Staying indecisive about what career path to follow can often make you feel as if your life is on pause. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to this deliberation. It takes rigorous self-assessment and the motivation in which to move forward to an intended result. To begin with, it’s important to understand what you’re seeking in a career.
Most frequently, people wish for careers that have a decent lateral but mostly upward potential of mobility. Many wish for a decent work-life balance. We also wish to have a job that’s meaningful, not necessarily one that just pays the bills.
In fact, meaningful jobs can often fully justify working even harder for a similarly paid position, because we know we’re making a difference. Some jobs, for instance, are essential. It’s easy to see how the microbiologist is continually making strides to immunize us against transformative bacteria and by extension disease, and we’re grateful to them for the work they do.
Another example of a growing sector that does important work to help protect individuals, businesses or enterprises from threats is cybersecurity. In fact, cybersecurity has become the new norm in intellectual property defense, in the security of personal data, and more. This is why thousands of people are finding educational opportunities that position them towards employment in this field, as more than ever it is a valuable and lucrative career path to follow.
This demand shows absolutely zero sign of slowing down. As the world becomes further interconnected and a new normal is created, the need for technologically capable individuals that protect these networks have become an absolute necessity.
The Stakes Have Never Been Higher
It’s important to note that while cybersecurity measures seem like a logical step to protect a company or institution’s assets, the ethos behind this career path is much more than that.
Cybersecurity threats become more and more refined and sophisticated each year, and with that their potential for harm greatly impacted. Data privacy including personal and financial information has become a hot-button topic, and you can be certain that a mishandling of this will lead to extreme repercussions for any otherwise successful initiative.
But while the theft of personal information or data breaches can seem like an inconvenience, especially if they haven’t affected us, it’s important to note that the culture of cybersecurity and forthright implementation of best practice affects us all each and every day.
In fact, in October 2018, the titular ‘WannaCry’ hack hit a third of British NHS hospital trusts and 8% of GP practices, shutting down essential caregiving facilities up and down the country. This cost the NHS £92 million, and it’s hard to measure the medical cost felt by those in need of care.
A New Enforcement
Thoroughly excellent managed IT services have become the new norm for businesses managing their IT mobility and functionalities, even those with a solid internal network. This is because keeping on top of best practice and conforming to updated regulations is now a full-time job.
Like inadequate fire safety investment, businesses know that without caring for IT protection, the worst result—a costly data breach—will become inevitable. It’s essential for each firm, governmental body, public initiative, or commercial entity to have a refined and robust cybersecurity plan. This takes individuals with coherent training, and that’s why this career path has become one dripping with opportunity and potential.
As the stakes have risen, so has the need for cybersecurity auditing. Regulations are increasing at a dramatic rate in order for firms to adhere to best practice. For example, the new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a new means in which government-contracted businesses must adhere to best cybersecurity practices and regulations. This is especially important in an age where the government is continually under attack from foreign nations through illicit digital means.
Additionally, HIPAA regulations are becoming more stringent, in hopes to avoid the prior example set by the NHS attack. Without wishing to make a political statement, it’s not hard to see how this frontier is becoming the new battleground for an elusive set of continual informational-gathering
It’s important to note that the consequences for bad practices are not solely found via security intrusions or hacks. In fact, failure to meet certain legislative necessities and certify and operation in the right manner can lead to hefty fines. This is why almost every business will be considering its cohesive security platform in the next decade, even if they’ve dragged their feet until now. That can only be a good thing.
So What’s Next?
As the years pass on in the next decade, we can see just how this employment category will explode in demand and the need for immediate and functional training of thousands of new employees.
Cybersecurity is not a temporary fad, nor only a career path for those with the most impressive set of qualifications. According to Forbes, official growth estimates suggest that the cybersecurity employment category will growth at up to 37% each year, and this in itself has led to over 500,000 unfilled cybersecurity threats in the last year alone.
Additionally, unlike many corporate or governmental careers you could enter, this employment potential is one that features pure dynamism as a steadfast approach. As mentioned, the sophistication of threatening cybersecurity hostilities are only increasing with time, and this means that worthwhile defense also needs to continually develop. Best practices may look much different in ten years, especially with the continual change of technology and the means in which we interact with it. As such, those who enjoy being part of the cutting edge will find plenty of work to do in this career.
A blossoming and useful career in cybersecurity may await you, should you choose. Our modern world is more consistently and constantly revolving around technology, and keeping it safe has become a top priority that can pay.