Become a Pro About Cyber Security

If you’ve been following our recent posts that tie in with National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), you might be thinking “there’s a lot to know about cybersecurity!”

Truth be told, there is. And it’s relevant to every type of business and organization, in every sector. It’s not surprising that there is strong demand for cybersecurity professionals. In fact, according to a study by the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, ‘the demand for cybersecurity workers will outpace supply, by 2022 North America will have 265K more cybersecurity jobs than skilled workers, a 20% increase over the forecast made in 2015.’*

So, in line with the week 4 theme of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, if you know a student or a business professional looking for a career change, let them know – The Internet wants YOU: Consider a career in cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity knowledge gives you an edge

To increase your knowledge, there are a few smart steps you can take towards making yourself more cybersecurity savvy.

• Take a course. Just because you don’t have experience as a computer systems analyst or network administrator doesn’t mean you can’t learn more, or contribute to your company’s cybersecurity. There are a wide variety of cybersecurity specific courses available across multiple formats and platforms (such as classroom, computer-based, and training videos). You can take them simply to educate yourself or to make a career leap, say from a database administrator to a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
• Get certified. As you strengthen your cybersecurity knowledge, you may want to move towards certification. CompTIA Security+ certification and (ISC)² System Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) are two entry-level certifications to consider. For CompTIA Security+ two years of IT administration with a security focus is recommended, not required. If you are moving towards a career change a (ISC)² SSCP certification requires a minimum of one year full-time work in one or more of the seven fields covered.
• Get Connected. Reach out and connect with people already working in the cybersecurity field to gain more exposure and knowledge. Consider joining one of the professional organizations focused on cybersecurity, such as ISACA or (ISC)². Attending local and national cyber security conventions such as OWASP will also help you gain insight. You can also look for online groups focused on cybersecurity, or LinkedIn groups including the Cyber Security Forum Initiative and Information Security Careers Network. We also recommend connecting with cybersecurity experts in your city to learn more about the issues your peers are dealing with.

A little education goes a long way. All of the above are great ways to increase your knowledge while making your company, yourself and your customers more cyber safe.

In next week’s blog, we will focus on things you can do to protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats. If you missed our previous National Cyber Security Awareness Month blogs, click the links below:

• Week 1 – The basics of staying safe online
• Week 2 – Cybersecurity in your workplace
• Week 3 – Smart use of smart devices

Have you registered yet with the Cyber Protection Program for security products? Register to receive security advisories and resources on topics related to your cybersecurity.

* Center for Cyber Safety and Education – 2017 Global Information Workforce Study Benchmarking Workforce Capacity and Response to Cyber Risk – A Frost & Sullivan Executive Briefing.

** CISSP, ISACA, (ISC)², SSCP are trademarked and owned by (ISC)² all rights reserved.

*** OWASP is trademarked and owned by the OWASP Foundation all rights reserved.