek from their cyber security professionals. For example, a sound knowledge of concepts like networking, computer systems, and security protocols is important for these roles. Good programming skills in languages like Java, SQL, and Python are also valued by organizations. Other topics to dive into are scripting, cybersecurity frameworks, operating systems, intrusion detection, incident response, ethical hacking, and various types of cyber threats.
Cyber security certifications
Fortunately, there are a couple of certification bodies that help you demonstrate your cyber security skills through various kinds of certifications. Some of them are designed for entry-level professionals, while others require some years of experience. Here are the top cyber security certifications you can check out:
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- CompTIA Secuirty+
- GIAC Public Cloud Security (GPCS)
Note that these certifications are associated with a rigorous exam that tests your cyber security skills. You need to pass them successfully before you can be awarded these industry-recognized certifications.
Take up a training course
For all the points mentioned above, you can enroll in an online cyber security training course. What it means is that you can enroll in a cyber security course in case you are from a non-technical background and willing to enter this domain, or you are already working in the IT industry but need to polish your cyber security skills, or even if you are planning to achieve a renowned certification and looking for a preparatory course. Here are the types of courses that a professional can take based on his unique needs:
A non-technical professional – Instructor-led cyber security training of at least four months, a master’s program in cyber security, or a post-graduate program. All of them are available online.
IT Professionals – Self-paced online cyber security training of at least three months long. As IT professionals may already have some idea about cyber security, they can manage with pre-recorded videos and complete the course at a comfortable pace.
Professionals preparing for cyber security certifications – Such professionals can either take the official training offered by the certification bodies for all of their certifications or even take instructor-led preparatory courses from third-party vendors. The courses will have names like CEH training, CISSP certification course, CISM prep course, and so on. After you have prepared well for any of these certifications, you can book your exam and pass it. And once you become a certified Cybersecurity professional, it is expected to have a huge impage on your salary level. Learn in detail about the cybersecurity salary in the industry and how much can you expect.
Work on some industry projects
Only theoretical knowledge isn’t enough to work in the cyber security field. You need to have practical knowledge of the subject so as to succeed in a corporate job. When you enroll in a reputed training program, you also get access to their industry projects that can be completed through the virtual labs offered and with the guidance of mentors. Working on these projects will help you apply the skills gained during classes and understand what it actually takes to step into the shoes of a cyber security expert.
With all these steps, you will be following the right career path that leads you to a cyber security expert designation.
