What is the Eligibility for Cyber Security?

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you listen to the term Cyber Security?

Your Facebook account hacked!

Your Instagram id was used by someone else. Someone was asking for money from your friends and relatives by using your fake id.

There is an endless list of these kinds of instances that have happened with almost every one of us.

This makes cybersecurity very crucial. This is just at the personal level. What happens to a company when it faces such an attack. The cyberattacks cost so much that a company takes very long to overcome the loss that happened to its assets as well as its hard-earned reputation among its customers.

Organizations have realized how crucial it is to maintain cybersecurity at the smallest possible level. Because a minute loophole can create the biggest of losses. This is why established companies are looking for trained, skilled, and certified cybersecurity professionals to make their cybersecurity systems very strong. The corporate giants looking for cybersecurity professionals include Amazon, Dell, TCS, Wells Fargo, Ernst and Young, Infosys, IBM, Microsoft, Accenture, JPMorgan, Barclays, and many more.

Regardless of the type and size of the industry, a cybersecurity pro can find great scope in BFSI, Healthcare and Pharmaceutical industry, IT and telecommunications, Entertainment and News, Retail, Finance, and others.

An article by Forbes had a heading, “the fastest-growing job with a huge skill gap.”  It is expected that there would be 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings by the end of 2021. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a consistent increase in the demand for cybersecurity professionals and is expected to increase by 28% between 2016 and 2026.

Being a cybersecurity professional, you can enter into the industry of your choice and earn great salaries. Since cybersecurity professionals are in demand in every sector, there is a surge in the number of candidates taking Cyber Security courses in Bangalore, making great careers in the domain.

This article will let you know about basic concepts of cybersecurity and what it takes to enter into this domain.

Who is a CyberSecurity Expert?

A cybersecurity professional is one who is accountable for providing security during the development stages of networks, software systems, and also data centers. As a cybersecurity expert, you are expected to identify risks and vulnerabilities that may be present in hardware and software. You have to control and manage cyber-attacks and illegal intrusions.

A cybersecurity expert can recognize any attempted breach or threat by removing loopholes and closing vulnerabilities. You have to develop different layers of protection and updates of the security systems. You have to design, test, implement, and maintain the security measures of your organization.

To secure the information system of your organization, you are required to identify the access points, processes, and people to the information and synchronize the security policies.

Importance of Cybersecurity Professionals

Today there is no industry untouched by cybercriminals. Cybercriminals are tech experts who can cause severe damage to intellectual property, business data, network, and services by theft, intrusions, viruses, data mining, etc.

A cybersecurity professional resolves highly complex security issues and keeps cybercrimes at bay. As a cybersecurity pro, you secure your business and ensure its continuity by applying skills like incident handling, analysis, forensics, reverse engineering, so as to control and diagnose weaknesses.

You are also required to install firewalls to control the data flow process and customize access to protect the network along with securing the data. You have to train your team and other staff members on security awareness and security practices such that the procedures and policies are implemented properly throughout the organization.

What makes a Cybersecurity Professional (Eligibility Criteria)

To become a cybersecurity professional, according to EC-Council, you are required to have computer expertise along with cybersecurity education. There are different certifications required as per job requirements, and depending upon your job designation and responsibilities.

A Bachelor’s Degree

For most leadership positions a bachelor’s degree is compulsory. Job prospects go high with higher qualifications. If you are willing to become a cybersecurity pro working in a technical position, then it is mandatory to have a degree in cybersecurity.

Popular Cybersecurity Certifications

When you wish to transition your career to a new domain, certifications can play a major role. Since cybersecurity is an evolving domain, there is a big skill gap in the industry. Companies are looking for cybersecurity experts who are systematically trained, skilled, and certified. This is because these are the professionals who are ready to take on their job without any additional training. The quickest and easiest way of acquiring the required skills to get the job you are looking for. Some of the most popular cybersecurity certifications are:

• CISSP (Certified Information System Security Professional)
• CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor)
• CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
• CISM (Certified Information Security Manager)
• CompTIA Security+ certification
• (GSEC) GIAC Security Essentials Certification
• (SSCP) Systems Security Certified Practitioner
• (CCSK) Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge

And many more.

And what are the required skills?

After attaining the required credentials, you acquire the hard skills required for the domain.  You have to acquire some soft skills that are mandatory for cybersecurity professionals. They are:

• Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Management and leadership skills
• The capability of problem-solving
• Critical thinking
• Experience in various security specializations
• Multi-tasking ability
• Analytical thinking
• Capable of working in a fast-paced environment

How much does a Cybersecurity Professional Make?

The average annual salary of a cybersecurity professional, according to Ziprecruiter, in the US is around USD 112,441 and may go as high as USD 199,500 after you go on acquiring knowledge, experience, and certifications. The salary potential and chances of jobs vary with geographic location, regional market conditions, credentials, experience, and the employer.

Conclusion

Did you know that LinkedIn has rendered Cybersecurity professionals as the top 15 emerging jobs of 2020 in the US, which shows an annual growth rate of around 30%? If you wish to have a career full of innovations and excitement, then cybersecurity is the perfect domain for you.

Common Smartphone hack

Just get yourself registered in an online training course, acquire the required skills and knowledge, pass the certification exams and land your job as a cybersecurity pro!

Enroll now!