The global cyber security workforce has to expand by 145% to satisfy the accelerating demand for skilled cyber security talent. It shows that organizations find it tough to keep pace with the increasing need for cyber talent. Cyber threats continue to grow in sophistication. In this situation, organizations encounter a persistent challenge in hiring experienced cyber security specialists capable of protecting their assets against the threat of malicious actors. In this blog post, we explore the demand for cyber security jobs and why choose cyber security as a career.

Demand for cyber security jobs

The cyber security challenges don’t show any sign of slowing, either for governments or businesses. The growing number of cyberattacks has been driving the demand up for qualified cyber security specialists to help defend organizations and businesses. Given the increasing demand, it becomes difficult for organizations to find the needed cyber security talent to perform an efficient security strategy.

According to Cybersecurity Workforce Study by (ISC)², 65% of organizations involved in the study had a shortage of staff dedicated to cyber security. Moreover, 51% of cyber security professionals mention their organization is at moderate danger because of the cyber security workforce shortage. This number proves that the cyber security workforce is in deficit. Additionally, the lack of personnel intensifies the already difficult task of handling cybersecurity risks.

How do I know if cyber security is for me?

How do you choose a career that is right for you? If you have no idea what you would like to do, the task of choosing the right career may seem daunting. But we believe that figuring out what you love should not be that difficult. There are a number of points you have to take into account to know if cyber security is really for you. Many people actually end up choosing the wrong careers due to a lack of proper direction. You must not be one of them. We provide 3 unique tips below that you can follow to pick up the right career and remain happy for the rest of your life.

STEP 1: Assess your interests

It’s important to get to know yourself. We believe that understanding your interests is the first step toward choosing the right career path. It’s no secret that your values, as well as skills, change throughout your life. Thus, you have to repeat this process as you grow.

Your interests are reflected in your affinities. Discovering your interests usually assists you to concentrate on what pursuits keep you engaged. So, at this point, you may naturally wonder how your interests associate with the career options you are contemplating. For example, if you think you have an analytical mind and frame yourself as investigative, it would make sense to explore fields in cyber security. A successful cyber security applicant is always curious and analytical.

If you’re clear about your interests and know what you enjoy doing, you can research different cyber security jobs that are possible to satisfy your unique interests. Then you’ll be in a position to distinguish a suitable direction and more importantly, make effective decisions that will lead you to where you want to be.

STEP 2: Learn about the career outlook

Cyber security is a broad field that presents numerous job opportunities. For instance:

• ICT Security Expert
• Information Security Analyst
• Security Administrator
• Cyber Security Researcher
• Penetration Tester
• Threat Intelligence Officer
• Security Architect
• Digital Forensics Analyst
• Information Security Officer

The dynamic nature of cyber security is challenging, compounded by work positions varying among organizations, and even departments within. With the constantly changing nature of the industry, career pathways and also required training should be evaluated regularly.

So when you decide to choose a career in cyber security, you must ensure that you thoroughly review the different job roles that this sector offers. We understand that it’s a tough decision, but almost everyone experiences this. Life is a journey, and carefully identifying your purpose will definitely give you direction.

STEP 3: Seek advice from other people

You never take your journey through life alone. Instead, your teachers, friends, family members, and colleagues can all be willing to assist you in taking the next steps on this journey. Talking to experts in the security field can be an essential tool in your cyber security career research. Most people really enjoy helping others choose a meaningful career.

Some people are indeed reticent to seek advice for concern of appearing incompetent. However, seeking advice from experts is an important part of the process. This is particularly crucial during the early stages of your cyber security career. The people you know or you reach out to can potentially help you understand if cyber security is the right career for you.

Lastly, finding a career that satisfies you is a process that includes thinking deeply about your interests, and taking the time to examine your career ideas. There are many cyber security career paths available to you. Now we assume that you know whether cyber security is for you.

What is a career in cyber security like?

There is nothing monotonous about a career in cyber security! The industry is highly dynamic, and jobs that hadn’t been imagined several years ago are now created with many opportunities.

So what does the work in cyber security really involve? The answer largely depends on the environment in which the cyber security expert works. For example, Information Security Analysts detect vulnerabilities and weaknesses on local networks. They are responsible for formulating and executing IT security systems to protect the organization’s computer networks from cyberattacks. Information Security Analysts must be aware of all the advanced and latest threats on the internet and use their knowledge of hacking to help secure the organization from bad actors.

Another interesting and rewarding career in cyber security is penetration testing or pentesting. Penetration testing entails simulating real attacks to evaluate the risk associated with potential security breaches. The objective of penetration testing is to ascertain how a malicious user can obtain unauthorized access to assets that affect the security of the system.

Pentesting is primarily ethical hacking. Pentesters may work in a team environment to establish new tests simulating cyber crimes. They try to break into or discover possible exploits in different computer systems. In order to learn more about cyber security job skills, check our previous infographic on TOP Cyber Security Skills.

Top three reasons why you should consider a career in cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Ventures projected that cybercrime damages are going to cost the world €5.4 trillion yearly by 2021, up from nearly €2.7 trillion in 2015. Given the numbers, cyber security can be seen as one of the most secure industries to be in. For that reason, we think there hasn’t been a better time to step into this sector. We are sharing three important reasons to choose cyber security as a career in 2020.

Excellent career development opportunities

Within any cyber security position, you can actually concentrate on numerous unique sides. For example, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Cloud Computing are only a few newer priorities in the cyber domain. Cyberattacks grow in complexity, so AI is supporting under-resourced security operations analysts to remain ahead of threats.

On the other hand, a job as a cyber security specialist isn’t limited to technology or computers. We think that one of the most neglected areas of cyber security is design. This basically entails innovative concepts of security mechanisms, creating new filtering schemes, crafting new security rules, designing the logic of access control, setting up the APIs, designing the user interface, and many more.

Ultimate growth potential

Nobody would say “no” to a career with high growth potential, right? Cyber security is an industry with a lot of promise and is a viable option. Although it has reached maturity, it’s constantly evolving and changing. In fact, cyber security has become a topmost priority for organizations as well as governments around the globe.

Because cyber security has an unpredictable nature, a career in this domain isn’t going to be static. Instead, you’ll be challenged on a day-to-day basis. The challenges bring along huge opportunities for growth. So if you get past those challenges, you’ll certainly be much competitive and eventually, reach your true potential.

Great job security

Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Alliance, Michael Kaiser, said: “The internet is growing faster than the growth of people to protect it.” The more today’s organizations are dependent upon computers, the more those organizations need cyber security professionals handling every aspect of their infrastructure. Interestingly, the experts in this sector are found at each level within an organization’s hierarchy. So are you searching for a meaningful career that isn’t going to die anytime soon? You may want to dig deeper into the flourishing cyber security domain.

Looking for cyber security training in Switzerland?

When you develop your knowledge and skills in cyber security, you’re more likely to boost your performance and enjoy every part of your work. Cyber security keeps on evolving, and even now there are many roles to choose from. We suggest you have a look at our Cyber Security Specialist training with Swiss Federal Diploma. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to protect existing systems, recognize security incidents, and manage them appropriately.