How to choose a career in Cyber Security?
In a world of increasing cybercrime, choosing a career in Cyber Security is the best way to ensure you have a fruitful future. Communications authority Jasmine Van Der Merwe lists some tips on how to choose cyber security as your career path.
You’ve been told time and again that the Internet is not a safe place – that you should be careful with what personal information you share online, how often you use your credit card details and password-protect every piece of technology that comes into contact with your private life. Taking these precautions still isn’t enough – our homes are filled with smart devices from refrigerators to TVs, from ovens to microwaves – but most people keep these gadgets unprotected by complicated passwords or pin numbers. In an article for the New Yorker, writer and Internet security expert Jill Lepore observes: “The security industry has expanded with such breathless virulence that it now shapes everyday life.” It’s an observation that makes you wonder whether we’ll soon need to implement even stricter codes of conduct governing our behavior when it comes to how we use technology.
For this reason, in this day and age, a career in cyber security is probably one of the most important choices you can make in terms of your future and your livelihood.
Also Read How can you keep your personal information safe and secure all the time?
Not just a job but a vocation
The world of cyber security encompasses much more than just protecting your home or office network from hackers and identity thieves. You could work at any number of high-tech companies like Google or PayPal, or at the headquarters of governmental organizations such as the NSA or Britain’s GCHQ. As a cyber security professional, you would ensure that your organization’s network is secure and its employees don’t fall prey to online scams. Very much in demand in this day and age, a career in cyber security has become much more than just a job – it’s a vocation that requires you to constantly update your knowledge about all things digital and cyber. The course requirements for prospective professionals in this field are fairly demanding: good grades from high school and university, followed by postgraduate degrees specifically tailored for careers in internet security. And while getting your degree is enough to land you an entry-level position, obtaining additional certifications open up more opportunities for advancement within the cyber security arena.
The future is in your hands
As the old saying goes, if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. In a world that’s constantly evolving and requires us to always be one step ahead of criminals who are more tech-savvy than we are, having a career in cyber security will ensure that your skills remain relevant at all times. In order words, it will put you on the right path to a secure financial future. And with experts predicting that there could be as many as six million unfilled jobs in the field by 2020, taking the necessary steps today could help make sure you’re among those who get to enjoy a prosperous tomorrow!
FAQs:
Who is the writer of this article?
This article was written by communications authority Jasmine Van Der Merwe.
Where can I find the original version of this article?
This article was published on 23 August 2015. Why should I choose cyber security as my career path? There are six million unfilled jobs in this field that will need to be filled, and cyber security professionals earn an average monthly salary of $881 (over R10000). Not do you have a secure future but you will be making good money to support your future family.
What are the requirements for professional cyber security? The typical prerequisites for a career in this field are good grades, especially in maths and science subjects, followed by degrees specific to careers in cyber security. These can either come from one of South Africa’s public universities or be completed through one of the private tertiary institutions located around Durbanville. And since most courses specifically tailored for careers in internet security are offered online, alums can continue working even while they study further.
Are there any alternative courses that I could take to pursue a career in cyber security? Though not necessarily recognised as alternatives to dedicated degrees, it is possible to start with short courses geared towards securing you a career in internet security. For example, the e-safety course offered by the University of Witwatersrand takes six weeks to complete and includes modules on cyber crime awareness, online safety, email scams, social networking and how to avoid falling prey to hoaxes. What are some of the universities offering specific degrees that will prepare me for a career in this field? Here is a list of public universities that offer courses specifically tailored for careers in cyber security: -The University of Pretoria -The University of Cape Town -The North West University -The Durban University Of Technology And here are some private tertiary institutions offering preliminary courses related to cyber security: -Ashton College (Facebook page) -University of Africa.
Conclusion:
As the demand for cyber security professionals continues to grow, so too will be the options available to people who would rather stay in an office dealing with internet security issues instead of going out into the field. And while a formal degree is not a requirement for careers in this exciting field, getting one ensures that you will have gained valuable knowledge and experience when it comes to applying for jobs in cyber security.
