Career Opportunities For You After Pursuing a Good Cybersecurity Program
According to American cryptographer and computer security and privacy specialist, Bruce Schneier, ‘Data is the pollution problem of the information age, and protecting privacy is the environmental challenge.’ His statement asserts that in this advanced era of technology and cybersecurity, data has to be handled with utmost care, not only at the organizational level but at the individual level as well. Thankfully, we have cybersecurity as the best weapon to deal with this compelling issue of data security.
Before proceeding with the intricacies of cybersecurity as a profession and as industry, it’s important for you to know what cybersecurity is. According to cisco.com, “Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks. These cyberattacks are usually aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information; extorting money from users; or interrupting normal business processes.” Going by this definition and the general understanding about the cybersecurity, cyberattacks can essentially be considered the nemesis of cybersecurity professionals, for the entire existence of cybersecurity is based upon this alarming reality of cyberattacks. There are shocking figures to support this. As per Techtarget.com, “20 ransomware attacks are attempted every second.” The damage does not stop here. These cyberattacks have astonishing financial implications on global economies. According to cloudwards.net, Ransomware cost the world $20 billion in 2021 and this number is expected to touch a $265 billion mark by 2031.
What are the other types of cyberattacks?
Cyberattacks are generally understood as unauthorized systems or network accesses carried out by a third party or unauthorized individuals called hackers. These cyberattacks are complicated and are getting more and more sophisticated with each passing day. Today, cyberattacks are of different kinds and intensity. In a war, it is said that knowing your enemy gives you an edge. Similarly, in a war against cybercrimes, knowing about cyberattacks offer a lot of advantages. Some of the infamous cyberattack types are: malware attack, phishing attack, password attack, cryptojacking, and watering hole attack.
What are the factors contributing to cyberattacks?
Cyberattacks happen most of the times due to the malicious intent of the attacker. However, there are many other factors also that contribute to the same. Some of the most common ones being:
- Phishing emails
- Dearth of cyber awareness or training
- Poor access management or weak passwords
- Weak user practices
- Malicious ads or websites
What is the role of cybersecurity studies?
After knowing this much about cyberattacks and cybercrimes, it is imperative to go back to the start point of this entire discussion, which is cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is the answer to all the digital insecurities and data threats. The times and technologies are going to progress further and further. In the future, the dependence on IoT (Internet of Things) will only increase as more people will be using it in their daily lives. According to IoT Analytics, there would be 30.9 billion connected devices by 2025. IoT devices connect to networks that have access to highly sensitive information, however, IoT devices have weak security controls. As a result, businesses struggle to provide adequate security measures that will keep these devices secure. We can hope that in the future, internet communications will be more secure. Technology itself is the only answer to the technology related threats. Network threats are more likely to subside with the advent of quantum networks. This is because quantum networks rely on the quantum properties of protons and not on computer codes that can be cracked.
What is the role of cybersecurity professionals?
Technology is developed and operated by humans, that’s where the human element of it comes in. If a company or an organization wants to implement a strong defense against cyberattacks, it needs to employ skilled cybersecurity professionals. The good news is that the demand for cybersecurity experts is more than the supply, which ensures abundant job opportunities for cybersecurity aspirants. The challenge to fill this void will be greater in the future as there will be more focus on prevention and preparedness for cyberattacks in most companies and organizations across the globe. Consequently, we can hope that the careers of cybersecurity aspirants will be extremely rewarding. But first, they need to learn the skills that a good cybersecurity program is capable of equipping them with.
What are the career prospects for a cybersecurity aspirant?
Career prospects of a cybersecurity professionals are propelled by market demand and value. Fortunately, with over 3.12 million unfilled positions in the Cybersecurity sector worldwide, the demand for cybersecurity professionals with the desired expertise is expected to grow exponentially. Organizations are on the lookout for individuals who have the skills and knowledge to secure data from ever-intensifying cyber threats. Thus, the cybersecurity sector offers a vast potential for individuals who wish to bridge this supply-and-demand gap in the cybersecurity job market.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “information security analyst” figures in the 20 occupations with the highest projected percent change of employment between 2021-31. It cites that over the next decade, the profession is going to be the 10th fastest growing occupation, having an employment growth rate of 31% vis-a-vis that of the 4% average growth rate for all occupations.
Other relevant and career-defining job roles in the field of cybersecurity are:
- Information Security Auditor
- information Security Manager/Specialist
- Risk/Vulnerability Analyst/Manager
- Information Security Analyst
- Penetration Tester
- Security Architect
- Computer Network Defender
- Cybersecurity Defense Analyst
- Information Security (IS) Director
- Information Assurance (IA) Program Manager
- IT Project Manager
- Application Security Engineer/Manager
- Enterprise Architect
- Security Architect
Where to study cybersecurity programs?
- If you want to succeed in the profession of cybersecurity it is very important to choose a competent and reputed university of institution of cybersecurity.
- There is no dearth of good cybersecurity universities, but on this day and in this age it makes more sense if you enroll in an online cybersecurity university for it gives you the liberty to pursue your passion and degree along with fulfilling your current personal and professional obligations.
- You should pick up an online university that provides you scholarship opportunities so that you can go easy on your pocket.
- This and various other parameters that make EC-Council University an ideal pick for cybersecurity studies are comprehensive curriculum, 100% online delivery and hands-on learning.
To maximize your career growth, now is the time to prepare yourself for an in-demand cybersecurity job by enrolling yourself in ECCU’s holistic and career-oriented cybersecurity programs. The newly launched being its Master of Science in Computer Science program offering you the benefits of the best of both the computer science and cyber security studies.
