The modern society is now an equivalent of a transparent society. Mobile phone numbers are no longer as confidential as before. Every day there are all kinds of house sales and insurance phone calls coming in. We have no idea at which point did we lose our information to these companies who cold-call us. While the network has brought us convenience, there are also security risks. Network security has become another major problem in the new era. Cyber security will help to mitigate these risks.
In this context, network security majors are particularly important.
What is the future employment direction of this profession?
What does this profession need to learn?
1. The increasing demand for network connectivity
The learning curve for organizations adapting to the digital world is steep even now. And it doesn’t show any sign of tapering off. People are addicted to their mobile phones nowadays. More and more household objects are becoming part of the Internet of Things and with each comes new challenges to counter and best practices to absorb—and with that can come opportunities.
We all know that mobile phones are an important carrier of the Internet. Through mobile phones, you can learn about national affairs, connect with friends, have a video call with your family, buy tickets for travel, pay for shopping, and so on.
“There will always be attackers looking to take advantage of insecure implementations, so there’s a job out there for you if you commit to the profession.”
2. Job opportunities are projected to grow substantially
Learning is not just for learning. The ultimate goal is to apply what you have learned to real life, that is, employment. We mentioned that the network utilization rate is constantly increasing, so to ensure the normal operation of the network, information security analysts are particularly important. According to the United States BLS, the employment rate of information security analysts will reach 28% by 2026, which is much higher than the national average.
However, the growth of employment opportunities does not mean equal opportunities. A lot of factors come into play depending on the location, the size and content of service companies are important, and the requirements for information security analysts are naturally different.
3. Specialties within cyber security are increasing
For a long time, IT staffers were not only responsible for product development, but also for network security. Most people think that IT and network security are the same thing. However, with the differentiation of responsibilities, network security has become an established field all to itself, and the various roles and requirements of the network security department are constantly developing.
“I enjoy the emerging professionalism of the field,” Moreland says. “Similar to industries like healthcare, we have specialties in governance, engineering, assessment, risk management, compliance, architecture, operations, eDiscovery, forensics, etc. …”
These specialties just create more options for professionals in the field to truly spend time working on what they like best and developing a deep skill set in specific areas.
4. This job can be difficult to outsource
Few organizations are willing to outsource cyber security positions after taking into considerations company asset protection.
The nature of this work puts cyber security workers at a significant position within the company. This provide an additional comfort to these professionals because they know they can’t be replaced easily.
5. You are not always noticed by others
“I’m in this career because, honestly, I found it more interesting than design or administration,” Buxton says. “It can be rewarding work, especially when you stop someone from suffering harm, or track down an attacker for real-world consequences.”
Working in information technology makes you realize that most don’t notice you when you’re doing a good job as things are just working the way they should. Your co-workers only start looking for you when they are having problems with their computer. However, you know you’ve done a good job when your work directly impacts people’s security and thwarts criminal endeavors.
6. Multiple education pathways
Although network security is often talked about, this is still a relatively new field. With the increasing popularity of network connectivity, cyber security major has become one of the most sought-after majors. For those with another relevant professional background, especially those who focus on security, networking, system management, and programming, they are still able to enter this field.
If you have the relevant professional education, relevant internship experience and the latest online security certification, your resume will become unparalleled.
7. A career of consistent change
“What I love most is that things consistently change,” Buxton says. “Although the fundamentals last—the nuances and details change almost daily.” Buxton says exploits are patched, zero days are discovered, and insiders find new ways to steal data on a regular basis.
When the cyber hackers acquisite new technology to infiltrate networks illegally, network security workers also need to continuously learn new knowledge, improve their professional capabilities, and adapt to the rapid development of science and technology.
In addition, network security analysts also need critical thinking and communication skills to better express their professional capabilities.
8. Solve complex technical problems
Figuring out how to disrupt things and finding ways to prevent them from being compromised is a perfect transition into cyber security. Network security is like a mystery. You must consider how to enter a system and how to prevent a system from being completely compromised at once. If you’re the type of person who likes to find solutions from logical and technical challenges, cyber security can be an attractive career option.
In the coming decades, companies or organizations will increasingly rely on data and systems that store, transmit, and analyze data. The increasing popularity of Internet technology will drive the amount of data that needs to be analyzed, manipulated and protected to grow at an unprecedented rate. Cyber security will become an essential professional skill, which will make cyber security a good long-term career option.
If you are interested in all the above illustration,
then working in a cyber security field will be your perfect career choice.
