If you’re doing cybersecurity well, then it’s boring. Understand What Networks Are. This aspect is what makes the opportunities, and the high salaries, available to you. The same goes for cyber security. While each alert holds value, some need to be prioritized over others… Cyber experts are able to quickly adapt to change. How can I see what cyber security is all about? I know a number of folks who got their start that way. As happens with every other type of work, anyone can learn to become a cyber security expert with a basic level of intelligence and plenty of hard work. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'startacybercareer_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',104,'0','0'])); Just like in any field, a difficult boss can make any job that would otherwise be enjoyable a nightmare. There’s a multitude of fields, each with unique tools and concepts to learn. Learn about our people, get the latest news, and much more. Many cyber security jobs now also require a great deal of non-technical skills as well. Some people entering into cyber security underestimate the need for the ability to write well, for example, and how much writing they may need to do in order to document their work. While they can’t talk about secret aspects of their jobs, most cyber security professionals will be happy to discuss the field with you. A gamer will be more likely to find a game challenging than difficult, because they, the process of gaming and learning how to beat a game. Cyber security is hard to learn because of its depth and breadth. The number of positions is growing with the Bureau of Labor Statistics expecting the field to increase more than 30% over the next ten years. Cyber Security is vital for the availability and reliability of the essential infrastructure; But there are other examples such as the term smartphone. All of cyber security basic boils down to the task of protecting digital networks. 5 Proven Strategies for Learning Cybersecurity, 3 Ways to Know if Cybersecurity is for You, 7 Great Reasons to Get Into Cyber in Your 40’s, 7 Reasons Why Cyber Certifications Are Worth It, 5 Best Cybersecurity Certifications for Beginners, 7 Elements of Awesome Entry-Level Cyber Resumes, Cybersecurity and Coding: What You Need to Know, 5 Big Reasons You Can Get into Cyber Without a Degree. These strategies can help you get your cyber career started. The same goes for cyber security. It’s no secret that those passionate about cyber security are more likely to read books in the field, tinker with technology at home, or share their passion for the cyber security field with others. No cyber-security problem comes with all the information you need to solve it, you need to know where to look, what to look for and understand how these pieces fit together to create your own solution. Online cyber security graduate programs make it more accessible than ever for students to obtain higher education in this growing field. Computer science is not hard per se but classes do take time. Unfortunately for some, however, what they really have is one year of experience repeated ten times. All of cyber security basic boils down to the task of protecting digital networks. Yes, send me the cyber career strategies and weekly newsletter! You can never truly know how hard Cybersecurity is unless you make a concerted effort to understand the area. As a professor (University of Colorado) that teaches undergrad cyber security, I echo everyone's comments as well. Well, the answer simply is no .’. One way to learn a great deal about cyber security is to connect with a cyber security professional and talk with them about their jobs. While this is also generally true in cyber security, it is also true in cyber security that job difficulty often increases with the responsibility of a particular job. What makes it hard is: Rapid Advancement. A cyber security degree can be hard compared to other programs, but usually doesn’t require higher level math or intensive labs or practicals, which can make the courses much more manageable. Q: Advice you’d give to someone who is interested in pursuing your career? Many cyber security jobs now also require a great deal of non-technical skills as well. If you are unfortunate to have an employer that doesn’t provide training, than you are forced to improve your knowledge and invest in your training on your own, after hours, and at your own expense. For instance, it would be exhausting to have to identify all the security loopholes that could exist on computer systems. Careers in cyber security can range from moderately challenging to difficult, depending on the specific area of cyber security you pursue and the requirements of the individual job. There are many good books written on the subject of hacking and network protection by leading industry experts that can serve as a solid gateway to the world of internet security. Cyber security is a shared responsibility across the organization. Remember, there is a difference between something being challenging and being difficult, and that often comes down to how much enjoyment and passion you have for the subject. Ask anyone in the field, but not in the way you think. So first you need to understand exactly what those networks and their individual components are. In rapidly changing fields such as cyber security, the learning process can make the job challenging because it becomes a treadmill, meaning that you are required to continually learn just to maintain your job. The information you're looking for does not just exist on the internet, but can be accessed through the printed page as well. 4. It takes many long hours of work to create a secure network, and many more hours to go over every inch of the network and make sure there are no unsecured points of access. There is certainly no reason for complacency. These blogs will keep you updated on all the latest types of network dangers and the research being done to address them. These books range from giving you a basic understanding of cyber security to providing an in-depth study of the field, depending on your level of expertise at the time. Make sure you have a passion for whatever it is that you are doing. Consider that in other fields where change is much slower or non-existent, any learning that is done is optional, can be completed at any time and leads to advancement. I'll also send you my weekly newsletter every Wednesday with resources that every cyber professional needs to know. You can join one of the many ethical hacking clubs spread all over the world, where you will be taught about the basics of hacking in a safe and controlled environment. Data security analysts, for example, earn between $105,000 and $178,250 depending on experience, while network security engineers earn between $98,000 and $167,500, and information systems security managers may earn up to $199,750. Having a passion for technology puts you in the flow and makes cyber security much easier. The cyber space is dynamic. What You Can Do to Make Cyber Security Easier. A cyber security expert sees a solution through to completion and doesn’t stop until the challenge is solved. In