Careers In Cybersecurity: Which One Is Right For You?

Identify people in your network who could suit your needs and reach out to them for a meeting to see if it would be a good fit. Management and administration could be a good fit if you’re organized, an excellent communicator, and enjoy working with people. While earning a degree isn’t strictly necessary to get a job, earning one could mean more job opportunities and a more competitive resume. This article covers threat intelligence, including its definition, function, lifecycle, types, and tools.

Cybersecurity intrusions have become a major problem, and cybersecurity professionals are needed to step up the defense. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for information security analysts to grow by 32% from 2022 to 2032, far outpacing the 3% projected growth for all U.S. occupations. Programs such as Google’s Cybersecurity or IT Support professional certificate provide a quick and comprehensive introduction to these career fields so you can master the skills necessary. They are enough to get your foot in the door at a company where you can continue to learn on the job. You may decide to acquire more certifications to get where you want to go in the future. As cybersecurity continues to grow in importance, more specialized roles are emerging.

What Does a Cybersecurity Professional Do?

The attacker impersonates a trustworthy source via email and asks the recipient to reveal private information. Cybersecurity matters for everyone, even people who don’t think they use technology directly. Nearly every aspect of modern life involves sharing digital information.

Network security professionals use firewalls, physical hardware and education efforts to safeguard against intrusions and retain lost data. Bootcamps are more accelerated, intensive options than traditional two-year or four-year degree programs. Enroll in Google’s Cybersecurity Professional Certificate to learn in-demand skills and become job-ready in about six months. In this comprehensive program, you’ll be able to identify common threats and vulnerabilities and learn techniques to mitigate them. Over half (59 percent) of all cybersecurity positions require at least one certification, according to data from Burning Glass Technologies [5].

Cybersecurity Career Paths (and How to Get Started)

Afterward, if you’d like to start working towards a career as a cybersecurity analyst, you might also consider enrolling in Microsoft’s Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate. Cybersecurity protects digital information — and the people who use networks, computers, and devices — from unauthorized access or data loss. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals. Regardless of your degree, it is important to constantly educate yourself on new technologies and threats. Sometimes, this may mean taking additional cyber certifications or classes after you are hired.

These issues include preventing and analyzing data security incidents and developing and enforcing security standards to protect digital information. As a manager, you must be comfortable working with a wide range of other cybersecurity professionals and providing direction when necessary. If you handle responsibility well, enjoy working with others, and are comfortable in a leadership position, then you might consider a career as a cybersecurity manager.

Careers in cybersecurity

Cybersecurity focuses on protecting electronic information on websites, networks, or devices from hackers. Through advanced technology and sophisticated processes, cybersecurity professionals help keep data safe and accessible. Cybersecurity professionals tend to get paid well for their skills, even at the entry level. As you gain experience and move into more advanced roles, salaries often go up as well.

You can also check out these in-demand cybersecurity jobs and entry-level jobs, and this career guide that points you toward detailed articles on specific entry-, mid-, and senior-level roles. If you’re interested in starting a career in cybersecurity, consider the Microsoft cybersecurity specialist program Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate on Coursera. This program is designed ​​to help individuals with no previous experience learn in-demand skills, and prepare for Microsoft’s SC-900 exam and a first job in cybersecurity, all at their own pace.

How to Become a Cybersecurity Specialist

The BLS notes the median annual salary for information security analysts is $112,000 per year [1]. Infrastructure security covers the protection of physical and digital assets through the architecture itself. This specialty may focus on safeguarding sensitive items using structures like generators, security systems and locks. Digitally, infrastructure security refers to creating and maintaining protected systems from breaches. Some experts say the fields of cybersecurity, network security, information security and infrastructure security are all different. Others consider these cybersecurity careers to exist under the same umbrella of computer security.

• Brenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths.
• Companies will likely want expertise in whichever tools and software they use, so it’s better to be prepared for any scenario.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for information security analysts to grow by 32% from 2022 to 2032, far outpacing the 3% projected growth for all U.S. occupations.
• Curricula for programs at this level cover cybersecurity research theory and practice, research design, dissertation research and writing.
• PenTest+ is for intermediate level cybersecurity professionals who are tasked with penetration testing to manage vulnerabilities on a network.
• Installing antivirus software on your devices — including cell phones — helps protect your data against malware, viruses, and other cyberattacks.

We also suggest using resources such as email protection, VPNs, or intrusion prevention systems. Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks the normal flow of web traffic. Hacked computer systems can send a surge in traffic to particular websites to slow them significantly or prevent legitimate users from accessing them. A common cyberattack to steal sensitive data like credit card information or passwords.

As the need rises for secure and reliable computer infrastructure, software and networks, so does the demand for professionals to fill cybersecurity positions. Cybersecurity professionals play an integral role in protecting the privacy and confidentiality of sensitive data and personal information from cyberattacks and other prominent threats. Many cybersecurity professionals start out as junior cybersecurity analysts before advancing to more specialized positions. Depending on your interests, you’ll find a variety of cybersecurity career paths you can take.

You can take several simple steps right now to protect your data from hackers and prevent cyberattacks. In one case, hackers attempted to poison the municipal water supplies of cities in Florida and California. The hackers gained access to the technology platforms controlling the water systems. Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact…

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Careers in Cybersecurity

Now that you have a cybersecurity job description and requirements as a reference point, you may wonder how you become a cybersecurity professional. Information security specialists help prevent cybercrimes by protecting personal data, implementing security systems, and investigating cybercrimes. People can also spot scams and use antivirus software to prevent cybercrimes. However, cybersecurity jobs usually focus on protecting digital information. Despite the need to work together with other technology professionals, cybersecurity employees tend to focus on different issues than IT workers.