If you want to make big money in cybersecurity, click here and enter your social security number.
Okay, if you didn’t click the link, you just passed your first test as a cybersecurity engineer. If you did click the link, you’ll need to know a lot more about cybersecurity before changing careers.
The good news is, cybersecurity is a field that’s exploding, and learning more about it could prove quite lucrative. Indeed.com currently hosts hundreds of local postings for jobs in cybersecurity. The recent WannaCry ransomware attack that sent businesses around the globe into a panic also sent cybersecurity stocks surging- a clear indication that) the phrase “cybersecurity” might be interchangeable with “job security.”
Believe it or not, in September 2016, the field of cybersecurity hit a 0% unemployment rate!
According to Forbes.com, cyber crime costs may exceed 2 trillion dollars by 2019, and “the market for cybersecurity products and services…is expected to grow from $75 billion in 2015 to $175 billion by 2020.”
It’s not terribly surprising- although we are all aware of phrases like cybercrime and identity theft, a lot of us don’t take it seriously enough. If individuals are slow to catch on, it’s not surprising that large companies are lagging behind as well.
Ever been contacted by a Nigerian prince who wants to give you a couple million bucks?
Cyber crime often targets individuals through avenues such as questionable websites that infect the user’s computer with malware and email “phishing” schemes. But attacks on large businesses and organizations can compromise the personal information of millions of users in one stroke.
An article from CSO lists ten of the top cyber crimes of 2016, including a hack of the IRS that may have exposed the personal information of as many as 700,000 Americans, and a ransomware attack on Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center that came with a 3.6 million dollar ransom demand and severely hindered the hospital’s ability to care for patients.
There are many paths that can eventually lead you to job as a cybersecurity engineer, but as both computer systems and cyber threats have become more prevalent and complex, the variety of skills and certifications needed to play in the big leagues has grown. Many colleges are now offering Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s Degrees in Cybersecurity. Networking and professional organizations, hacking conventions, and continuing education are a few ways to continue to hone your skills in your spare time. One thing definitely not recommended, no matter how enticing, is accepting a scholarship from a Nigerian Astronaut.
ECPI University’s has been offering programs in computer and information science since 1966. They offer Degree Programs in Cyber and Network Security and Software Development and work closely with students to help them gain as many industry-standard certifications as possible before graduation. Students can earn a Bachelor’s Degree in 2.5 years or Associates Degree in 1.5 years through an accelerated, year-round schedule. Click here to learn more.
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