As a result of constant threats to information systems, cybersecurity has enjoyed immense growth such that it has become a global industry.
The rate at which individuals, governments, and organizations are turning to the internet to conduct various transactions is increasing exponentially day by day and there is a corresponding increase in the threats suffered by this cyberspace.
These constant cyber threats and breaches have made organizations turn to cybersecurity. For this reason, many people pursue a degree in cybersecurity. If you have an interest in cybersecurity but are confused about the career to pursue with a cybersecurity degree, you will learn about some cybersecurity careers in this article.
Some Threats Faced By The CyberSpace
Before you learn about available careers you can pursue with a cybersecurity degree, get familiar with some cyber threats that are delivering crippling blows to organizations across the world.
The most common cyber threats faced by organizations are data breaches. Large amounts of sensitive data are often processed by companies and they are at cybersecurity risk. Data can be stolen, modified, or destroyed.
Another threat is ransomware where access to an organization’s information is restricted until a certain amount is paid.
Insider threat is another on the list. Employees knowingly or unknowingly can cause significant risk to the organization with a few clicks.
Furthermore, hackers make use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to mimic humans. They trick people with this advanced technology to share personal information and download malware.
Many other threats are employed by cybercriminals to put organizations at many risks. Such threats include worms, malware, virus, trojan virus, etc. Having known some problems to solve in cybersecurity, below are some careers you can pursue with a cybersecurity degree.
Cryptographer
As a cryptographer, you will develop ciphers, algorithms, and security systems to encrypt sensitive information. You will solve security issues by formulating mathematical and statistical models.
It will be your duty to create and implement new cryptology applications. In addition, you will be responsible for preventing hackers from intercepting communication within the organization or between organizations and their customers.
This career path needs you to acquire some skills in some areas such as programming, algebra, data structures, and computer architecture.
The nature of cryptographers’ jobs can, however, depend on the organizations they have employment with. For instance, if a cryptographer works for a government security agency, they help to decrypt sensitive files to catch criminals or discover their plans.
They generally help to protect data and decipher encrypted files. Cryptography is a high-paying job where people earn an average annual salary of $150,000. A 30% job growth rate is projected to happen by 2028 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Penetration Tester
Penetration testers are also called ethical hackers or white hat hackers. What they do is understand the motives and strategies of hackers. They perform penetration testing to locate the loopholes and vulnerabilities in an organization’s networks and recommend relevant ways to fix the loopholes before cybercriminals exploit them.
Penetration testers must be able to work under pressure and be trustworthy since they deal with confidential matters. They must exhibit a high level of creativity and organization to be able to keep track of their projects. Furthermore, they must constantly acquire more skills and update their knowledge to be able to predict cyber threats and help in incident response.
A bachelor’s degree in information security and another related field with knowledge of Python, Network Mapper, PowerShell, Wireshark, etc, is required in penetration testing. Ethical hackers receive an average annual salary of $87,925.
Cyber Security Project Manager
If you are a cyber security professional who eyes a leadership role, being a project manager can be a perfect fit. As a cybersecurity project manager, you will be responsible for the development of security systems that safeguards an organization’s sensitive information and assets.
Cyber security project managers oversee other cyber security experts through the stages of all projects ensuring they come to completion within the set time and budget. It is also their responsibility to see to the implementation of approaches and strategies developed by cyber security analysts.
This management role can be attained with bachelor’s degrees in business administration and computer science. A cyber security master’s degree or professional certifications can improve your chances of landing a job as a cyber security project manager.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), cyber security project managers’ average annual salary is $159,010 as of May 2021, and an 11% growth rate is projected between 2020 and 2030.
Information Security Analyst
Information security analysts have the obligation of developing plans and strategies to prevent the occurrence of cyber-attacks. They have a role to protect sensitive data and ensure that cyber security strategies implemented are being followed as expected.
They are responsible for overseeing networks and systems. In the process, they detect threats, analyze and assess them, and in general ensure that information technology infrastructure is protected from attacks. As soon as a threat is located, they devise a means to approach it depending on the size and type of threat.
As a result of the technicality of the role of information security analysts, a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology is required. They must know about firewall design, implementation, maintenance, penetration testing, incident response, and data encryption.
As reported by BLS, the average annual salary of an information security analyst as of May 2021 is $102,600, and a job growth rate of 33% by 2030 is predicted.
Choose A Cyber Security Career Today
Going through this article, it is believed that you now have a good knowledge of the ever-growing cyber security industry. Due to the continuous growth of the digital world, so many cyber security jobs are available for taking, and many new ones will surface shortly.
All you need to do with your keen interest in cyber security is obtain a relevant cyber security degree and acquire the necessary skills and other certifications. Then begin a cyber security career in any role and company of your choice anywhere in the world.
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