Starting a Career in Cybersecurity

While the figures mentioned above looks promising for most IT professionals, take note that starting a career in cybersecurity is not that easy as it seems. Just like any other career or job opportunities, you will also need a lot of preparation not only to get accepted for job, but also to excel in this field.

Do you Need Work Experience to Get Accepted?

Of course, prior experience from related industry or profession gives you a big advantage; however, you don’t necessarily need any cybersecurity experience to get started. Some of the similar skillsets agencies are usually looking for are system administration and data or information analysis. If your previous works demonstrate relevance with these skills, it won’t be difficult to find an employer in the cybersecurity industry.

The cybersecurity is a big sector, as well. There are different of entry-level positions you can explore. These include account executives, junior penetration tester, staff administrators, and many more.

Cybersecurity professionals also mentioned that you don’t really need to be that skilled to start a career. Your dedication and work ethic should point you to the right direction. Just learn a few basics, and committed to learning, a lot of opportunities will come to you.

So, to help you out on this journey, feel free to use the guidelines below when starting a career in the cybersecurity profession:

Also Read: Common Cyber security Mistakes

Decide on Where You Want to Be

As mentioned earlier, the cybersecurity sector involves different functions. Sort out your skills and knowledge before looking for positions available. For example, are you well-versed when it comes to the technical side of the operations? Do you want to focus more on the administration side of the business? From there, you can start collecting more information about the basic or fundamental levels you want to achieve.

In some cybersecurity agencies, the key skills can be integrated with a Bachelor’s degree in IT, IS, MIS, SE, and CS. You can also attain it from a beginner-level certification. On the other hand, many agencies are also evaluating individuals with a Political Science background, especially those leaning towards the GTC side.

Conduct a self-evaluation before choosing the path of your career. Where do you want to start? Do you see yourself working in the private sector at a junior –level position; or would you rather accept a government role? Another option is doing freelance work for certain agencies. You can work as a data-entry QA specialist or an IT security consultant who can provide a thorough guidance for companies or businesses seeking for efficient security software programs. 

Hone your Fundamental Skills

Expanding your current skills is another way to showcase your portfolio when applying for this profession. For instance, you might want to explore specialized skills like networking and security fundamentals. Acquiring these skills can definitely help you land your first job. Look for recognized organizations such as CompTIA, ISC2, and EC Council. There are also online courses you can explore from Udemy, Cybrary, and Udacity. Getting certificates from these organizations will increase your chances of getting hired from your desired employers.

Choose the Best Online Courses

As mentioned earlier, improving your skills is a good start to your career journey. While there are several online courses available today, make sure to dig deeper into details and find a credible source. Many experts today recommend Nathan’s House courses on Station X. According to reviews, their courses are not that haphazard, especially for beginners. Everything is clear and concise making it easier to understand for both beginners and seasoned professionals.

The learning packages usually offer free-trial, which covers 1 to 2 sessions, courses for beginners, and VIP Bundles. Completing these courses is a good preparation for CompTIA certifications.

Also Read:How Cybersecurity Affects Your SEO: Can You Do Anything About It?

Do not Let Certifications Hold your Application

Always remember that not all employers are very particular when it comes to certification holders. This means you don’t actually have to wait for your certifications to start applying for a job. Unless the job description is requiring applicants to present certain certifications, you can start exploring your options. Remember, you took those courses not just to get a certification. You have invested in them because you want to upgrade your skills or broaden your knowledge.

Set the Right Expectations

Keep in mind that it’s just your first job. While it’s only natural to feel excited about the many things to discover (especially now that it has become a buzz around the topic, and the vibe given from the CIA-themed movies), it is best to set your expectations accordingly. Don’t expect too much from your current role. Instead, focus on the goals set by the companies and try to align them with your future career path. Take advantage of the things you can learn or acquire from them. Once, you get the hang of it, they can definitely give you bigger roles.

Keep Learning Inside and Outside the Office

As every successful professional would say, “the learning should never stop!” This is why it is best to surround yourself with knowledge. Make the most of your free time, and look for workshops or seminars revolving within the industry or profession you have chosen. Establishing a daily goal to learn something new is one of the best things you can do if you want to excel in this profession. It doesn’t have to be that big. For example, you can spend about 5 to 10 minutes watching free tutorials from StackExchange or TED talk sessions related to your profession. If you have the time, you can also attend conferences conducted by industry professionals.

Be Proud of your Accomplishments

Staying positive about the first few runs of your career is important. Take note that any achievement is always a big step forward in any point of your career. Set your own milestone or roadmap to help you with your goals. This should help keep you motivated in your career.

Following these guidelines should help you get started with your cyber-security professional career. Again, your attitude towards work is more important than any skill set anyone has.

Also Read: Understanding Disaster Recovery and What Impact It Can Have in an Enterprise

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Risks of Remote Working There are two main risks of working from home:

• Risk of hacking (which can lead to serious losses)
• Risk of internet security threats (which can lead to losses).

If you’re someone who wants to work from home, you will certainly want to make sure that your computer systems are well protected. For instance, you may install strong anti-virus software, firewalls and other related software. A good tip here is to only share information with those you trust.

Cybersecurity Risks While it’s true that no one can foresee all the potential risks and threats that a company might face, there is still a very real possibility that your network can be hacked. In fact, hackers have become quite skilled at this. It’s not just companies who suffer the consequences for not taking extra precautions. Personal information also leaks out, and can end up on the wrong hands.

Boost in Productivity It’s a well known fact that most people who work from home nowadays use their computers for almost everything: social networking, checking your email, blogging, or even doing online shopping. If you don’t have a properly secured network, any of these activities will surely be a waste of time and energy. Security solutions that include firewalls and anti-viruses can really help here. Your business won’t lose any productivity simply because of some simple security measures.

Decreased Costs Most companies don’t see any benefit in using a properly secured network. They’d rather spend the money on improving the internal work flow or improving the security of their servers than on securing their networks. But when you consider how much time and energy you can actually save by using a network security solution, the money you spend on it is definitely a worthy investment. In addition, the extra money you’ll spend on maintaining your network will also be beneficial since you won’t need to hire more staff to help maintain your network. There’s absolutely no better way to spend your money than on your business.

Reduced Stress The last benefit we’re going to discuss here is related to the third benefit: reducing stress. When you’re working from home, the chances are you won’t be exposed to as much traffic and more time could be allocated to developing new ideas or improving the products you’re already selling. This means you can focus more on other aspects of your life. And when you have more time, you can also spend more time with your family.

Improved Company Image You might think that using a network of contacts at work would have the opposite effect; to see your colleagues becoming less productive. What you should be aware of, however, is that using contacts also allows you to meet new people who might add value to the company in a different way. Remember that most big corporations aren’t run by robots, even if some of them appear to be. Human interaction is necessary for a company to grow and thrive, and this interaction is only possible if the person to whom you’re interacting has the same vision as you do. And this vision should be one that matches the business you’re currently running.

These are just a few of the major benefits of investing in cyber security and IT solutions today. Keep in mind, however, that you don’t need to be the company to provide the cyber security network. It’s important to keep in mind that there are plenty of companies out there that provide these services for a fee. Instead of doing it yourself, though, it might be best to hire a provider so that you can rest easy knowing that your personal data and private information is protected. After all, it’s your private information that is potentially being stolen by those who aren’t working for you.

Also Read: Cybersecurity Start-up Ideas

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