Four Things You Don’t Know About Cybersecurity
Are you considering a career in the fast growing, exciting field of cyber security? It’s an understandable goal because not only are the careers challenging and financially rewarding, but they can take you all over the world if you choose to work for a company with a global client base. One problem for newcomers to the subject is that there are lots of myths floating around about what cybersecurity is, how people get jobs, and why companies hire these experts. Whether you’re a business professional who’s looking for a security pro, or a prospective college student who wants to build a secure career, check out the following facts before moving forward.
What Cybersecurity Pros Do
Defining what these experts do is a bit like trying to describe, in two sentences, what doctors do. But in general, these digital experts help protect companies from suffering a cyber-attack, either on a large or small scale. There’s a common misconception that only mega corporations need this type of protection.
However, in a world where even one-person service companies do all their business online, the need for cyber-based protection is nearly universal. You still need to protect yourself from identity theft and cyber-attacks as a one-person enterprise. Cybersecurity practitioners can save their clients significant amounts of money and help put systems in place that deter future attacks. They decrease the cost of being a cyber victim and work to reduce the potential risk from the latest kinds of ransomware.
Getting and Paying for a Degree
The majority of people who work in this field get college degrees in subjects like programming, computer engineering, and similar subjects. It’s wise to speak with a college counselor before choosing a particular major, but expect to take plenty of math, engineering, and programming courses along the way.
Paying for your degree is another matter and should be taken care of as early in the educational process as possible, preferably while applying for admission. The smartest route for most prospective grads is to obtain a loan from a private lender. You’ll not only have access to multiple repayment plans but can compare interest rates and design a loan package that works for you. If you truly wish to get your foot in the door of a lucrative career, a four-year degree is the initial step.
Experts Use Dozens of Security Measures
Most everyone knows about anti-virus software and standard firewalls. However, those are just two of the better-known tools used by cybersecurity experts. For corporate clients of all sizes, practitioners use others, including data backups, in-depth monitoring, password protective solutions, and multiple forms of encryption. Of course, every case is unique, and for-hire pros tailor each service call to the individual needs of the client. It’s not unusual, for example, for a very large corporation to maintain an in-house staff of IT pros who specialize in digital security work. In those cases, the company will rarely hire outsiders to troubleshoot an IT-related problem related to an attack or data breach.
New Tech Comes Along Regularly
One of the major challenges in the industry is keeping up with the fast-moving development of new threats. Cyber security is truly an industry where nothing stands still. That’s why even in-house teams have to keep their skills up through continuing education courses and industry seminars.
