As we all know, computers are becoming the language of the future. With computers, we can carry out our tasks more accurately and quickly. It as well, save a large amount of our energy and time. There are many interesting fields in computer science some of which are listed below for reference.
1. Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
2. Big data and Data science analysis
3. Cyber security
I am taking this opportunity to discuss in detail the career options and future in the Cyber Security field. As the name describes, cyber security refers to the security of computer systems, networks and big data. The word security or protections covers a wide range of applications which includes protection of information and data from disclosure, theft/damage to hardware and software, as well as protection from disruption or misdirection of data.
Demands for cyber security professionals are growing at a breakneck speed, with three times more job openings when compared to IT fields. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the industry will experience job growth of 31% between 2019 and 2029. Cyber security job opportunities in turn have various subfields like Security Analyst, Security Architect, Ethical Hacker/Penetration tester, Security Software Developer, Crptoanalyst, Security Engineer, Security Administrator, Cryptographer, security consultant, CISO (Chief Information Security Officer), etc.
The Job description of a Cyber security professional in a broad sense could simply be defined as follows. The cyber security professional is expected to safeguard the defense mechanism of an organization’s secured data and network, which also includes installing firewalls, creating security plans and monitoring security breach activities. If a breach occurs, the concerned professional is responsible for identifying the problem and finding a solution quickly.
Talking about the educational requirements to pursue a career in cyber security. The minimum requirement for an entry-level cyber security job will be a bachelor’s degree or under graduation degree in information technology or computer science and software engineering. As an added advantage, cyber security professionals used to earn professional certification to boost career opportunities. Security authorizations are also essential for those who are interested in Government agencies.
The top ten cyber security certification courses to enhance your career include ISACA’s CDPSE certification, CISSP, CISA, CISM, SECURITY++, CEH, GSEC, SSCP, CASP, and OSCP.
Thus to conclude, Cyber security could be that particular job that may be a stepping stone to loftier ambitions with a 31 percent job growth rate and six-digit salary figure. The key idea is to cultivate professional growth, knowledge in a cyber-security career to improving your professional skills and appropriate knowledge.
References:
- Mathilde Frot, (2021). “5 Trends in Computer Science Research”, Retrieved from https://www.topuniversities.com/courses/computer-science-information-systems/5-trends-computer-science-research
- Coursera, (2021) 10 Popular Cybersecurity Certifications [2021 Updated]. Retrieved from https://www.coursera.org/articles/popular-cybersecurity-certifications
Dr. Vijay Arputharaj is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, Skyline University Nigeria. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India
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