order to do well as a cyber security expert, you need to know how the other side thinks. Understandably, many people want to know how difficult a cyber security career really is before they go down the path of pursuing this as a career. for them. eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'startacybercareer_com-box-3','ezslot_3',103,'0','0'])); Get my FREE 5-part series "Strategies for New Cyber Careers". For example, a lower level cyber security position that is responsible for a smaller network or for maintaining a low impact system would probably not be as difficult as another position with the same title at a larger employer that has more information security assets to protect. Cyber security may also be referred to as information technology security. He has a degree in Computer Information Science and CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Server+, CySA+, and Cisco CCNA certifications. This increase in knowledge requirements has certainly not made cyber security any easier. The increase in technology isn’t the only thing that has increased the difficulty of cyber security. Let’s take a look at what can make cyber security easier. You can easily connect with many people on LinkedIn. While they can’t talk about … For these people, those tasks are not hard; they instead are enjoyable and worthwhile. Consider also that this trend of additional technologies to support and secure will remain, and you can expect that this factor will continue to increase the difficulty of cyber security. Many companies these days require certification from a respected program provided by industry leaders in cyber security in addition to having a bachelor's or master's degree in cyber security. So if we know where they plan to attack, why is cyber security so difficult? Job openings in … Consider someone who is a gamer, for example. Getting the certification will ensure you learn a great deal while studying for the certification exam and also provide you with a stamp of quality among the candidates looking to become a part of a company's cyber security team. We’re not going to be able to secure our networks and systems in this no-rules, free-for-all every-network-for-itself world. Start out with computer science with some cyber security courses thrown in. You can easily connect with many people on LinkedIn. Categorization. Because so many people have asked this question, I decided to look into exactly how difficult a career in cyber security can be. The process of continually learning is challenging in itself. Cyber security: Don't let the small stuff cause you big problems How SMBs can bolster cyber security efforts TechRepublic Cyber security is broken: Here's how we start to fix it I currently work in IT and I'm considering transitioning to InfoSec. It just makes things extra difficult for you if your employer is not helping you learn. Factor #6:  Having a Passion for Cyber Security Makes Things Easier. While they can’t talk about secret aspects of their jobs, most cyber security professionals will be happy to discuss the field with you. Cyber security is important because government, military, corporate, financial, and medical … Is a cyber security degree hard? The landscape of cyber security is changing every day, and what you learned a month ago may no longer be relevant to providing network security against the latest types of malware. One of the best ways to determine how difficult any job will be for someone, including a job in cyber security, is to evaluate the individual’s interest and passion for the field. The truth is far from this exaggerated perception. Again, having more responsibility can increase the difficulty of the cyber security position you are shooting for. Security alerts flood a Security Operation Center (SOC) every millisecond of the day. This investment by an employer will make the learning treadmill of cyber security much easier for you. 253)","hsl":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61}},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(59, 136, 253, 0.1)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.1}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(59, 136, 253, 0.3)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.3}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(59, 136, 253, 0.45)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.45}},"flktr":{"val":"rgba(59, 136, 253, Consider someone who is a gamer, for example. Cyber security practitioners have to be persistent with an ever-changing threat landscape but also handle very difficult jobs to start. The wide variety of careers available in the cyber security field provides individuals with the flexibility to pursue a career that is as easy or difficult as they prefer. They have a passion for it, which makes it. You need to learn the basics first like coding. But you don’t want it to be exciting. However, it isn’t all bad out there. Advanced Degrees in Cybersecurity Mean More Career Options. Indeed, past cyberattacks are a poor predictor of future attacks. Let's take a look at some of the ways to learn cyber security. You may also be required to teach other members of the company about basic cyber security practices. It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make! Do you think you would fit in well in the world of cyber security? Additional skills, such as the ability to write reports, communicate with co-workers or customers or consult with management all can make the job of a cyber security professional more difficult, especially if you don’t feel strong in these areas. However, many people hesitate to consider a career in computers because of the general perception that working with computers and writing code is a very specialized and demanding type of work that can only be performed by geniuses who have amazing memory skills and can perform complex mathematical operations within seconds. The process of continually learning is challenging in itself. If you have a passion for technology, cyber security will be easier for you than for many other people. You’re Collaborative . Cyber security degrees tend to be more challenging than non-research type majors, such as programs in the humanities or business, but are usually not as difficult as degrees in research or lab intensive areas, such as science and engineering. Of course, certain types of students are more naturally attuned to a career in cyber security than others. If you only have three months of contract work on your resume, you're not going to be hired into a cushy job that pays you six figures and fulfills all of your dreams. Copyright © 2021East Coast Polytechnic Institute™All Rights Reserved, Cyber and Information Security Technology, Systems Engineering Master's - Mechatronics, Electronic Systems Engineering Technology, 2.5 Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Operations, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management, Management Master's - Homeland Security Management, Management Master's - Human Resources Management, Management Master's - Organizational Leadership, Cyber security is one such niche within the field, What is