India ranks 2nd in the world in terms of internet users, with over 825 million active users across all platforms. Due to a lack of digital hygiene and cyber awareness, our population is especially vulnerable to attacks. The pandemic forced accelerated digitization in most industries, and hackers capitalized on this opportunity heavily. As a result, there was a surge in cyber-attacks reported as hackers took advantage of various loopholes. According to a report by CERT-In, there were over 1.16 million cases of cyber-attacks reported in 2020. On average, 3,137 cases were reported every single day last year.
The 21st century brought about digitization at a global level. Today every major industry operates in cyber space and the need for cybersecurity professionals is skyrocketing all over the world. According to experts, there will be over 3.5 million vacancies for cybersecurity professionals worldwide by the end of 2021.
With more people depending on technology and the internet, there is a broader attack surface for hackers to exploit. As a result, today, cybersecurity has become a crucial skill, and the demand for professionals in this field is growing at an unprecedented rate.
If you have a technical mindset and a knack for problem-solving, cybersecurity is a great career option for you with plenty of opportunities to grow.
These are the steps you must take to become a cybersecurity professional:
Step 1: Choosing your Path
Cybersecurity offers a wide array of career options. However, before you begin your journey towards becoming a full-fledged cybersecurity professional, you must choose the path you are best suited for.
Cybersecurity Architect
A security architect is someone who designs and builds network security for an organization. He is responsible for strengthening the network against cyber-attacks and data breaches by building security structures and ensuring their proper function. Someone with a technical bent of mind and creative instincts will be suited for this role.
Security Consultant/ Security Analysts
A security consultant is responsible for identifying the vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the network of an organization. He is hired to give feedback on how to better protect their assets against new and evolving threats in the cyber domain. Someone with strong problem-solving skills and a knack for fault finding/ troubleshooting will be ideal for this role.
Ethical Hacker
Also known as penetration testers, they are expected to run simulated hacking scenarios to find weak spots in the network/ system and exploit them to hack data. They also develop tools to counter hackers and improve the security posture of an organization. Someone with an aptitude for coding/ programming and who can think like a hacker will be ideal for this role.
Information Security Officer
An Information Security Officer is an executive responsible for establishing and maintaining the enterprise vision, strategy, and program to ensure information assets and technologies are adequately protected. He must have an in-depth understanding of information technology systems and processes and advanced cybersecurity skills and knowledge. Someone with leadership qualities coupled with thorough knowledge of the subject matter should be best suited for this role.
Step 2: Get Professional Training
There are several routes that someone can take to become a cybersecurity professional. Most people start with an undergraduate degree in computer science or information technology. One can also take the engineering route and subsequently do a specialization in cybersecurity.
With the demand for cybersecurity professionals increasing rapidly and an estimated 3.5 million unfulfilled cybersecurity jobs globally in 2021, there is no shortage of opportunities available for qualified cybersecurity professionals. Those who have been educated by well-recognized institutes will stand apart from the rest and will get higher preference when it comes to employability.
Step 3: Get Industry Certification
To get employed by a well-reputed organization, you must also have certain industry certifications to help you. It would help if you appear for these certifications:
- CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- CISM – Certified Information Security Manager
- CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor
- GIAC – Global Information Assurance Certification
- CEH – Certified Ethical Hacker
Before applying for any of these certifications, make sure you know what kind of job you will be applying for and what type of industry will you be targeting.
The Cybint Cybersecurity Bootcamp with ThriveDX
Now ThriveDX offers the Cybint Cybersecurity Bootcamp in India. Students will have the opportunity to learn from industry experts and world-class educators and can develop the skills needed to become world-class cybersecurity professionals. ThriveDX partners will have access to marketing and sales resources in addition to our turnkey cybersecurity education solutions. Partners will receive technical support along with a dedicated representative from our team.
Our curriculum is aligned to the USA’s NIST/ NICE framework, and we have got the best industry-based interactive labs where students can learn through real-world simulations. Our bootcamp has a record of 90% placements, and some of the best companies in the world hire our bootcamp graduates. Visit our website for more information.
