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Dave Miller – Tech Enthusiast & Security Expert – August 31st, 2022
No matter where you are, it seems like professions in IT are the best route to advance; and of all the IT-related fields, cyber security is one that many people are interested in, but where to learn cyber security to get the skills necessary to launch a fulfilling career in this field?
I would want to respond to this query because there isn’t a perfect response. Everything relies on the goals and plans you have for the future. However, you will ultimately need to start someplace, and I can help you with that by providing some hints. I’ll discuss several recommended courses to get you began on the learning graph of a cyber security expert, along with the learning roadmap.
So keep reading if you’re interested in a job in cybersecurity. You do not need to be a specific age or gender; all you need to overcome problems with a guided route and strong resilience.
Cybersecurity is, by definition, the defense of internet-connected systems against known and unknowing cyber threats. To put it another way, cyber security refers to a method through which people and organizations lower the danger of a cyberattack on their systems and procedures.
Information technology, on the other hand, concentrates on the systems in charge of sending and storing your digital information. To protect this, cybersecurity focuses on safeguarding the data kept in those systems and often concentrates on infrastructure and digital data.
In general, physical and cyber dangers and hazards can leave cyberspace and its infrastructure open to many problems. Additionally, as information technology and physical infrastructure operations grow more entwined, there is an increased risk for large-scale or highly consequential incidents that might disrupt or cause harm to the services that support our economy and the everyday lives of millions of people.
That is where the demand for the skill rises, and people are more attracted to this sector, wondering where to learn cyber security.
The discipline of computer science and information technology grew increasingly complicated throughout time and was able to process a greater volume of data. It caused the need for IT talents to increase at an unprecedented rate in recent years. Many individuals want to know where to learn cyber security since it is simple to enter the field without a college degree and gives chances in every area.
Because there is a need for IT professionals to assist others in keeping up with security protocols and technological advancements, no matter where you begin your career in IT or in what capacity, there are a seemingly endless number of options for professional advancement at present.
Here are some statistics for anyone considering this profession to put things into perspective. In the later section of the post, I will further elaborate on it.
The number of experts employed in the cybersecurity sector had previously got projected to reach over one million in the United States by the year 2020. However, the number of open cybersecurity posts increased by 350%, from one million in 2013 to 3.5 million in 2021. The gap would also exist globally, with almost 3.12 million open positions.
Even though there is a demand, obstacles frequently arise due to a lack of appropriate abilities. There is information that you should be aware of regarding what employers will value. Because you’ll need the recognized credentials or certifications to clear your path, receiving anything for free is not always feasible or better.
I’m not arguing that free things are bad, but it’s sometimes challenging to obtain top-notch cyber security training for nothing, and the same goes for credentials. Because several streams are available, many individuals can achieve the same objective of becoming cyber security specialists. So let’s go right in.
Even though many entry-level cyber security positions don’t call for a bachelor’s degree in the discipline itself, I highly suggest getting a degree if you have the time or ability. The most specialized positions demand at least a bachelor’s degree and, in certain circumstances, a master’s degree. It is often the first step if you want to go into cyber security in an organized fashion.
Even though age is simply a number if you are in your early 20s or younger and your situation allows you to obtain a degree, go for it. All of the efforts will get repaid in the long turn. Because of the valuable ideas and information included in creating these degrees, you may move on to more practical topics.
So, you must be wondering what degree you may want to get in.
Several degrees get explicitly developed with the label “Cyber Security.” Still, the four-year bachelor’s degree in cyber security or a related discipline, like information technology or computer science, is what you should primarily be searching for. The cyber security degree is problematic because it doesn’t have many coding components that businesses want to see, and you will experience some little coding, but nothing too strenuous.
Most of a cyber security degree teaches you how cryptography functions, what ciphers get used and when, and how to apply them. Companies, however, care that you can code them into existence. Therefore, it isn’t easy to find employment without coding expertise. Aim for a degree similar to computer science rather than entering that field. Even Mrten Mickos, CEO of HackerOne, recommended this one and underlined that having a degree won’t harm.
Most cybersecurity professionals begin in the cyber security area with a bachelor’s degree, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Even still, 86% of well-educated workers worldwide in this field have a bachelor’s degree or more, according to an ISC2 poll.
According to many experts, those with stronger technical backgrounds—those with 46% of computer science degrees in hand. It gets followed by those with 18% engineering degrees and 8% business backgrounds in the field of cyber security.
Remember that earning a degree has a price. The price I refer to includes many years of arduous labor and money because you might need to work and study simultaneously.
