Cybercrime poses a massive threat in our increasingly digital world, and the more interconnected we become with more devices and applications, cybersecurity risks will only increase. This is leading to a surge in demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals.
If you want to build a career in cybersecurity, now is the ideal time to take the first step. This article will answer all your questions about the rising trends in the cybersecurity job market, the reasons to enter this field, and the top job profiles to target. We will also discuss the essential skills a future-ready online cybersecurity training will provide you with to facilitate your journey in this booming field.
The Rise in Cybersecurity
As of 2023, the number of cybersecurity professionals in the US alone was about 1.3 million. While the downturn of IT during the pandemic did not affect the cybersecurity positions, there is a marked disparity in the supply and demand of professionals. The national average supply-to-demand ratio in the US was only 72 percent, implying a substantial scope for aspiring cybersecurity professionals.
In fact, the cybersecurity job market is predicted to grow at a staggering rate of almost 32 percent. The number of cybersecurity job vacancies globally stood at an astounding 3.5 billion, with 755,743 of them in the US. This is indeed the golden time to join the cybersecurity workforce.
Also Read: Best Practices for Cybersecurity: A 2024 Guide
Why Build a Career in Cybersecurity?
Here are the top reasons to consider a career in cybersecurity.
Increased Digitalization
Previously, crimes were restricted to physically stealing important paper-based documents. But digitalization has made a massive amount of data available to cybercriminals at the click of a button.
Therefore, organizations seek to recruit individuals who can handle the existing threats and plan for future risks. If you have the foresight to identify the security gaps in digital infrastructure, becoming a part of the 5.45 million global cybersecurity workforce is the path to follow.
Legal Compliance
Almost 52 percent of the legal and compliance experts interviewed by Gartner expressed deep concern about third-party cybersecurity risks. As such, governments worldwide have stepped in and passed regulations and laws for data privacy and safety.
With organizations extending their operations to every nook and corner of the world, several laws have been enacted to prevent sensitive information from crossing borders unless absolutely necessary.
Hence, companies need professionals who are steeped in cybersecurity laws and can optimize their digital operations to comply with local and national regulations.
Work Opportunities with Industry Leaders
While cybersecurity is relevant for all businesses, multinational companies, such as JP Morgan, Deloitte, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, and Juniper, require many cybersecurity experts. Here’s a quick snapshot of the current cybersecurity jobs available at these companies as of January 2024:
- Deloitte: 163
- Microsoft: 2,084
- IBM: 1,793
Their operations will give you wide exposure, and you will be able to apply and enhance your skills rapidly.
Excellent Pay Package and Career Growth
The scope of cybersecurity is growing beyond traditional roles. While previously, this work was restricted to the IT department, today, there are focus groups employed solely for optimizing cybersecurity for businesses. Every specialized position merits a six-figure salary, with the annual average across the roles being $113,363. Expertise in a particular field, such as website security or data privacy, can significantly boost your career. Further, there is always the option of self-employment as a consultant after gaining enough experience.
Ever-evolving Field with Transferable Skills
The cost of cybercrimes is estimated to grow to $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. Every new development in the digital field attracts novel risks and threats. As a cybersecurity professional, you can build on your skills to face the challenges in all fields, including healthcare, manufacturing, oil and gas, utilities, or marketing. Every field has its unique risks of data breach and security lapses and requires individuals who can navigate the complex loops of functionality and compliance.
With this in mind, let us explore the top roles and paths you can choose from in your journey through the cybersecurity maze.
Also Read: How To Get Into Cybersecurity in 2024? A Complete Guide
Top Careers in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity has multiple areas of operation, such as software development, networking, systems engineering, financial and risk analysis, security intelligence, and IT support. Each area has three levels—entry, mid, and advanced. For a quick reference, here’s a list of some of the top job profiles in demand today:
Incident and Intrusion Analyst
This is an entry-level position where the incident and intrusion analyst is responsible for detecting any breaches occurring during the company’s daily operations. They assess the incident, track the systemic issues leading to the incident, and report the analysis for further action. They must think on their toes to catch the breach the moment it occurs and put the immediate response into action to stop its progress.
Average annual salary: $102,256
Cybersecurity Analyst
A cybersecurity analyst evaluates the condition and identifies the flaws in cybersecurity infrastructure. They assess the system for potential risks and explore the measures required to prevent malicious attacks. This is a mid-level role requiring problem-identification and -solving skills. The analyst should have a deep understanding of the scope of the existing crimes and a foresight to analyze for future issues.
