Cybersecurity

What Is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is fast shaping up to be one of the most important careers in the modern workplace.

Cybersecurity involves the protection of electronic data, be it on websites, databases, networks, devices, or, increasingly, the cloud.

Cybersecurity professionals use advanced technological systems and computer science knowledge to keep your data safe and secure. The importance of tech and IT systems for modern businesses makes a career in cybersecurity a very popular option amongst IT enthusiasts today.

Why is cybersecurity important?

Cybersecurity is an essential part of network and systems security for any modern business. For individuals, cybersecurity attacks can lead to identity theft, loss of data through malware attacks, phishing scams, etc. For organizations, cybercrime can lead to theft of essential and sensitive data, corporate espionage, leaking of vital consumer information, and ransomware crime, not to mention the disruption to day-to-day operations and loss of income. Keeping your network and systems safe from cybercrime is vital in today’s society.

  • The expanding need for cloud security
  • Increasing use of IoT technology
  • The high volume of cybercrimes
  • Organizations of all sizes today are increasingly reliant on cloud computing, to one degree or another, to keep their operations running smoothly. This makes cloud-computing platforms and entry points a target for cybersecurity attacks. Cloud security experts are required to help keep cloud platforms and cloud-based operations safe from cybercrime.

  • So much of our day-to-day activities and business operations depend on smart devices. They make our individual lives more convenient, making it easier for us to access information, and entertainment, and stay connected. Organizations use IoT tech to stay connected with their customers, understand their needs, and gather product/market information. Manufacturers, supply chain management, consumer goods, industrial systems, network systems, and many other businesses depend on IoT tech to operate.

    Unfortunately, cybercriminals like IoT devices just as much because it affords them multiple entry ways to hack into sensitive systems.

  • It is estimated that on average 30,000 websites are hacked every day, a company falls victim to a cyberattack every 39 seconds, and more than 60% of organizations globally have experienced at least one form of cyberattack.

Types of cybersecurity threats

  • Phishing is a type of cyber scam that targets people via email. The aim of a phishing attack is to get individuals to divulge sensitive information by posing as emails from a reputable source. It can also be run to scam people into sharing personal data or financial information, like credit card details.

    To protect your organization from phishing, you need cybersecurity systems that can detect and filter out malicious outreach, cyberdefence processes that regularly monitor for such attacks, and employees educated in cybersecurity protocols.

  • Ransomware is a type of malicious software that is designed to force companies or individuals into a compromised position by blocking access to files or important programs. Cybercriminals can also use ransomware to gain access to important information, followed by threats to publish that information unless a ransom is paid. Unfortunately, paying the ransom guarantees neither access nor safety from future extortion.

  • Malware is a type of software that is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.

    Cloud security experts, for example, are essential in stopping malware attacks on network systems.

  • Cybercriminals use social engineering to trick individuals, often occupying important positions in organizations, into revealing sensitive information. Social engineering can be used for a payoff or to gain access to confidential data. Combined with one of the threats mentioned above, social engineering can trick people into downloading malware, responding to a phishing attempt, disclosing important details, or installing ransomware.

Cybersecurity career options

Getting started

If you’re just starting to build a career in cybersecurity, you can begin with entry-level roles such as help desk technician, network administrator, or software developer. It’s also quite common to start a career in cybersecurity as a junior information security analyst, after having first worked in IT.

Before you apply for your first cybersecurity role, take some time to develop core IT skills, including programming, networks and systems administration, and cloud computing. While you don’t necessarily need a degree to get a job in cybersecurity, having some form of structured training might accelerate your path toward a job.

Having decided on a career in cybersecurity there are a few different pathways you can take to advance. Cybersecurity jobs are not all limited to information security roles. These are some common pathways you can take to build a career in cybersecurity:

  • Engineering and architecture
  • Incident response
  • Management and administration
  • Testing and hacking

Find a cybersecurity career

Looking to start or build on a career in cybersecurity?
Why not head over to our jobs page to find your next great opportunity!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is a cyber security career a good choice?

    Cybersecurity is one of the most in-demand and fast-growing roles in the U.S job market today. With the increasing use of IoT, Cloud, and Data Science based technologies the importance of cybersecurity experts is also increasing.

  • How can the Cyber Security career option change my life?

    Cybersecurity is set to be one of the most important roles of the coming decade. Every future-ready business will need cybersecurity expertise to help them manage their operations.

    This means that investing in a cybersecurity career today is likely to pay large dividends in the future. You will be entering into a career that is rich with learning and development, and opportunities for growth.

  • How can I get a cyber security job in 2022?

    You don’t need a master’s degree or advanced specializations to embark on a career in cybersecurity. A few key certifications will give you the skills you need to begin.

    Popular cybersecurity certifications include:

    • CompTIA Security+
    • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
    • Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
    • GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)

  • What capabilities are necessary components of a cyber security strategy?

    Any organization looking to build a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy will focus on:

    Governance: The way the organization directs and controls IT security.

    Technology: The organization’s ability to stay secure against cyber threats, external and internal.

    Operations: The processes involved in using governance and technology to implement a security strategy.

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