The complete guide to becoming a cybersecurity professional in 2022

The digital age has completely transformed the way companies carry out business, allowing for streamlined and productive work processes. Machines have taken over tedious tasks and data has become the most powerful tool for decision-making. 

Data is indispensable, but it is also vulnerable to cyberattacks and hackers which is where cybersecurity comes into the picture. The Yahoo cyberattack in 2015 and 2016, where billions of  accounts were accessed by hackers became an international headline covered by the National Law Review and The New York Times. It was a huge eye-opener to the dangers of cybercrime for organizations around the world. 

Since then, there have been many such cyberattacks and organizations have become more focused on strengthening their security systems. A cybersecurity specialist is invaluable to a company in the current times and this job role will only become more popular in the future. 

So, if you are planning to take up this career, it is important to find out how to progress in this field. 

What is a cybersecurity specialist? 

As businesses become increasingly reliant on data and the Internet, resulting in tech advances like cloud sharing and Artificial Intelligence, the issue of cybercrimes has become more prevalent. This has boosted the demand for cybersecurity specialists in the market. 

According to Fortune Business Insights, the global cybersecurity market will be growing from USD $155.83 billion in 2022 to USD $376.32 billion by 2029. This means that there will be a huge surge in the demand for such specialists. 

The role of a cybersecurity expert involves numerous responsibilities that include designing and implementing secure network solutions that can mitigate and defend the system from any cyberattacks. To ensure this, specialists continuously monitor these systems and test them to check for vulnerabilities in the defenses. 

How to become a cybersecurity professional?

A career in cybersecurity is an excellent decision in the current times. With the surge in digitization, cybersecurity has become an important industry and its role will only grow in the future. So, how do you secure a good job role in this sector?

• Choose a good program

The most important step in entering the cybersecurity industry is to choose the right diploma program. Just like any other field, this one also requires training and necessary learning which can only be gained through a degree. 

Cybersecurity is a vast field with a wide spectrum of responsibilities and job roles. Only through formal education will you be able to gain a thorough understanding of this sector. 

With the help of a good diploma program, you will gain the essential knowledge required to land a good job role and progress in this field. However, it’s important that you opt for an accredited program from a recognized college. A diploma program can help you gain valuable knowledge needed to enter the job market and will accelerate your career progression. 

• Receive the necessary experience 

After receiving the required education, you should prepare for this sector by gaining work experience. There are some programs that even offer practical experience as part of the curriculum that help students understand the cybersecurity field even better. 

An entry-level job in this sector will also provide you with hands-on experience and help you build the necessary skills to grow in this field. 

• Get a practical training certificate 

If you are looking to become a cybersecurity specialist, then it’s important to obtain the proper industry certification. It’s also a norm in this career that professionals are required to have a proper clearance. 

There are various certificates that you can obtain, each focusing on specific expertise. Some like Certified Ethical Hacker are considered advanced certificates that require multiple years of experience. As you progress in this sector, you will be able to better direct your career by understanding what employers are looking for and what expertise suits your abilities. Also, many companies offer professional development opportunities where employers pay for the certificate programs that an employee is keen to enroll in. 

• Stay updated and build your skills 

Cybersecurity is a very dynamic field and is constantly changing. This means that, along with relevant education and experience, you need to continually work on staying updated with the latest trends in this field. Additionally, you must work on developing your skills, which include technical knowledge such as understanding functionality and maintenance of endpoint security and firewalls.

Looking to become a cybersecurity specialist? Check out the Diploma in Cybersecurity Specialist Co-op offered by Trebas Institute at its Toronto campus. 

This 12-month program focuses on familiarizing students with all aspects of cybersecurity such as big data, blockchain and more. Taught by experienced faculty, this program will train you on necessary cybersecurity tools, programming language, assessment of risk, responding to security alerts and several key elements crucial to this sector. 

The co-op program will strengthen your theoretical knowledge of this sector and will build on it with practical work experience. 

To learn more, click here