The cyber security degree is regarded as useless by many specialists in the field because it teaches you nothing immediately applicable to current events and is, as I mentioned before, quite rudimentary. Additionally, 88% of job postings for cybersecurity positions state that the applicant must have a bachelor’s degree or above and that they must have at least three years of experience.
Therefore, even if you have a degree, employers are more interested in experience, which is why some people are hesitant to pursue a degree.
I’ll now go through the second route you may follow to start a career in cyber security. To gain that experience, you can immediately move on to acquiring various courses and certifications and landing an entry-level job. It is essential because some universities let students convert their credentials and work experience into credit hours.
Having several respectable qualifications and solid experience is like earning a bachelor’s degree in less than four years.
Therefore, consider yourself a highly driven and self-directed student if you lack a degree. By studying independently, you can significantly improve your technical abilities. Consequently, you must be familiar with the following competencies to obtain an entry-level position in cyber security.
One needs to be familiar with networking to properly operate firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and cloud security.
Should be familiar with several fundamental programming languages, such as C, C++, C#, PHP, Perl, Java, and Shell, as well as operating systems (Windows, Linux, VM, etc.).
After that, you can use ethical hacking to Include all the practical guidance.
Numerous publications, courses, and other tools are available to aid in the development of cybersecurity skills.
Even if you don’t have a technical background, this book gives you a simple understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals. It might also help you begin your path to becoming an ethical hacker, a rapidly expanding and in-demand profession.
Anyone who wishes to keep up with cybersecurity terminology or baffle others with their knowledge will find this book to be a helpful companion.
Although many people identify as hackers, very few possess the solid technical background required to push the limit effectively. This book’s author, Jon Erickson, shows how obscure hacking techniques function rather than just demonstrating how to use already available flaws.
Everything that you need to learn about hacking, including its origins, kinds, and recommended security precautions, will be covered in this book.
The technical programs will assist you in enabling you to gain a rapidly digitalized environment and cyber context and to become more resilient.
The International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants, a US-based organization, offers cybersecurity certification. You may achieve market readiness skills with the help of the EC-cybersecurity Council’s courses. Your edge over the competition will come from your cybersecurity qualifications from EC-Council
Bootcamps can be beginning or advanced and get incredibly focused on the skills required to operate in the cybersecurity profession. It is also perfect for IT specialists who wish to transition into the more specialized cybersecurity field. The price to enroll in a cybersecurity boot camp varies according to the program’s location, standing, duration, and mode of delivery. Through immersive learning environments and a flexible curriculum, AUS Bootcamp will teach you the technical skills required to succeed in the cybersecurity industry.
There are numerous online courses to choose from, but you should focus on affordable ones that don’t require any prior cybersecurity experience. After completing it, you should gain helpful knowledge and receive a certification. To get you started, check out some of the course material below.
You will be introduced to the area of cybersecurity through this professional certificate program as you learn about its landscape, diverse industries, and various roles, competencies, and career routes—a good choice for individuals seeking a course with university accreditation.
You will acquire cutting-edge practical skills in thwarting all online dangers, which will ultimately lead to the start of a career in cyber security. Become an expert in cyber security.
The cybersecurity specialization covers the fundamental ideas that underlie the creation of safe systems. Successful participants will adopt a security-focused thinking method to build defenses against them.
You may have unrestricted access to a growing collection of Cyber Security courses created and instructed by professionals by becoming a StationX VIP member.
These are some of the best I’m aware of, and you may further investigate the sector using Google, Udemy, and Coursera. You can also find a ton of free cybersecurity material online, and your list of options will grow.
Through 2027, the market for cyber security gets anticipated to grow at a compound annual rate of 10%. Therefore, earning a degree, attending boot camps, or taking classes won’t help you land a job. You will need much more to compete with today’s applicants for your desired employment. A certification is a means to show that you get dedicated to being exceptionally professional, maintaining industry standards, and continuing your education.
According to an (ISC)2 survey, businesses in the US demanded certification from 70% of the cybersecurity experts polled. As a result, almost 50% of cybersecurity professionals are either presently obtaining qualifications or plan to do so within the next six months.
A separate certification matches your career, depending on your interests. It benefits you in addition to Cybersecurity certifications influencing the whole firm, not just on special teams. Employers spend 88% of their budgets on employee certification and training, and some businesses can assist pay for your certificate. So, it’s usually a good idea to inquire beforehand.
There are three types of cyber security certifications: professional with a technological background, professional for industry-specific, and academic—some of the certificates for markets that require them to get listed below.
It is advisable to obtain the industry-specific certificates provided by reputable organizations, as they will assist you much and may significantly advance your career. Some of your alternatives get shown below.