Cyber and Network Security | ECPI University, Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Cyber and Network Security - Cybersecurity Track, contact a friendly admissions representative today, What Our Students Say About the Faculty at ECPI University. Very high level positions, such as Chief Information Security Officers, may have the responsibility of briefing the CEO about cyber security threats on a daily basis. Ross Anderson, Why Information Security is Hard -- An Economic Perspective, 17th Annual Computer Security Applications Conference (ACSAC'01), IEEE Computer Society, December, 2001.Web AltWeb. Security vulnerabilities have real-world consequences. To ensure your knowledge does not become outdated, you can subscribe to some of the best security blogs on the website. In this case, we’re not referring to a bad employer or boss with an unpleasant work environment, but an employer that doesn’t provide adequate training. While both jobs are similar, and the job postings may look alike, you could expect that the position that has the responsibility to protect a larger technology surface would be more difficult and stressful. Attacks by state actors are growing in boldness and impact. Few fields change as quickly as cyber security, and therefore few require as much consistent continual learning as cyber security. Fortunately, there are several things we can do to make cyber security easier for us and therefore more enjoyable and rewarding. A gamer will be more likely to find a game challenging than difficult, because they enjoy the process of gaming and learning how to beat a game. While this is also generally true in cyber security, it is also true in cyber security that job difficulty often increases with the responsibility of a particular job. Information security analyst is the eighth best job in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report's Top 100 Jobs in 2015 list. Some people entering into cyber security underestimate the need for the ability to write well, for example, and how much writing they may need to do in order to document their work. that a cyber professional would need to learn, in addition to all of the technical skills already on their list. The Importance of Cyber Security. The past decade gives some indication of what to expect in the near future. Matt Day is a cybersecurity professional with over twenty years of experience in the IT, cybersecurity, and technology training fields. You need to be able to retain your full focus during those hours. While both jobs are similar, and the job postings may look alike, you could expect that the position that has the responsibility to protect a larger technology surface would be more difficult and, Factor #2:  The Learning Process is Difficult, Few fields change as quickly as cyber security, and therefore few require as much consistent continual learning as cyber security. Why Information Security is Hard -- An Economic Perspective Full Citation. For more information, contact a friendly admissions representative today. In rapidly changing fields such as cyber security, the learning process can make the job challenging because it becomes a treadmill, meaning that you are required to continually learn j, Factor #3:  A Bad Employer Can Make Cyber Security More Difficult, Factor #4:  Our Increased Use of Technology Can Make Cyber Security Difficult, Factor #5:  Non-Technical Skills Have Increased Cyber Difficulty, The increase in technology isn’t the only thing that has increased the difficulty of cyber security. 0.8)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.8}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"30800":{"val":"rgb(59, 136, 253)","hsl":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61}},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(59, 136, 253, 0.1)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.1}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(59, 136, 253, 0.3)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.3}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(59, 136, 253, In this example, the ability to write well is an additional skill that a cyber professional would need to learn, in addition to all of the technical skills already on their list. Copyright 2018 - 2021 Next Level Ecommerce, LLC, all rights reserved. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'startacybercareer_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_1',105,'0','0'])); Consider also that higher level cyber security positions may require even more soft skills or non-technical skills, such as the ability to create a budget, negotiate with customers or provide presentations, and you can see that the expanded set of non-technical skills can make a cyber security job more difficult for anyone that isn’t strong in these areas and needs to learn these skills. (So much patching.) You need to be able to come up with out-of-the-box solutions to keep your company network secure. In this example, the ability to write well is. Consider these things as you begin to pursue cyber security as a career. Here are the qualities that make up a good cyber security student: Every new kind of virus you encounter will require a different approach. You will work with an entire team of cyber security experts as well as all the other departments of the company to ensure that their digital systems are kept secure. One way to learn a great deal about cyber security is to connect with a cyber security professional and talk with them about their jobs. For example, senior level cyber security positions may require additional tasks, such as reporting to management. Any person with an aptitude and willingness to work hard can learn and succeed in the field of Cybersecurity. Talk with nearly any successful cyber security professional, and you hear them appreciate an employer that provides frequent training at the company’s expense, and on work time. See our terms and privacy policy. They have a passion for it, which makes it easier for them. Factor #1:  Job Responsibility Increases Difficulty, In many fields, employees can expect increases in salary as responsibility increases. Try to find an employer that makes your learning easier. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content. A cyber security degree can be hard compared to other programs, but usually doesn’t require higher level math or intensive labs or practicals, which can make the courses much more manageable. Gainful Employment Information – Cyber and Network Security - Bachelor’s. You will need to stay up-to-date on all the latest happenings in the world of cyber security and be prepared and willing to learn new ways to defend your network against new types of cyber threats. 82% of cyber pros worry employees don't follow cloud security policies (TechRepublic) 84% of cybersecurity pros are open to switching companies in 2018 … This can make cyber security much more difficult for you, as you’re now forced to work overtime just to grow, keep up in the field and remain relevant. Full Title of Reference. A simple internet search will do you no good. 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