The 2023 ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study revealed that demand for cybersecurity professionals is still outpacing the supply. The report highlighted the record-breaking gap of 4 million cybersecurity professionals. What an opportunistic environment it is currently for aspiring individuals venturing into the field of cybersecurity!
With everything in their favour, all that is required is the right guidance. While the perfect one is challenging to find, customised guidance is readily available and worth seeking. Before kicking off this journey, acquaint yourself with the essential steps to a successful cybersecurity career.
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Do’s Before Beginning To Learn Cyber Security
Before beginning your journey to cyber security, take a moment for self-reflection. Clarifying certain aspects with yourself is essential to charting a clear direction for your career. Here is what you need to know about yourself:
What Are My Requirements?
It includes finding your motivation and the need to learn cyber security. It helps you gain clarity on which specific field you wish to aim for and what will be your primary focus during the learning journey. It will help you find the ultimate aim to relate your knowledge and skills to.
Where Do I Currently Stand?
Here, you will assess your current knowledge and skill set. It will help you select the appropriate cybersecurity course for you that fills your current skill gap. You will also come across your strengths and weaknesses of the topic.
How Will I Learn?
It will include finding your preferred mode of learning. The online mode is better suited for studying and working candidates. Choose a quality platform that offers you an online cybersecurity course along with hands-on experience through projects.
Where to Start Learning CyberSecurity
Beginning the journey requires a structured approach. While you may opt for self-education or a cybersecurity course online, the learning trajectory should begin and go forward as follows:
- Basics
The prime requirement is to learn the basics. It will include cyber security fundamentals, cryptography, software skills, programming languages, data, networks, and similar aspects. The ultimate aim is to learn what will form the base of further knowledge.
- Get Familiar with Technical Aspects
Candidates aspiring for a career in cybersecurity are strongly favoured when equipped with comprehensive technical knowledge and skills. It will include learning and working on different operating systems, computer networks, web applications and their security, other security frameworks, and critical aspects.
While there are different freely available resources, the common issue is the lack of structure. Researching for background data, connecting the different topics, and the exact sequence important to grasp the concepts and overall knowledge is challenging. Additionally, the absence of market demand-based information consumes valuable time. Hence, enrolling in a cybersecurity course with professional guidance is crucial for obtaining clear direction and proficiency.
- Practice
While possessing a foundational understanding of tools, technologies, and methodologies is crucial, real-life validation often hinges on practical, hands-on experience. Companies require reliable individuals who can actually deal with data and associated concepts. Project-based practice and experience in working on the tools while implementing the required techniques are what you should aim for. While it can also be done individually, a cybersecurity course online allows a better-structured approach.
- Explore
With conceptual and basic clarity and decent knowledge about the field, the candidates are at the right stage to make decisions. They can now begin to choose their specialisation, such as application security, research, penetration testing, information security, and network security, among others. Leverage the power of cybersecurity news and blogs, books, and engagement via the online community to make an informed choice.
- Earn Certifications
A credible proof of your knowledge, skills, and experience is a prerequisite when seeking a job at any post. Certifications like CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Network+, ISC2, CISSP, and others add value to your profile. Further, the dynamic nature of the field also requires upgrading yourself to keep the certifications valid.
Tips to Begin Cyber Security Career
Besides the above stated actions to take to begin a successful cybersecurity career, here are some additional tips to consider:
- Create a cyber range to simulate different cybersecurity scenarios
- Engage in bug bounty programs of organisations and companies
- Get involved in open-source cyber security projects
- Work on reverse engineering of the malicious software
- Practise social engineering techniques such as pretexting, tailgating, and phishing with caution to not cause harm
Benefits of a Career in Cyber Security
Besides serving as an aid for humanity and earning moral satisfaction, a career in cyber security is professionally and monetarily beneficial. Here’s how:
- High demands for skilled candidates: As the rate of innovative hacking methods and breakthroughs into devices increases, companies face higher expenses. Hence, job opportunities further increase the chances of absorption into both private and government services.
- Variety of options: The candidates can choose the field of specialisation and industry that suits them.
- Obtain any position: You can secure positions in various roles. If you have the skill set, knowledge, or interest in other types of positions, there is much more awaiting you in the field. You can secure positions like project manager, security manager, record manager, chief information officer, and others.
- Greater salary: The field is competitive, and hence, so is the salary. The average cyber security analyst salary in India is around INR 5.5 lakhs per annum, with an additional cash compensation being INR 50,000.
- Growth opportunity: We refer to all types of growth: professional, personal, financial, and mindset. With the newer opportunities, challenges, responsibilities, and solutions in this dynamic field, you will develop as a critical thinker and observer.
Conclusion
Learning cyber security in the current demanding era will play a significant role in your career. However, the right direction and technique are critical to achieving excellence. Further, practice and exposure are critical to becoming job-ready in the extremely competitive world.
Experts recommend saving time and gaining updated information about the market. It is possible either through working in the scenario or by connecting with seasoned professionals who have accumulated valuable insights. A cybersecurity course online emerges as a perfect fit for individuals seeking comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in this dynamic and evolving field.
