Learning About Cyber Security: How Can I take the next Step?

Are you interested in cyber security? It's not a surprise if you are. Cybersecurity and cybercrime have never been more topical. Huge data breaches are regularly in the news. Cybercriminals now use techniques like ransomware and botnets to make money and cause chaos. That's not even factoring the effect of cybercrime on homes and small businesses.

For people with a passion for learning about cybersecurity, it is increasingly clear that their hobby has taken on international significance. If you are one of these people, you might be wondering how you can take what you know and turn it into a career. After all, there is a pressing need for cybersecurity workers; according to Forbes, there may be as many as 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs in 2021.

In addition to being an exceedingly important job, a cybersecurity also offers excellent employment security. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of information security analyst jobs in the United States is expected to grow by 28 percent through 2026. This rate is four times faster than the average occupation.

Knowing all that, you might be wondering what your next step should be. How do you turn your passion for cybersecurity into a career in helping protect people from cyber-attacks?

How a Formal Degree can Help you Launch your Career in Cybersecurity

Although you might presume that you don't need to go to school to learn what you need to start a cybersecurity career, you might be surprised at how helpful a degree program can be. Even if you don't necessarily need the structure and connections that a formal program can provide, there are still benefits in going to school that you can't easily find elsewhere.

For starters, a good degree program will provide preparation and training for major third-party certifications. Certifications are exams that show your expertise in ways that will get the attention of prospective employers. Additionally, a formal degree program will also prepare you for the specific tasks required in numerous cybersecurity jobs. Whether you end up doing work in network infrastructure, IT supervision and management, or ethical hacking, you can be confident that upon graduation, you will be ready for any potential job.

What Else Can You do to Prepare for your Career?

For starters, you can start doing research into certifications. Knowing which areas of expertise certifications cover can be useful. Some certifications, like Microsoft, show your understanding of an aptitude with common computer operating a systems. Getting them doesn't necessarily help you get noticed for cybersecurity jobs, but it's an important stepping stone to more specific, specialized certifications. Others, like CompTIA Security+, are "stepping stone" cybersecurity certifications.

They're essential to landing cybersecurity jobs in their own right, and they show that you have a broad knowledge of cybersecurity fundamentals. Still others, like EC-Council Licensed Penetration Tester certification, show advanced knowledge of a specific skill. In this case, if you want a job in penetration testing, it's important to get this certification; if you're interested in other aspects of cybersecurity, you might want to prioritize a different certification.

Are You Ready for a Career in Cyber Security?

If you're passionate about cybersecurity, there has never been a better time to pursue a career in it. There is a desperate need for qualified cybersecurity workers. If you already have a solid understanding of cybersecurity, then you will grasp the basics of it and probably be ready to work in the field sooner than you might think.

Are you interested in a career in cyber security? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Cyber and Network Security - Cybersecurity Track, ECPI University offers this program at an accelerated rate. For more information on this exciting program, connect with a helpful admissions counselor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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Gainful Employment Information – Cybersecurity Track - Bachelor's

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