Secure Your Future
Choosing a cybersecurity career is a smart choice as companies, individuals, and industries need constant protection from cyber criminals.
Why Career Opportunities in Cybersecurity are Growing
A recent study at the Center for Risk and Reliability and Institute for Systems Research indicates that there is a cyber attack every 39 seconds The study monitored several computers with internet connections and concluded that the computers were attacked, on average 2,244 times a day. Additionally, a Forbes report on cybersecurity showed that 74% of cyber attacks are perpetrated by employees. Plus, Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that the annual global cost of cyber crime is projected to exceed $6 trillion by the end of 2021. Companies, individuals, and industries need constant protection from cyber criminals which means that cybersecurity is both a profitable and promising career choice.
Here are 10 reasons why choosing a cybersecurity career is a smart move:
Companies, individuals, and industries need constant protection from cyber criminals which means that cybersecurity is both a profitable and promising career choice.
1. Future Job Growth is Guaranteed
A question that is often asked when choosing a career is “Can I keep this job for years to come?” In choosing a cybersecurity career, you can rest assured that growing and changing technology requires an increased amount of IT employees especially in the cybersecurity field.
2020 is a good example of rapid technological evolution due to cultural need. Due to COVID-19, the way we use the internet has shifted. According to the New York Times, in 2020 the use of apps on smartphones has decreased while the use of websites on computers has increased. Because people have been home, websites like Facebook, Netflix and YouTube have increased in usage over the course of the past few months. People have also relied on the internet for new ways to connect and interact. The use of Facebook.com has increased by over 27% since February of 2020. We’ve also started to rely on services that allow us to work from home, Zoom, while being one of the most popular, was also revealed to have serious security issues. COVID-19 has given cyber criminals an advantage and as our society continues to become more reliant on the internet, the chance of cyber attacks increases drastically. According to Forbes, 25 to 30 percent of the American workforce will be working from home by 2021.
As society becomes more reliant on the internet, the need for strong cybersecurity increases in homes, companies and industries all over the world. According to Cybersecurity Ventures by 2021, there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally.
This means that as long as you have the required certifications and training, you are guaranteed to find a job. In addition to that, because technology is constantly changing, the need for strong cybersecurity never depletes. You will always provide value to your employers and your clients, so your job will be secure for years to come.
2. Average Salaries are High on this Career Path
In 2015, the maximum salary for cybersecurity professionals was around $75,000. However, as the number of cyberattacks increased, cybersecurity careers have become higher in demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for cybersecurity professionals has increased to $99,730 in just a few years.
This salary exceeds that of other IT occupations, which is a great reason for choosing a cybersecurity career.
According to CIO, cybersecurity professionals earn an average of $116,000 annually or $55.77 per hour. Cybersecurity is a fast-growing career and the current job growth rate is around 30% with more positions available than there are qualified professionals.
3. You Can Work from Home
The required components of cybersecurity are primarily online. This means that you don’t have to be in an office. You can access your employer’s networks through your own devices and as a result, you will have no trouble working while traveling. As long as you have access to a desktop, a laptop or even a tablet, you are capable of working anywhere.
4. You Will Have Multiple Opportunities
A major benefit in choosing a cybersecurity career is the flexibility it gives you when it comes to your career choices. In this industry, you can continually keep an eye out for better opportunities. According to Security Magazine, 80% of companies experienced a cybersecurity incident in 2019, the most common being malware attacks. Because of this, 79% of customers are demanding better cybersecurity. The demand for cybersecurity is increasing at more than 3 times the pace of other IT occupations. As long as the internet is around, the need for cybersecurity professionals will be as well. You will always have increasingly better opportunities come your way.
5. You are Mobile
Because there are ample opportunities in the cybersecurity field, you will always be able to find opportunities no matter where you are, which can be very beneficial if you move or travel a lot. Many companies require you to live within their area, but a cybersecurity career allows you to be employed almost anywhere in the world. As the demand for this career continues to increase, more opportunities will continue to open up.
6. Choose Between Public and Private Sectors
Until recently, cybersecurity careers were primarily in the private sector; less than 3 percent were in the public sector. However, according to BLS, the percent in both public and private cybersecurity jobs is projected to increase by 37% between 2012 and 2022. This gives you the chance to choose between public or private sectors which most careers seldom offer.
7. Explore Self-Employment
According to BLS, 70% of Americans want to be self-employed, but only 30% are. When you choose a cybersecurity career, you have the opportunity to be self-employed. Because the industry is strictly digital, it allows you to work from home, set your own hours, set your own wages, and work at your own pace. Another benefit to an occupation in the cybersecurity arena is the flexibility. Even if you are not self-employed, you are still able to set your own hours and work from home.
8. Choose a Career Path That Suits Your Interests
Cybersecurity is a broad term and includes several options within the industry. Some of the Cybersecurity Careers include, but are not limited to:
- Security Specialist
- Incident responder
- Security Administrator
- Vulnerability Assessor
- Cryptographer
- Security Manager
- Security Architect
- Chief Information Security Officer
- Security Analyst
- Security Auditor
- Security Director
- Forensic Expert
- Penetration Tester
- Security Consultant
- Security Engineer
- Source Code Auditor
9. Have Good Work/Life Balance
Cybersecurity offers you the opportunity to work at your own pace, set your own hours and to work anywhere you have access to a computer. Because professionals are high in demand, getting a job is practically guaranteed as long as you have the right certifications and education. The opportunity to work from home and work at your own pace allows you to have good work/life balance.
10. Education and Training is Available
A university education is NOT required. In fact, if you are willing to learn, you don’t even have to have a lot of IT experience. There are courses available through online cybersecurity certification providers that will educate you from the ground up. Organizations like MILE2 have national accreditations and offer over 30 courses, many with hands-on labs, for beginner to advanced learners.
Get on the Cybersecurity Career Path Today!
There are tons of benefits to entering the cybersecurity field. If you feel that you want to enter this arena, there are plenty of options open to you, including in-person classes and self-study course certifications you can take online. If you’d like a head start on your cybersecurity certifications, visit Mile2’s training options page to research your training and career options.