There have been rumors, as well as actual figures, that indicate the need for cybersecurity professionals. The first and foremost reason for information technology (IT) professionals to switch to the cybersecurity industry is evolving technology. The dependency on automated devices is expected to take over a few technical jobs. Artificial intelligence is expected to eradicate 6% of the jobs in the United States in another five years. In fact, roles such as data entry operators and computer operators are expected to disappear, and new job roles related to automation will be defined [1].
IT professionals have experienced an industry depression a few years ago and are seeking alternate opportunities before another wave hits them. Upcoming technologies would create higher possibilities of technical vulnerabilities and hence increase the scope for cyberattacks. Attackers are becoming sophisticated with the latest technology and are throwing greater challenges to the cybersecurity industry. The shift of IT professionals from mere technology to information security would result in a long-lasting and strong approach to combating cyberattacks.
Career Change from IT to Cybersecurity
Coming from the IT industry to the cybersecurity industry does not mean a complete do-over. Cybersecurity is a subsidiary of IT, and therefore, it only adds extra feathers to your career. Here are a few reasons why you should move to the cybersecurity industry.
a) Easy Transition
Cybersecurity is a process of defending your IT assets; hence, it demands IT skills. Coming from a technical industry, you are already aware of many technical terms and their functionalities, such as networking, incident management, cloud server, and endpoints, which will ease your cybersecurity learning. There are few technical jobs in cybersecurity that demand hard-core technical knowledge; roles such as application security engineers, network defenders, and digital forensic investigators are for professionals with specific technical knowledge. Using your IT skills, you can effectively perform these complex technical job roles.
b) Opportunities Galore
If you are a jack-of-all-trades and are familiar with many IT concepts, you have the option to either play the role of a single IT person in a small organization or head the IT security team in a multinational company. With a background in the IT industry, you can avail various options to excel your skills. You can work in any field and in any industry, including infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, retail, waste management, logistics, legal, and entertainment.
c) Multitasking
IT professionals can be on both sides of the coin. They can work on the technical end as well as perform managerial tasks. Security designing involves the knowledge of IT architecture, framing of new mechanisms, creating new filtering schemes, crafting the source code, designing the user interface, and much more. You can exploit your technical skills for creating a secured interface that can be easily implemented and executed.
Managerial-level job roles such as chief information security officer (CISO) and lead software security engineer are aimed at emphasizing both technical and team-leading and other managerial skills.
d) Potential for Growth
Cybersecurity is an ever-changing field that grows with technological advancements. Upcoming innovations in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain throw new challenges to cybersecurity and provide a lot of employment potential. The roles that exist today may split into multiple job roles to obtain the best results or may be replaced with new ones, thereby making space for growth.
How a Cybersecurity Degree can Enhance Your IT Career?
While you can find certain entry-level cybersecurity positions with just a certificate or diploma course, most employers prefer that the candidate holds a degree in the relevant subject.
A report from Burning Glass Technologies showed that 84% of cybersecurity job postings specify a degree in a relevant subject. That means earning a cybersecurity degree makes you 13 times more eligible for a job when compared to an individual with no degree [2].
What type of degree can add value to your cybersecurity career?
Ever wondered why people prefer universities that have many laurels? It is not just popularity that matters but the accreditation, study mode, and certification value that they carry.
EC-Council University (ECCU) offers cybersecurity degree programs that are industry-recognized and affordable. It is an accredited online university with bachelor and master degree programs accredited by the Distance Education and Accrediting Commission (DEAC), listed by the US Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency. The DEAC is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). ECCU is also approved by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), which forms a voluntary agreement among its members and US territories to offer postsecondary distance education and programs online to make it easier for students from other states.
ECCU faculty are well recognized in the industry, and with their hands-on experience, they are successful mentors to upcoming and existing cybersecurity professionals.
For more details about our Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, visit https://www.eccu.edu/academics/bachelor-of-science-in-cyber-security/
For more details about our Master of Science in Cybersecurity, visit https://www.eccu.edu/academics/master-of-science-in-cyber-security/
Sources:
- http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/12/ai-will-eliminate-six-percent-of-jobs-in-five-years-says-report.html
- http://www.burning-glass.com/wp-content/uploads/Cybersecurity_Jobs_Report_2015.pdf
