Demand and Career Opportunities in Cyber Security
Introduction to Cyber Security
With the advent of digital media, there are as many threats as benefits. An enormous amount of data is generated each day and it is very easy to gather that information. There are several links that redirect users to insecure websites that steal sensitive information. In recent years, cyber crimes have become much more refined which has led to new privacy regulations as businesses have invested more in technology. There is a growing need for cyber security workforce to meet the growing demands of today’s businesses. The cyber security jobs are in high demand but there are not many skilled professionals. This has prompted many companies to limit the resources assigned to cyber security positions.
Importance of Cyber Security
Cyber security is a part of the information security system and is a mix of activities and processes that are performed to prevent networks from cyberattacks or unauthorized access and secure computer systems. There have been numerous cases of data breaches around the world which have made it very important for organizations to have robust cyber security in place. According to a report of 4IQ, there were 12449 cases of a data breach which was an increase of 424 percent as compared to the previous year. Even giants like Google and Facebook too reported that they faced cyber attacks. The need for cyber security is at an all-time high and according to NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies), there will be a high demand for cyber security professionals in the coming years. This scenario has brought an ideal opportunity for a professional to gain knowledge of cyber security and help prevent data breaches in various organizations.
Job profiles of Cyber Security
There are several roles for cyber security professionals who would like to enter this field. Some of the job profiles are:
- Chief Information Security Officer
- Security Software Developer
- Security Architect
- Security Engineer
- Security Administrator
- Information Security Analyst
- Penetration Tester
Common tasks of Cyber Security professionals
The responsibilities for all of the above roles will vary but here are some of the common tasks that cyber security professionals can expect as part of their jobs.
- Monitor computer networks and systems for unusual behavior in terms of malicious emails, hacking or phishing.
- Plan security measures for computer networks and systems.
- Build a back-up plan for data recovery when there is an emergency.
- Always stay updated with the latest trends and hacks used by attackers to steal data.
- Educate the team members regarding cyber security processes and their importance.
- Plan for security upgrades for the existing computer networks and systems.
Skills required for Cyber Security professionals
Cyber security professionals must upgrade their skills at all times in order to remain relevant in the business world. Hackers are becoming advanced as they use advanced techniques to break into systems and networks. With digitalization, hackers have found innovative ways of compromising sensitive information and penetrating computer networks. The professionals must have cyber security tools and exceptional skills to deal with such vulnerabilities and secure systems and networks. There are many skills, some of which are listed below.
- There must be extensive knowledge of programming languages like C++, Javascript, and Java.
- A comprehensive understanding of networking, web applications, system administration, penetration testing, and operating systems is required.
- There must be advanced knowledge of the best practices pertaining to security regulations and privacy.
- To prevent possible cyber attacks, knowledge of vulnerability assessment skills must be available.
- There must be advanced skills to detect any suspicious activities in the networks and systems and prevent or mitigate them.
Job statistics related to Cyber Security
The job opportunities related to cyber security have exploded in recent years and the future of cyber security is very bright. Over the past six years, there has been a 94 percent increase in the cyber security job postings, according to a study conducted by Burning Glass. In comparison with cyber security jobs, the number of IT jobs has only increased by 30 percent. This is an increase of 300 per cent compared to the IT jobs and cyber security jobs now occupy around 13 percent of the overall IT jobs. The study also mentioned that the cyber security jobs are tougher to fill. Cyber security jobs take around 50 days to fill as compared to 41 days required for IT jobs. The labor pool of cyber security is very small and it will take a lot of time to increase it. This lack of talent has increased the competition among employers as they are ready to pay a higher salary to attract the best talent.
A job description for the cyber security job opening will be grouped into hybrid cyber security jobs and pure cyber security jobs. Many organizations combine the cyber security job functions with network administration. Pure cyber security roles have a higher salary because of the lack of available talent. Cyber security as a domain will continue to grow exponentially as technology becomes digitally connected. Cloud computing and the Internet of Things will continue to affect the growth of cyber threats. The demand for top skills required to combat these issues will continue to grow.
