In the present competitive digital age, cyberattacks are on the rise and multiplying day by day. Hackers target almost every company and organization, whether it is big or small. Everyone might have resolved to increase cyber safety in 2020, but it must also be understood that many threats to cyber safety are often beyond their control. Cybersecurity issues are becoming a day-to-day struggle for businesses.
Recent trends, harmful effects of a global pandemic, and cybersecurity statistics reveal a drastic increase in breached and hacked data from sources that are increasingly common in the workplace, such as IoT devices and mobile. Cyber attacks are not new, but increased levels of connectivity, reliance on technology, remote working, and automation have increased the risk of cybercrimes.
Organizations face more vulnerabilities than before because of a relaxed control environment, revised processes and procedures, and changes in the employee workforce profiles.
Many reports and researches show that data breaches exposed 36 billion records in the first half of 2020 in which 45% of breaches featured hacking, 22% involved fishing, and 17% involved malware attacks. As per the ID theft Resource Centre report, between January 1, 2005, and May 31, 2020, there have been 11,762 recorded breaches, where 95% of cybersecurity breaches are caused by human error.
So because of increasing threats and attacks, investment in cyber safety is also about to increase as the worldwide information security market is forecast to reach around $170.5 billion in 2022.
Willing to pursue a challenging career? Cybersecurity can be one of your top options. This article discusses how cybersecurity as a career is and why now is the right time to become a cybersecurity basics.
What Is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is the process and practice of protecting networks, systems, and programs, computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, and data from digital attacks. It is also known as electronic information security or information technology security. These attacks are aimed to change, access, and destroy sensitive information, steal money from users, or interrupt business processes. Cybersecurity applies to a variety of contexts, from business to mobile computing, and it can be divided into a few common categories such:
- Network Security- It is the process of securing a computer network from intruders, whether targeted attackers or opportunistic malware.
- Application Security- It is the practice of keeping the software and devices free from threats where a compromised application could provide access to the data it’s designed to protect. Successful application security begins in the design stage right before a device or program is deployed.
- Information Security- It protects the privacy and integrity of data, both in transit and in storage.
- Operational Security- This type of security process includes decisions for protecting and handling data assets. Permission for accessing a network and the procedures determine how and where data may be stored or shared all fall under this umbrella.
- Disaster Recovery and Business continuity- It defines how an organization responds to a cybersecurity incident or any other event that causes the loss of data and operations. These policies dictate how the organizations restore their operations and information to return to the same operating capacity as before the event. Business continuity makes organizations fall back on while trying to operate without resources.
- End-User Education- It addresses the most unpredictable cybersecurity factor-people. It is all about teaching users to delete suspicious email attachments, not plug in unidentified USB drivers, and many other crucial lessons for any organization’s security.
Cybersecurity As A Career
Nowadays, cybersecurity professionals are in great demand as there is a huge increase in cybercrimes every day. A cybersecurity career is as rewarding as it is equally demanding. A large number of cybersecurity professionals are in high demand as there is a vast gap between the existing cybersecurity professionals and the cybersecurity challenges faced daily. A career in this domain is gaining popularity because these professionals protect the organization’s data from being compromised as they are responsible for the organization’s security and safety.
Job Roles In A Cybersecurity Career- There are many levels of job positions that one can pursue in this dynamic profession. You can choose from an entry-level position like Network administrator to an advanced role like CyberSecurity Architect.
Some of the top-paying job roles in cybersecurity are mentioned below.
Bug Bounty Specialist- They can earn a median pay of $145,000 per annum.
Chief Information Security Officer ( CISO)- They can earn a median salary in the range of $140,000–$300,000 per annum.
Lead Software Security Engineer- These engineers can earn an average salary of $225,000 per annum.
Cybersecurity Sales Engineer- Top cybersecurity sales engineers are paid annual salaries of between $180,000 and $220,000.
Cybersecurity Architect- These Cybersecurity architects can earn an average salary of $140,820 per annum.
Penetration Tester- The penetration and vulnerability testers can earn around $102,000 per annum and it can range up to $130,000.
Cybersecurity Manager/administrator- The professionals in this role earn salaries of between $125,00 and $215,000.
Information Security Analyst- They can earn a median pay of $98,350 per annum.
Skills Required To become a Cybersecurity Expert
A cybersecurity expert required the following mentioned skills to maintain a successful career graph.
Technical Skills- A cybersecurity expert need several technical skills such as:
- IT fundamentals like systems and web application administration
- Coding skills such as C, C++, Ruby, Pearl, Python, PHP, Java
- Understanding of Architecture, Administration, and Operating system
- Database knowledge and Handling
Soft Skills- Besides technical skills, cybersecurity experts need some soft skills as well to become successful security professionals. Some soft skills they need are mentioned below.
- Leadership Skills– It makes professionals able to lead the team and apply security standards within the organization.
- Communication skills- It is highly required by security professionals to communicate effectively with other employees in the organization.
- Analytical Thinking- It helps with deeper insights to analyze IT security from all aspects.
- Passion About Learning- Every cybersecurity expert must be prepared to study throughout the career with continuous learning.
- Determination- It is the key skill to succeed for Cybersecurity professionals as penetration testing and forensic investigation require a lot of patience and determination.
- Collaborative and Approachable- A cybersecurity expert should always be supportive, collaborative, and approachable to everyone.
- Writing Skills- It is also a must-have skill for security experts as many roles in this domain demand report writing describing the incident, suggestions for improvement, assessments performed, etc.
So in this tough time, a cybersecurity career is a bright option for individuals who desperately want to find their niche in the cybersecurity field. Join any best cyber security certification course according to your pace and requirements, and achieve your goals.
