Starting on any kind of new career can be intimidating enough to freak you out. You don’t know how to move forward and pursue it properly.
Stepping into cyber security is just like stepping into any other profession. In fact, in many ways, we can even say that establishing a career in cyber security is a sensible choice because if you can meet certain demands and requirements, you are good to go!
Cyber-attacks are happening all around the globe, all the time which means that protecting system, software, hardware, and data is more important than ever. There’s no stopping the cybercrime. All we can do is protect our assets.
Today, there is a shortage of cyber security professionals who are well-equipped with the best cyber security certifications. As a matter of fact, Cyber security Ventures predicts that in the year 2021, there will be approximately 3.5 million cyber security jobs.
Why Get Started In Cyber Security?
For this question, you will have to look for the answer on your own, but let me you some facts which may help you a bit:
- Cyber security professionals are high in demand
- You can get paid for hacking (Ethical hacking though)
- Market competitive salary
- Practically the fastest growing industry
- It’s an interesting field to work in
- The stimulus for your technological curiosity
How To Get Started in Cyber Security?
The pressing question is, though, how do you get started with it? While there are numerous articles about making a career in cybersecurity, very few answers about what you should learn, or give direction on where you can learn it. In this post, we will investigate different options and offer some guidance.
In case you’re beginning or wishing to progress into cyber security from other IT-related work, then this article is for you to read on.
Can I Start A Career in Cybersecurity with No Experience?
Another question which may arise is ” Can I enter in cybersecurity without having a technical background?”
Numerous employments opportunities in cyber security are highly technical, however, some are not technical by any means. The world of cyber security needs individuals with relationship building abilities, administration ability, and business understanding. Don’t figure out if you fit or not because you don’t have the foggiest idea about the technical language or don’t understand the technical aspect. On the most basic level, cyber security is nothing but risk management.
You don’t necessarily have to have a CS background with intense programming skills. All you need is passion. The passion to learn and understand how the technology works and goes a long way. Many people think cyber security involves only hacking into systems or securing your systems from data breaches, but, cyber security is all about how the technology works and how it will help us reach our goals.
Jobs in Cyber security
Technical cyber security jobs demand extensive knowledge in computer science; however, the best part is on-job training, that is, much of the work which you will do will be learned on the job. So, apply for the job roles you desire and do not let this thought daunt you.
Like non-technical cyber security jobs, there are numerous options for the technical ones. Some job titles include:
1- Security Generalist: Generally, security generalists/analysts are found in a Security Operations Centre or IT team aimed at security. The primary job for an analyst is incident detection and response. The duties assigned are triaging, investigating, containing and remediating cyber security incidents.
2- Cryptographer: As the name suggests, a cryptographer encrypts and decrypts data which means that would analyze data, decipher it and as the need arises, will work accordingly. In cryptography, encryption algorithms play a vital role and their function is to secure data.
3- Penetration tester: This is the job for those who equate cyber security with hacking. A penetration tester is a hacker who must follow strict rules governed by the policies and agreements through which your company is bound. Proper documentation for every structured action is made sure. Penetration hackers are hired because companies want to secure their networks.
4- Digital Forensics Investigator: The field of digital forensics is the branch of law enforcement and is associated with forensic science and criminal justice; therefore, most digital forensic investigators are hired by law enforcement agencies. The job role of these investigators includes recovering data in the form of documents, photos or e-mails from the system’s hard drives and other data storage devices.
5- Malware Forensic Analyst: Malware analysts are professionals who are expert at identifying cyber threats such as malware: rootkits, bots, worms, trojan horse, and other viruses. Their duty is to protect the systems from cyber threats and work with other cyber security experts in teams. Some malware analysts develop different ways of blocking malicious code. Their task usually involves reverse engineering.
The entry-level to intermediate-level positions need strong expertise and several certifications. You can also move up to high-level security role depending on your skillset and the experience you have, you may acquire the position of Information Systems Security Manager, Senior Threat Analyst, or Chief Security Officer / Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).
Certifications in Cyber security
Cyber security certifications will take you a long way in this field. Security professionals with security certifications more likely have significantly higher pay — around 15 percent more — than those who don’t have. So, if you’re looking to improve your career prospects, we have the three most important cyber security certifications:
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is an intermediate-level certification course offered by the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council). For security professionals who want to pursue their careers in hacking, this is a must-have.
Cost: US $950
Requirements: Training for five days is highly recommended. Candidates must have at least two years or max experience in information security with an academic background in cyber security.
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA Security+ certification is the very first and basic security certification an IT professional should earn. It covers all the aspects of network security, operation security, and compliance along with potential threats and vulnerabilities.
Cost: US $339
Requirements: A minimum of two years’ experience in IT and network security is a must.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
The CISSP certification is obtained through the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, or (ISC)². CISSP credential holders are professionals who have expert knowledge and technical skills for developing, guiding and then managing security standards and policies.
Cost: US $549
Requirement: At least five years of hands-on industry experience and extensive knowledge in at least two of the eight cyber security domains identified by ISC.
There are numerous ways to enter the world of cyber security. Continue to learn and explore all you can about the cyber security industry.
