Cyber Security Training – A University Degree, Online Courses, or Self-Taught IT Skills Can Help You Get a Lucrative Career in Cyber Security
Cyber Security training – Formal training at a university, online courses, or self-taught IT and reporting skills can help you get a lucrative career in cyber security. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics median salary starts at least $82,000 USD. Cyber security training can also get you to a career that is future proof. Information security jobs are projected to grow at a rate of 37 percent, which is faster than average for all other occupations tracked by US DOL.
The DOL jobs report from estimates that 3.5 million cyber security jobs will go unfilled by 2024. Opportunities for all skill levels -from entry level analysts all the way up to senior level -exists. Many government cyber security jobs are available for US Military Veterans who receive preferential application status. There is a huge gap between and available jobs, and not enough skilled professionals to fill them.
Defense against common scammers, skilled hackers, and professional nation-state sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT0 groups requires an army of trained cyber security professionals to secure corporate networks and government agencies. There is no business or organization on the planet that is immune to cyber threats.
A trained Internet Technology (IT) department ensures that online transactions — reading email, shopping online, accessing corporate servers – are completed securely and quietly in the background.
Cyber security training for beginners can get you right into a good paying job as a cyber security analyst. Not a lot of computer skills are needed to start, as this is mainly a job that involves interpreting data and reporting.
There are many cyber security classes that lead to other more advanced positions as a security architect, network security engineer, cryptographer, or forensics consultant. These classes can begin your training and experience that land you the coveted Chief information security officer (CISO) position.
Multiple Career Paths
Private companies are not the only career path to use your cyber security training. White hat hackers make money through bug bounty programs and hacking competitions. They use their training to find security flaws in existing software, hardware, and IT systems. These hackers work at the request of various companies that want to make sure they have the highest security possible.
There are many careers you can opt for to get started. These include cybersecurity manager, IT security analyst, network security engineer, cybersecurity analyst, security architect, and of course the coveted Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).
The Current State of Cyber Security Training
Cyber Security Training can certainly begin with a four-year engineering degree in computer programming, network engineering, systems engineering, or software engineering. If you want more of an analyst role, you can get a masters in MIS. However, a university degree is not the only way to get cyber security training that leads to a lucrative and stable career. Online training certifications, attending security conferences, and practicing at home can help you land a highly paid cyber security role. Some of the skills you need may be available for free at or for very low cost, especially if the training courses are online.
Cyber Security Training – Getting Started
Many ethical hackers and corporate cyber security professionals do not possess a formal university degree. Formal degree or not, cyber security requires a dedicated effort to study, practice hands-on, and to stay abreast of new cyber threats.
Courses for beginners can help you determine if a career in cyber security is for you. There are a number of ways a professional can improve skills, increase qualifications, and earn a higher salary. Certifications, vendor-sponsored training, seminars, conferences, and professional organizations all offer valuable training. Introductory classes can give abroad overview of cyber security and help you determine which career path is your ultimate goal.
Typical Cyber Security Job Titles
- Cyber Security Analyst – A position as a Cyber Security Analyst is a typical starting point for someone who is low on computer programming skills. They are big picture thinkers who construct roadmaps for implementation and team communications. The Analyst may define annual and long-term goals and accomplishments for the cyber security organization.
- Customer Information Cyber Security Analyst – This type of analyst is a primary source for customer security questions. They may act as the customers’ voice for secure business practices. This is also more of a business role rather than programmer or system administrator role, but still has excellent compensation
- Sr. Information Security Analyst – security testing, analysis, and architectural design of for networks, operating systems, applications, databases
- Penetration Testing – The Penetration Tester may work corporate or may work as a consultant for clients. They test for security vulnerabilities and implement effective cybersecurity programs that protect against cyberthreats.
- Network Vulnerability and Threat Monitoring – This job requires computer and network skills. This person is responsible for Network Vulnerability and Threat Monitoring programs and solutions. The Senior Analyst is also responsible for engineering, deploying, operating, maintaining, demonstrating, and training.
A Hands-On Learning Process
The process of constantly updating yourself with advanced technologies, protocols, security trends, vulnerabilities, and threat intelligence is a daunting task. But it is crucial to safeguard data, systems, software, intellectual property, trade secrets and other assets from cybercriminals and malicious actors, which take many forms including ransomware, malware, social engineering, crypto-mining, and phishing attacks.
On the one hand, traditional degrees in software engineering are well respected; it is not just about these degrees alone. Certifications and hands-on training are also crucial to develop the right skills. Participating in hackathons and bug bounty programs come in very handy
Cyber Security Training Is Respected
While system administrators with computer science degrees are already the job market, they did not necessarily begin their education with cyber security in mind. The average computer programmer is just that, a programmer, not a cyber security expert. Online cyber security courses
for those who lack formal degrees helps fill that skill set gap.
Why Are Credentials Important for a Cyber Security Career?
Although a formal degree is not necessary, credentials and certifications are still an important part of cyber security training. Credentialing is the process of vetting the qualification of licensed professionals, organizational members, and evaluating their background and legitimacy.
Michelle writes about cyber security, data privacy focusing on social media privacy as well as how to protect your IoT devices. She has worked in internet technology for over 20 years and owns METRONY, LLC. Michelle earned a B.S. in Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Michelle published a guide to Cyber Security for Business Travelers
