Cybersecurity is one of the hottest sectors today, with new threats and challenges emerging each day. And with that, there is a huge push being undertaken by both business and education sectors to attract individuals toward a degree and career in cyber.
Interested in joining this exciting new workforce? Here are a few reasons why pursuing a degree and career in cyber might be right for you.
Hot job market
To say that the cybersecurity jobs market is hot would be a huge understatement. According to Prospects, salaries across the sector are rising and by 2022 there will be around 100,000 unfilled cyber security jobs in the UK alone. This means that cybersecurity professionals are among the most in-demand around the world and will be for years to come.
Infinite room for personal and professional growth
Beyond just the ability to get a cybersecurity job, thanks to an ever-growing set of career tracks, cybersecurity offers a variety of different options for professionals to find a position that fits nicely with their own interests. Cybersecurity professionals work in everything from compliance to stress testing cyber defenses and software, so there are virtually limitless ways that professionals can apply their skills and look to grow them.
Investment in advanced cybersecurity pays for itself
Due to the shortage of cybersecurity talent in the workforce, businesses and educational institutions are constantly rolling out new avenues by which to make cybersecurity careers more affordable. For example, new grants and scholarships are now becoming available each day for individuals interested in cybersecurity careers, while many businesses are beginning to offer tuition reimbursement or other financial perks. This means that a degree in cybersecurity may be much more affordable than you originally thought.
Graduate growth
In addition to interesting “on the ground work” that cybersecurity professionals get to take-on everyday, there is also a growing selection of highly tailored cybersecurity graduate programs that can further academic knowledge in cybersecurity as well. For example, graduate degrees ranging from Applied Cryptography to Network Vulnerability and Detection are now being offered through colleges and universities nationwide. Additionally, as part of this deep-dive, cybersecurity professionals will also get the opportunity to network with other students from various backgrounds allowing them to open up further opportunities for future positions or businesses.
Not only are there academic routes to cybersecurity, but also apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships. These can also be utilised not only for new entrants but for people who want to change their career paths.
