Cybersecurity Means Job Security 

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), and this week’s theme is “Millions of Rewarding Jobs: Educating for a Career in Cybersecurity.” Cybersecurity is an exciting and booming field currently experiencing a talent shortage. It’s estimated that by 2021, there will be 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings, and in a field maintaining a 0% unemployment rate, the reality is that cybersecurity jobs aren’t all hyper-technical. This NCSAM, we wanted to inspire some thinking around careers through the lens of multiple layers of defense: Foundation, Culture, and Technology.

Foundation: Policies, Procedures, and Planning

Setting the foundation for cybersecurity is a crucial job at any organization. Information Security Analysts plan and implement the company’s cyber-defense system and respond if there is an incident. If the executive suite calls your name, large companies frequently employ a Chief Information Security Officer. And there are many other positions that combine security knowledge with business and leadership talent, including around cybersecurity assessments and auditing.

Hacking more your style? Certified Ethical Hackers attempt to break into a company’s network and systems like a cybercriminal might, reporting back on findings and any weaknesses. Components of ethical hacking are tech-heavy, but there are also jobs for social engineers who employ non-technical measures to test people and systems.

Culture: Education and Prioritization

It’s everyone’s responsibility to keep the Internet safe, and that means increasing awareness through education, training, and testing. In business, we look to business leaders, cybersecurity consultants, and even human resources. In the classroom, it’s our teachers and administrators.

And then there’s creating the educational materials and spreading the message. Jobs in sales and support, marketing and design, and other crucial positions make it possible for cybersecurity companies like Defendify to keep individuals and other organizations safe.

Technology: Systems, Devices, and Safety

Of course, there are plenty of technical opportunities within security. Programmers, architects, and engineers are crucial in developing and testing cyber-safe applications and IoT devices. IT professionals, systems integrators, and network administrators also take on various technical components of cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity Needs You

Just like we need police officers and doctors to keep us safe and healthy, we need cybersecurity professionals to defend businesses, governments, and individuals from cyberattacks.

The good news is, there are tons of resources out there for anyone interested in a cybersecurity career:

Career shift and ongoing education

• SANS tips on getting started in cybersecurity with a non-technical background
• Cybrary and CompTIA have free training resources for technical and non-technical skills

College students

• CybersecurityEducation.org and CybersecurityDegrees.com have a wealth of information on college programs, degrees, certifications, and more
• Many great scholarships are available

Getting kids excited about cybersecurity

• The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies offers educational resources for teachers
• Programs, games, and camps for children are everywhere (Check out the new Girl Scouts cybersecurity badge!)

Whether you’re still in school, seeking a change, or returning to the workforce, why not consider a career in Cybersecurity? It’s a rewarding and meaningful industry with almost unlimited opportunities!

Stay Safe,

Your Friends @ Defendify