Choose Cybersecurity Career Path: A Profession with Many Advantages | Careervira
Today, the world is dependent on technology than ever before. The instant access to information through the internet, the conveniences of smart home automation technologies and path breaking ideas like the Internet of Things (IoT) are all examples of increasing dependence of man on technology. While enjoying the benefits of technology, it can be difficult to identify potential risks lurking behind every digital gadget and platform. Such risks also called cyber security concerns, pose a serious problem both at an individual and corporate level. You might be wondering, is cybersecurity a good career with multidimensional forms of development?
This blog will provide a step-by-step guide to a cybersecurity career path in 2023, covering the skills required to become a cybersecurity expert and top jobs in cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity: Meaning and Importance
Cybersecurity refers to the mechanism of defense against hackers, spammers, and cybercriminals who attack internet-connected devices and services. Companies invest in cybersecurity to safeguard themselves against phishing scams, ransomware attacks, identity theft, data breaches, and monetary losses. Cybersecurity involves devising ways to protect tools and services from electronic attacks by malicious individuals, including hackers, spammers, and cybercriminals.
Growth of Cybersecurity
Given that the majority of corporate and personal activities now take place online, cybersecurity is a sector that is continually expanding. As per a report by Grand View Research, the estimated value of the global cyber security market in 2022 was $202.72 billion and is expected to increase at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.3% from 2023 to 2030. The expansion of smart devices, the rise of e-commerce platforms, and the corresponding increase in cyberattacks are just a few drivers fueling the expansion of this sector. The cybersecurity career path thus has attracted a lot of attention in recent years.
Skills Required for a Career in Cyber Security
Cybersecurity is always demanding because of the rise in daily cybercrimes. The need for trained, certified, and skilled cybersecurity professionals is at an all-time high, with 76% of company boards suggesting a higher security headcount, per the Fortinet report. To meet the demand for cyber security in 2023, you must amass the most in-demand cybersecurity skills.
Some of the most important technical skills for a successful career in cyber security are as follows:
Ethical Hacking
If you want to protect your organization from cyberattacks, you must be able to hack ethically. The first step in comprehending a system attack and developing a workable solution is to develop this skill. Although cybersecurity is different from ethical hacking, these fields converge and thus demand is parallel. This procedure aids in locating security flaws that can subsequently be fixed before a malicious attacker can take advantage of them.
Some courses to learn ethical hacking skills are:
- Ethical Hacking: Vulnerability Analysis by Pluralsight
- Ethical Hacking: Penetration Testing by Pluralsight
Programming Skills
Understanding programming languages is essential for every cybersecurity expert. Having a grasp of languages like Java, PHP, C, and C++, they can quickly identify the likelihood of attacks and take the appropriate defensive measures.
Some certifications that will aid you in mastering programming languages are:
- Cybersecurity Essential Training: Core Principles by BitDegree
- Identifying Security Vulnerabilities in C/C++Programming by Coursera
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI is one of the most cutting-edge security tools, which aids security specialists and professionals in comprehending the online environment and spotting suspicious activity. Cyber dangers and automated methods are supported by it. AI protects the system from vulnerable networks and data that cyber attackers may use.
Some certifications for mastering AI are:
Cloud Security
Businesses are storing their data in the cloud to prevent data loss in the future. However, it is also crucial to protect this data against cyberattacks. Organizations require professional security controlled by cloud security to protect their data.
Some certifications for mastering cloud security are:
Computer Forensics
Computer forensics and cybersecurity frequently collaborate to spread information. A strong background in computer forensics will also help you grow in your cyber security career. Computer forensics and cyber security expertise are digital assets and intelligence which can prevent cyber-attack and aid in problem-solving. As a result, both abilities are useful to have.
Some certifications for mastering computer forensics are:
Risk Assessment and Management
Risk assessment specialists investigate the most recent cyber threats and try to identify weak spots in the data network. They collaborate with experts in cybersecurity, law enforcement, and governmental organizations to ensure that data is secure from hackers. Discovering the particular tactics hackers employ is one of their most crucial tasks. Additionally, they aim to create predictive models that highlight potential attack locations based on trends.
