By: Darek Hahn, Client Experience Operations Director at Cerberus Sentinel
Thedigital revolutionhas resulted in cybersecuritybecomingone of the foremost concernsaroundthe world,acrosscompanies andindustries.Notsurprising,thecybersecurityjob marketisgrowingexponentially:the number ofunfilled cybersecurity jobshasincreasedfrom one million positions in 2013 to 3.5 million in 2021.Moreover, theBureau of Labor Statisticsprojectshiringfor information security professionals to grow 35%from 2021 to 2031.
Closing The Cybersecurity Gap
Over the last couple of decades, from small town Main Street to big city Wall Street companies have increasingly relied on technology, whether for communication (internal/external), payment processing, supply chain logistics, storing PII records, regulations adherence, or industrycompliance. This expansion of technology has resulted in greater demand for well-educated and highly-trained cybersecurity professionals.
The COVID-19 pandemicaccelerated thedigitization ofeven moreindustriesand their workforces. This made remote work the norm andincreasedthe reliance ofcloud computingthatbothlessenedphysical overhead anddecommissioned manyon-premise technologies.
Where ThereAreEndpoints, ThereAreOpportunities
We live in a world increasingly defined by theInternet of Things (IoT): avastsystemof interrelated computing devices capable of transmitting data over networks,oftenwithout human interaction.According toIoT Analytics,the number of activeIoT device connectionsgrew from 3.6 billion in 2015 to 11.7 billion in 2020. By the end of 2025, it is estimated that there will be 30 billion IoT connections.
That’s a lot of data. Andthat’squitea lot of endpoints.
Forcybersecurity professionals,these endpoints represent potential vulnerabilities that malicious hackers canexploit.Beyond endpoints,cybersecurity risk continues to increase as hackers are readily capable of attacking vulnerable endpoints without malware, focusing then on exploiting legitimate built-in tools.
Join the Cybersecurity Revolution
For individuals seeking a career in cybersecurity,havinganpost-secondaryeducation, technical training,and experiencesetsyou apart from the competition.
Understanding the educational requirements and professional landscape of the cybersecurity industry better prepares you to enter the job market and advance your career. The top certifications for cybersecurity professionals include:
- CISSP
- CAP
- CEH
- CHFI
- CISM
- CASP
- CompTIA Security+
If you’re just jumping in, a great starting place is theCompTIA Security+certification. This course provides the foundation for a career in cybersecurity.Certified Information Systems Security Professional(CISSP) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) are certifications that are highly respected credentials and are often required; they are, therefore, in high demand.According toBureau of Labor Statistics, themedian annual salary for information security analysts was $102,600 in May 2021, and theoutlookindustrywide is favorable.
Thougha college degree isn’t necessary to obtain a job in cybersecurity, earninga degree shows that you have not only proved your technical skills, but also learned the theoretical and philosophical nuances of the field. Another great option is to pursue an undergraduate degree in Information security, computer science, or computer engineering and then focus your graduate studies on cybersecurity.Programs like the one at the University of Tulsacan help prepare you for a successful career.
Fast-track programs such asCybersecurity Bootcampscan help you prepare for certain roles; these programs teach skills such as:
- Networking
- System Administration
- Threat Management
- Governance
- Risk
- Compliance
- SIEM Administration
Cybersecurity bootcamps often cater to professionals already in the industry, such as aspiring IT managers or self-taught tech-enthusiasts. Continuing education will always be beneficial and can help you to stay current with cutting-edge technology and new industry issues.
ResearchingTraining Programsand what it means to be part of the frontlines ofCybersecurity Cultureare ideal first steps in learning more about why there’s never been a better time to join the cybersecurity workforce.If interested in working for Cerberus Sentinel, you cancheck out our Careers pagefor our current openings.
