As the COVID pandemic finally starts to disappear, the proverbial dust is settling on the U.S. economy, as well as the global one. Mad dashes to adjust to the “new normal” 16 months ago were followed by thought-out, data-driven adjustments to exist in a remote world.
One of the determinations made (based on numbers) was that a remote workforce was, generally, as productive as a workforce that conducted their business primarily in an office setting.
Almost every aspect of internet activity increased during the pandemic, from social media use to e-commerce money spent, to web-based marketing, and, on the other side of things: cyber attacks.
Remote Work and the Increase of Cyber Attacks
The comparable productivity displayed by many remote workers versus their days in a brick-and-mortar store, coupled with the fact that it’s simply cheaper for companies to allow their employees to work from home, has led to a high demand for cybersecurity.
Those who work in cybersecurity can help protect the ever-growing digital assets of a company with increased e-commerce activity, especially since many companies are planning to allow employees to continue working remotely even after the pandemic is finally a thing of the past.
The individuals responsible for this protection are known as cybersecurity professionals and demand for professionals who can keep companies’ records protected is extremely high (and so are many of the paychecks, now that money is being saved on office space).
The path to becoming a cybersecurity professional is not exceptionally long, and even if you’ve already gone to college, many degrees in information science and computers can qualify you for jobs willing to train.
For those individuals looking to go to college in order to set themselves up for careers in cybersecurity, many degree programs now exist specifically in this field.
Here are four more tips for people looking to break into this rewarding career that also has a lot of (ironic) job security given the web-based commerce trends:
1. Network: Online and In-Person
In addition to evolutions in education, web-based communication, and, indeed, cybercrime, networking options have become more accessible from home, too.
There are many official organizations for cybersecurity professionals, but even things like Reddit feeds about the profession can result in interactions with people who can help you with your future.
When searching for work in cybersecurity, don’t ever let your hands be idle. There are many different cybersecurity jobs and each niche has an online community full of support. Use it!
2. Get Certified
Even though there are many degree programs that can qualify an individual for a job in cybersecurity, there are several certifications within the field as well. If you plan on staying web-based then the more of these certifications you can achieve, the more doors will open for you.
Most potential employers will list their preferred certifications, so if you get a chance to look at five or six jobs you think you’d be interested in, you can see which preferred certifications they share to find a logical place to start.
3. Polish Your Online Communication
Though cybersecurity is not a bad career choice for people who like to do a lot of work alone, the harsh reality is that you’ll have to do a lot of reporting.
Most of this will be done via written communication, especially if you choose to pursue a more freelance work model where you conduct measures for multiple clients.
With this, you can really set yourself apart from the otherwise comparable competition by taking the time to practice up on your writing and professionalism.
4. Look Forward
Hackers are smart. Hackers are driven heavily by money but they also tend to share their trends quite openly.
With this, a great cybersecurity professional should be able to put themselves in the proverbial shoes of hackers to see where their company’s assets may become vulnerable.
Takeaway
Armed with communication skills, a proactive mind, certifications, and a network of individuals to learn from and find work through, there will be many, many options in the near and distant future for individuals in the cybersecurity field.