Some certifications for mastering risk assessment and management are:
- Identifying, Monitoring, and Analyzing Risk and Incident Response and Recovery by Coursera
- Cyber Security for Business and Risk Management by Emeritus
Cryptography or Public Key Infrastructure
Applications that transfer sensitive data call for the expertise of a cryptography or Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) specialist. This skill is particularly useful if you want to work in Fintech, financial services, medical technology, or the pharmaceutical industry; all fields that keep strict control over who has access to sensitive data. It is anticipated that cryptography experts will continue to play a crucial role in creating fresh defenses against dangers like ransomware and crypto-jacking.
Some certifications for mastering cryptography or public key infrastructure are:
Job Opportunities in Cybersecurity
As firms expand, the demand for cybersecurity talent will increase in 2024 and beyond. Over the current years, there has been a noticeable increase in demand for careers in cyber security. Less than 400,000 cybersecurity professionals will have received training by 2023, despite more than 1 million open positions in this field. Industry growth in cyber security is constant. It is anticipated to expand by 11% in 2023 and 20% in 2025.
In this section, we discuss the most rewarding and in-demand cybersecurity specialist job roles in 2024 and the salary prospects for these positions.
Chief Information Security Officer
An organization’s information security is ensured by a senior-level professional known as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). In addition to interacting with stakeholders and informing them of the issues with information security, CISOs are in charge of creating and maintaining programs for information security and risk management. A CISO is typically someone who has excelled in several different cybersecurity-related positions.
Cybersecurity Engineer
Engineers in cybersecurity create security methods to shield the company from cyberattacks. They are in charge of safeguarding the data and network infrastructure of the company. Cybersecurity engineers work with the other teams to create cybersecurity systems and to maintain overall security.
Malware Analyst
A malware analyst recognizes and investigates online dangers like viruses, worms, bots, and trojans to learn more about them. Finally, they outline plans to fend off malware attacks after developing tools for malware protection.
Security Architect
A security architect must design strong security mechanisms that are utilized to combat malware attacks. They carry out vulnerability assessments and aid the other security team members technically.
Computer Forensics Analyst
To gather digital evidence and retrieve data, computer forensics analysts work on cyberattack cases. They work to retrieve information that has been altered, erased, or stolen.
Cloud Security Specialist
A cloud security specialist’s job is to defend networks, systems, and data from cyber-attacks. They accomplish this by identifying risks and weak spots, putting safety measures in place, keeping an eye out for incursions on networks, and checking legal compliance. The protection of data kept on a cloud server is the responsibility of cloud security experts.
Penetration Tester
A network security expert who tests for vulnerabilities in a system is known as a penetration tester, also referred to as an ethical hacker. They create fresh penetration tools and record the outcomes of the tests.
Application Security Engineer
The person who develops, implements, and maintains the security of an organization’s applications is an application security engineer. They are in charge of creating and carrying out regulations to safeguard against internal and external dangers.
Incident Manager
A person who manages and resolves events is known as an incident manager. When an event occurs, they are the ones that are called in to remedy it. The two most crucial requirements for this position are the ability to handle various situations and the ability to think quickly.
Database Administrator
A person who manages and keeps an eye on the database is called a database administrator. They are in charge of establishing, designing, and managing the database. Data security and protection are other responsibilities of database managers. For any business to run smoothly, database administrators are essential. They make sure the databases are secure and operating effectively.
One Profession, Many Advantages
Less chances of unemployment and high pay package are the two main practical advantages of a job in cybersecurity. Additionally, if you choose to go down this career path, you will always have room to develop as, this field requires one to daily comprehend new technologies and learn cybersecurity skills. You will constantly face new difficulties, encounter different people, and face different circumstances. Because there are constantly fresh problems to solve and you get to see the fruits of your efforts in both the physical and digital worlds, you will never get bored of your job.
With the advent of the digital revolution, corporations, organizations, and even governments are turning to computerized systems to carry out their daily operations. As a result, cybersecurity has become a top priority to protect data from various online threats and unauthorized access. Industry growth in cyber security is constant. As per a report published by MarketsandMarkets, the global cybersecurity market is projected to reach $249 billion by the year 2023, at a CAGR of 10.2%. As news of data breaches, ransomware, and hacking becomes the norm, there will be a similar shift in cybersecurity trends in 2024 due to ongoing technological advancement.
Originally published at https://www.careervira.com.