They provide an independent information security certification called CISSP, or Certified Information Systems Security Professional, held by 38% of the industry’s professionals, the highest percentage of any credential. The organization that created the prestigious CISSP certification is the International Information System Security Certification Consortium.
The CISSP is not a certification for amateurs but get intended for seasoned, accomplished cybersecurity professionals. Keep in mind that (ISC)@ is renowned for this certification. But in addition to this, they also provide various qualifications, which you may choose from using their pathfinder tool.
Some of the most well-known IT certifications available are those from CompTIA. At the same time, CompTIA Security+ is a worldwide certification that verifies the fundamental abilities required to carry out essential security tasks and pursue a career in IT security. Unless you have taken lessons in IT security or have prior experience working in such a position, you do not skip. Currently, 11% of security experts worldwide possess this certification
The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) program offered a thorough grasp of ethical hacking and got designed with a practical setting and systematic steps. You will be able to demonstrate the knowledge and abilities needed to get the certificate and carry out the duties of an ethical hacker. Individuals must finish an official CEH training course provided by EC-Council to take the CEH. Those wishing to take the CEH test without formal training must have two years of experience, and 6% of experts in the field have completed or attained this certification.
Network security is thoroughly covered, theoretically explained, and practically introduced in CCNA Security. Additionally, a CCNA Security certification shows the ability to identify network risks and vulnerabilities, build a security architecture, and mitigate security threats. Certified experts are adept at securing data and devices with Cisco hardware and software.
Academic certification programs are excellent choices for individuals who may have previously earned a degree in a similar discipline. These credentials get intended for college students who wish to learn more about preparing for a career in cybersecurity.
The management of cyber risks is becoming an essential part of corporate operations. It aids in your comprehension of how to create a tailored mitigation strategy for your business’s networks, systems, and data to defend against cyberattacks successfully. The proper legal and compliance processes for reporting and combating cyberattacks get also included. It is an 8-week course that lasts 8–11 hours each week.
Today, a cybercrime epidemic has sparked a cry to arms for cybersecurity, but there are still far too few people to meet the rising need. These statistics from the cyber security industry are fascinating.
There is a record-high demand for cybersecurity professionals, and businesses are scrambling to fill more than 700K open positions. The need for cybersecurity experts has been rising quickly.
Information security jobs get expected to expand at a pace of 37% between 2012 and 2022. And it is much faster than the average of all other occupations.
By this twenty-first century, technological advances had already altered the globe thanks to the accessibility of various internet services. The majority of our vital systems nowadays are connected and powered by computers. Information technology (IT) is the practice of creating, processing, storing, protecting, and exchanging various types of electronic data via computer architecture and procedures.
Instead of being utilized for personal or leisure purposes, it gets frequently employed in the context of commercial processes. But over time, several tech and services inside an economy have been linked to information technology.
The nation’s security, economics, and public health and safety are now critically dependent on the information technology sector’s ability to perform its tasks. IT still encompasses a wide range of academic fields.
To operate anything in IT, you must guarantee the system’s stability, integrity, and data privacy. As a result, information technologies are becoming more and more critical in our environment. Therefore, we must protect all data, which is where information technology and cyber security come into play. So, the security discipline in Information technology focuses on safeguarding computer systems and preventing illegal access to, modifications to, or usage of electronic data.
Today, I have spoken about cyber security out of all the security disciplines in information technology. Therefore, if you are now considering a career in cyber security, now is the perfect time to start along the proper route by following the advice in the above guide because now you know where to learn cyber security.
What a cybersecurity expert performs is subject to several interpretations. But the rising significance of a more diverse range of technical and non-technical abilities highlights that modern cybersecurity responsibilities are multi-faceted.
So, people interested in cybersecurity employment shouldn’t rely on a long list of technical abilities, degrees, and certificates to be evaluated, which is an essential lesson for job searchers and managers. Businesses are interested in other functional, non-technical skills that may come with your learning and understanding.
Ultimately, the most effective strategy for studying cybersecurity relies on your background knowledge, learning characteristics, and commitment to the subject. So by now, you should be aware of the best practices to concentrate on and where to learn cyber security
Dave Miller is an IT Consultant for Online Cloud Security and has over 7 years of experience in the Information Technology space. He also specializes in repairing laptops & computers. In his spare time, he loves to talk about new technologies and hosts monthly IT and Cyber Security meetings in the Houston area.
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Online Cloud Security is here to recommend you the most secure devices, from laptops to smartphones, we only want to provide you with products that we have tested and used ourselves for online security. Every product that we recommend is heavily inspected and tested for security against hackers, viruses, malware, and any other intruders that may want to steal your information.
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