The Future Of Cybersecurity Jobs

Cybersecurity jobs are in high demand and it doesn’t seem like the need for more security professionals is going change in the foreseeable future. Cyberattacks are becoming more common, more harmful and e no company or organisation with an online presence is immune to attacks.

According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the rate of growth for jobs in information security is projected at 37% from 2012–2022, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations.

Computer science roles are already in high demand as it is; adding in the element of security makes these roles even more critical and sought after.

Cybersecurity Training
With so many jobs available, and the need to fill them so dire, more colleges are offering degrees in cybersecurity, though it has yet to become a staple in undergraduate coursework for students majoring in related fields. For many professionals currently in the cybersecurity field, they learned the necessary skills through certificate programs and in-the-field training versus degree programs. 

Cisco and Microsoft security training certificate programs are common among all professionals looking for certification. Further collegiate education is also an option, but with relatively few schools offering programs, with a high percentage located on the east coast or DC area, it might not be easy for professionals to find a program nearby that offers what they need.

Common Cybersecurity Positions
While cybersecurity is a common job function, it is actually not as common to see the term in a job title. 

Common skills required for cybersecurity job roles are: 

• incident handling and response
• audit and compliance
• firewall/IDS/IPS skills
• intrusion detection
• analytics and intelligence
• SIEM management
• access/identity management
• application security development
• advanced malware prevention
• cloud computing/virtualisation 

While these are the most common skills, most cybersecurity roles require a handful of these skills plus others.

Based on the SANS survey, the top five industries for cybersecurity professionals are:

• Banking/Finance/Insurance 
• Information Technology/Management
• Government (Defense), Government (Nondefense)
• Consulting/Professional Services. 

Not surprisingly, these top industries all deal with the type sensitive information commonly targeted by attackers.

Just the Beginning
While we’ve already seen a large boom in these jobs and skill sets, it is safe to say that it is only just the beginning for the rise in cybersecurity roles.  Not only will current professionals be able to easily broaden their skill sets with cyber security training, if colleges continue to expand their offerings, more young talent will continue to fill these roles. 

Monster:      US Bureau of Labour Statistics: 

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