The world saw a shift toward remote working environments in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. While organizations’ rapid adaptation to remote working was met with success, there was also an increase in global estimates of cybercrime. Since working from home necessitated logging in from unsecured locations, cybercriminals could easily hack into the systems and networks and steal valuable information. It has been established that the data stored on systems, devices, and clouds are susceptible to these dangers, which not only interfere with the operations of organizations but also those of people and entire countries. Data, as we all know, is the new valuable commodity in the contemporary digital world. Because of the high number of cyber-attacks, it is imperative that appropriate cybersecurity measures are implemented in all organizations worldwide.
According to the Fortinet report, 80 percent of organizations experienced one or more breaches, which were attributed to a global shortage of cybersecurity knowledge and skills. Furthermore, the World Economic Forum reports a global shortage of a staggering 3 million cybersecurity professionals. The cybersecurity field is one of those fields that has a huge skill gap. This is due to a scarcity of qualified cybersecurity professionals.
So, if you want to pursue a career in cybersecurity, there has never been a better time. Enrolling in a good Cyber Security Training course will help you gain the offensive and defensive skills required to combat the cyber-attacks and safeguard not only your organization’s valuable data, networks, and systems, but also its reputation and credibility.
Get started in cybersecurity
Regardless of your educational or professional background, if you have the right vision and know what your goal and passion are, getting into cybersecurity is fairly straightforward. Since it is a field that is constantly being updated with new knowledge and technology to counter new cyber threats, the world of cyberspace is accessible to anyone who has the passion and enthusiasm to learn and relearn.
Your entry into the world of cybersecurity will be made simpler if you lay out your goals and make a road map of the challenges you must face.
1. Identify your aptitude and goal
Your ability to negotiate the treacherous route from the unknown to achieving your goal will be made easier by knowing your aptitude and goal. It is best to enroll in an introductory cybersecurity course if you are a complete beginner and find the field appealing. From there, you can advance your knowledge. However, enrolling in an intermediate or advanced-level cybersecurity course will equip you with the desired skill set if you are already employed in the cybersecurity industry and are simply looking to expand your skill set to qualify for better positions that can help you advance in your career. Whatever your goals are, you must evaluate them so that you can make wise decisions about the path you need to follow to reach your goal and identify which field of specialization best meets your needs.
2. Learn Fundamentals
To get started in cybersecurity, you must first understand the fundamentals of information technology. It is critical to have a solid understanding of computer networks, network protocols, information technology systems, and cloud computing. Working knowledge of programming and current algorithms is required. It is also essential to have knowledge of scripting and programming languages like Python, HTML, and Javascript. Aside from technical skills, it is recommended that you improve your soft skills such as critical and analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and so on.
3. Enroll in a cybersecurity program
If you lack a technical background, you do not need to be concerned about where to begin. Enrolling in a cybersecurity training program is a great place to start your journey because these programs are well designed and structured, teaching you everything from the fundamentals to the most advanced levels.
Cybersecurity certification programs are offered on numerous conventional and digital platforms. A cybersecurity Bootcamp is one of the easiest places to gain knowledge for working professionals as well as students who face time constraints. Another advantage of these boot camps is that they cater to students from all work and educational backgrounds provided they meet the minimum eligibility requirements. Simplilearn, an online digital platform, for example, offers an excellent six-month postgraduate cybersecurity program in collaboration with the highly prestigious MIT Schwarzman College of Computing (MIT SCC) in the United States, together with the EC-Council, which is an organization that provides cybersecurity certification, education, training, and services in a variety of cybersecurity skills. The program includes master classes from top MIT SCC faculty along with modules from both MIT SCC and the EC-council.
Key highlights of the program from MIT SCC
- Executive Program Certification from MIT SCC in Cyber Security — Technology, Application, and Policy
- EC Council’s renowned Certified Ethical Hacking v11 course.
- Masterclasses from MIT faculty
- Opportunity to work on Industry case studies in cyber security
- 8X higher interaction in live online classes conducted by industry experts
- Capstone project in 3 domains
- Opportunity to work on 25+ hands-on projects
- MIT CSAIL Professional Programs Community
- 24 Hacking challenges from EC Council
These training courses follow a well-organized curriculum that solidifies fundamental knowledge and develops intermediate and advanced security abilities related to applying cybersecurity in the real world. The program also teaches advanced cybersecurity technologies such as Advanced Hacking Concepts, Network Packet Analysis, Security and Risk Management, Network and cloud Security, Cryptography OSI and TCPIP Models, and so on.
4. Earn globally recognized industry certifications
In addition to master’s programs, you can also earn globally recognized cybersecurity certifications, which validate your knowledge and skill set and are highly sought after by recruiters when hiring cybersecurity professionals. Following are a few of these certifications:
- Introduction to Cyber Security Course for Cyber Security Beginners
- CompTIA Security+ Certification – SY0-601 Exam Training
- CISSP Certification Training Course (Advanced levels)
- CEH v11 – Certified Ethical Hacking Course
- CISA Certification Training Course
- CCSP Certification
5. Starting a career
If you are just beginning your career in cybersecurity, you can choose entry-level positions such as IT support technician, network administrator, information security analyst, software developer, IT auditor, and so on to build your technical skills and profile. After gaining relevant experience and broadening your skill set, you can advance to mid-level positions and work your way up. Some of the more senior positions in the cybersecurity domain include security systems administrator, penetration tester, security engineer, cryptography engineer, and cybersecurity manager.