Average annual salary: $105,278
Cybersecurity Engineer
A cybersecurity engineer assembles the infrastructure and systems required to optimize a firm’s cybersecurity measures. They are responsible for exploring tools and software that can enhance the security of the data in the organization. They create and implement the organization’s protocols, standards, plans, emergency strategies, and best practices. This is an advanced-level role.
Average annual salary: $150,173
Penetration and Vulnerability Tester
A penetration and vulnerability tester plays a crucial role in evaluating the operations of a business. They execute procedures that test the limits of cybersecurity measures. They assess how difficult it is to penetrate the networks, access the data, and shut down the digital operations. They are up to date with the types of malicious attacks. They also reverse-engineer the spam and malware to understand the root and evaluate the code for security gaps. This mid-level position reports to the top management and has an excellent scope for growth.
Average annual salary: $134,885
There are multiple ways to advance in your cybersecurity career. For example, you can start as a cybercrime analyst and then grow to become a cybersecurity analyst, cybersecurity manager, or chief information security officer. If you choose to become an IT Auditor, the next steps may include penetration testing, cybersecurity engineering, management, and cybersecurity consulting.
Regardless of the beginning, the cybersecurity sector has a lot to offer.
Essential Cybersecurity Skills
As a cybersecurity professional, you must have a basic skill set and be open to gaining newer skills. Here are a few skills every cybersecurity aspirant should possess:
- Exceptional problem-solving, threat-hunting, and penetration testing
- Expertise in operating systems and virtual machines
- Knowledgeable about networking and system administration
- Proficient in coding using programming languages such as Python, Java, PHP, C++, HTML, and SQL
- Conversant with network security control
- Familiar with intrusion detection and incident response
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Capable of risk assessment and management
- Expertise in DevOps and threat knowledge
- Knowledge about cybersecurity laws and regulatory compliance
- Exceptional communication skills
Further, the technical skills sought after by any organization keep evolving with time. In 2023, almost 49 percent of individuals hailed identity access management (IAM) and cloud computing as desirable cybersecurity skills. Nearly 32 percent of the respondents claimed that the primary skill gaps observed in their teams were an understanding of AI and machine learning.
With these stats in mind, here’s a list of technical skills you should consider to progress in the cybersecurity sector:
- AI
- Machine learning
- Cloud computing
- Zero Trust implementation
- Blockchain
- Internet of Things (IoT)
The hallmark of an exceptional cybersecurity professional is the desire to keep learning. An all-encompassing cybersecurity program flames the fire of knowledge and helps you hone the most sought-after skills!
Also Read: Cybersecurity Job Description: A Complete Guide
How to Build a Career in Cybersecurity
Now that we have established the broad scope of the cybersecurity industry, let’s go through the steps you can take to join this massive workforce:
- Choose the proper education
While most job descriptions require you to have an undergraduate degree, cybersecurity goes beyond traditional education. You can study cybersecurity via online cybersecurity bootcamps and varied resources for self-learning. You can go for certifications for specific systems administration, auditing, and network security roles.
- Explore internships
All organizations require some industry experience, regardless of the duration. Several companies offer short internships, where you will work on small projects and apply your knowledge and skills. You will understand how the industry works and can choose the correct career path.
- Connect with peers online
While you are working towards your degree or certification, grow your online presence with an active LinkedIn profile. Connect with your peers and industry leaders to grow your global network.
- Compile a portfolio
Work on many projects and build a collection showcasing your skills. Ensure there is a variety in the project types and industries so that you can demonstrate the transferability of your skills to a wide range of situations and sectors.
- Apply for appropriate positions
Explore and research the job vacancies and begin applying. Ensure that you customize your CV to match the skill requirements given in the job description. Go through the company career pages and the job sites to find the ones most suitable for you.
Learn Skills to Boost Your Career in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity has come to the fore, and this is just the beginning. As an aspiring cybersecurity professional, you are at a crossroads where each turn can take you to a whole new area of cybersecurity. As you embark on this journey, you must have all the skills and tools to make the right decision.
This comprehensive cybersecurity bootcamp is carefully designed to provide you with knowledge about the confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) triad, virtualization technologies, and evolving security problems. Our subject matter experts are industry leaders with years of experience. Learn critical skills, work on industry projects, and fast-track your career by enrolling today.
You might also like to read:
How to Build and Implement Cybersecurity Skills
How to Become a Cybersecurity Engineer? A Complete Guide
How to Become an Ethical Hacker: A Complete Guide
