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Is A Cybersecurity Career Right For You?

October 31, 2021

From the national data breach at a big box store to ransomware threatening a local non-profit, it’s rare a week passes without a story of a cyber security threat. The bad news? Cybercrimes are on the rise, estimating to cost the world $6 trillion annually by 2021. But there’s also good news: This new frontier of internet security is awaiting eager tech professionals like you to help keep the world safe (no superhero cape required). If you’re wondering, “Is cybersecurity a good career?” here are five reasons to convince you the answer is a resounding, “Yes!”

1) Professionals in Critical Demand

With the growing threat of cyberattacks and data breaches, companies are scrambling to address their cyber security needs. In fact, 62% of companies say they’re understaffed when it comes to cyber security roles, and nearly 60% are anticipating a spending increase in their cybersecurity budgets. However, many  end up empty-handed when it comes to hiring qualified professionals, and even when they do, over two-thirds have trouble retaining their new hires.These hiring obstacles and increased data risks have led to a huge shortage in the workforce. There are more than 500,000 open cybersecurity jobs in the U.S. with more on the way. In fact, it’s predicted by 2021 almost 100% of large companies will have at least a Chief Information Security Officer on staff. However, there is a 0% unemployment rate among cybersecurity professionals, and research indicates the cybersecurity workforce in the U.S. needs to grow by 62% to meet current demands. All this illustrates that the need for cybersecurity professionals is both immediate and unlikely to die down anytime soon.Ready to launch your career as a cyber professional? Talk to an Admissions Advisor!SCHEDULE A MEETING

2) Global Employment Opportunities

The need for cybersecurity experts isn’t just happening stateside, either. Globally, there’s a cyber security employment gap of approximately 2.9 million professionals and growing. By 2021 that need could be as high as 6 million open positions. So much of this comes from the highly valued world of international trade and finance, where cybercrime poses a significant risk. The World Economic Forum listed cyberattacks and data breaches as one of the top threats to business, ranking even above food shortages, terrorist attacks, and infectious diseases. Additionally, the International Monetary Fund has made a formal call for a greater cybersecurity response from businesses across the globe.Studies indicate that the highest shortages can be found in the Asia-Pacific region, which experts attribute to the region’s growing economies and newly implemented cybersecurity legislation. However, there’s a plethora of new cybersecurity job listings all over Europe, South America, and anywhere else you’d like to go.

3) Your Choice of Industries

Cyber security touches every line of work. Wherever there’s precious data being stored by a company, there’s an equal need for cyber security professionals to keep it safe. Statistics show that 7 million records are compromised every single day, and these happen in a huge variety of industries. The top five most common industries for cybersecurity positions are:

  • Healthcare
  • IT and Telecommunications
  • Finance
  • Retail
  • Construction

Businesses are also demonstrating a growing dependence on the Internet of Things, with IoT and smart tech usage growing from 13% in 2014 to 25% today. These devices can leave companies vulnerable to data breaches without the right cybersecurity professionals in place. With so many opportunities for cyberattack risk, it’s little surprise that 46% of cybersecurity professionals report receiving weekly correspondence from recruiters, regardless of whether or not they were looking for a new position. The point, here, is that there’s tons of mobility in a cyber security career path and an opportunity for you no matter your background or interests.

4) Great Job Satisfaction Levels

No job is perfect, but you can get close! According to a 2018 cyber security workforce study, 68% of respondents were very to somewhat satisfied with their jobs, while only 6% indicated high dissatisfaction. However, a fair amount of that dissatisfaction may come from the hiring struggles faced by so many companies; 72% of IT professionals said that their HR department doesn’t understand or fulfill their cybersecurity needs. Cybersecurity is a rich and dynamic field, and a cyber security job description could include a long list of responsibilities and roles. Surveys of cybersecurity pros show a wide variety of tasks on the job, including analysis, monitoring, incident response, user training, and more. This is ideal if you thrive in an environment where no two days are alike, and relish having plenty of opportunities to implement changes to IT practices.

5) High-Salary Field

With a high demand, it’s unsurprising that cyber security pros have a healthy salary, the average making somewhere around $85K annually. Many cybersecurity jobs, however, are well into the 6-figure category. The average Application Security Engineer makes at least $100K, with some pushing $220K annually. Cyber Security Analysts typically make more than $90K, as do IS Security Engineers, who can make upwards of $150K a year.Starting salaries for less-experienced cyber security pros are around $67K, still well above the U.S. median household income, which the Census Bureau reported to be $61,372 in 2017. And with the cyber security need growing by the day, these salaries are likely to continue to grow. However, an equal need for cyber security training and jobs with high salaries are very closely correlated. According to the ISACA’s 2020 State of Cybersecurity report, hiring managers say that only 27% of recent graduates have the qualifications they’re looking for, the most important of which were listed as hands-on training and security certifications. Thankfully, all of those and more can be achieved through an immersive cyber security for beginners bootcamp like the ones found at Eleven Fifty.Cybercrimes are here to stay, and the world needs people like you to help save the day.Investing in cyber security skills means the opportunity to protect companies and individuals from threats to their finances, productivity, intellectual property, and more. However, with such a high need and value for cybersecurity jobs, getting started means selecting the right source for training and education. If you’re wondering, “How long does it take to learn cybersecurity?”

Eleven Fifty Academy offers full-time and part-time cyber security bootcamps that last 14-24 weeks, meaning you could be on your way to a new career before you know it. Schedule a meeting with admissions today to take the first step.

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