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There’s Never Been a Better Time to Join the Cybersecurity Workforce

By: Darek Hahn, Client Experience Operations Director at Cerberus Sentinel

The digital revolution has resulted in cybersecurity becoming one of the foremost concerns around the world, across companies and industries.  Not surprising, the cybersecurity job market is growing exponentially: the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs has increased from one million positions in 2013 to 3.5 million in 2021. Moreover, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects hiring for information security professionals to grow 35% from 2021 to 2031.

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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 industry compliance. This expansion of technology has resulted in greater demand for well-educated and highly-trained cybersecurity professionals. 

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digitization of even more industries and their workforces. This made remote work the norm and increased the reliance of cloud computing that both lessened physical overhead and decommissioned many on-premise technologies.  

Where There Are Endpoints, There Are Opportunities

We live in a world increasingly defined by the Internet of Things (IoT): a vast system of interrelated computing devices capable of transmitting data over networks, often without human interaction.  According to IoT Analytics, the number of active IoT device connections grew 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. And that’s quite a lot of endpoints.

For cybersecurity professionals, these endpoints represent potential vulnerabilities that malicious hackers can exploit.  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, having an post-secondary education, technical training, and experience sets you 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 the CompTIA 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 to Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for information security analysts was $102,600 in May 2021, and the outlook industrywide is favorable. 

Though a college degree isn’t necessary to obtain a job in cybersecurity, earning a 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 Tulsa can help prepare you for a successful career.

Fast-track programs such as Cybersecurity Bootcamps can 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.

Researching Training Programs and what it means to be part of the frontlines of Cybersecurity Culture are 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 can check out our Careers page for our current openings.