In the beginning of 2012, credit card processing company Global Payments experienced a data breach that affected 50,000 credit cards. Although social security numbers, names and addresses were not accessed during this breach, the damage was done and it was big. Global Payments not only lost an industry safety credential that attracts clients to use their services, they will also have to spend in excess of $84 million in providing credit protection and identity monitoring services to card holders affected by this breach.
$84 million is an expensive lesson to learn about the increasing need for advanced cybersecurity. Everyone from retailers to leaders of government agencies are beginning to recognize this, including the cybersecurity director of one of the South’s leading electronics retailers.
Paul Dirmann, Director of Internet Security for BrandsMart USA, gives his take on the need for cybersecurity, “It’s essential in today’s world with the level of reliance that both businesses and consumers have on technology.” Mr. Dirmann also agreed that breaches could be detrimental to a company’s bottom line, “A breach at your business could result in shutting your doors permanently and that’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”
“The bad guys know that cybercrimes bring bigger payloads in less time, with a much lesser risk of getting caught,” added Dirmann. This is one of the many reasons he has decided to further his education and continue to enhance his cybersecurity skills.
Education and Certifications
Regardless of whether you are actively involved in the cybersecurity industry or are interested in joining, having the proper training, experience and credentials are crucial to being qualified in the eyes of your future employer. Why is this? Among other things, employers look for dedication and industry body of knowledge, which are demonstrated with the degrees and certifications you have earned.
3 Ways Cybersecurity Professionals Can Land a Job
- Join the Military. The military is an excellent training ground for anyone to learn a trade such as cybersecurity and get an education, as well as earn top security clearance. Employers with military contracts will look for civilians who have earned security clearance or those who meet the requirements to gain clearance.
- Get Certified. Industry certifications are almost as important as education and experience because they prove to employers the credentialed individual’s level of experience in industry body of knowledge. Depending on the credential, a certification can demonstrate what area of industry the individual is best suited for.
- Recommended Certifications:
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP)
- CompTIA Security+
- ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)®
- Earn a Degree. Education, above all else, displays an individual’s ability to commit to a task. It also gives the individual a solid foundation in their field of study as well as helps set them up on a path for a lifetime of learning, something that is required in a rapidly evolving industry such as cybersecurity.
Degrees Cybersecurity Professionals Should Look into are as Follows:
- Associate of Science in Information Systems
- Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a Specialization in Computer Information Systems
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
- Master of Business Administration with a Specialization in Information Technology Management
- Master of Science in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
- Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT)
- Master of Science in Information Technology with a Specialization in Cybersecurity
It should be no surprise that cybersecurity is a rapidly growing industry that is needed at all sectors from the government to retail. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an impressive 22% growth from now through 2018 for cybersecurity professionals. If you aren’t sure what area of cybersecurity you’d like to join, here is a list of career titles and paths that belong to this fast-growing industry:
- Chief Security Office
- Chief Information Security Officer
- Computer Security Specialist
- Computer Forensic Investigator
- Computer Network Defense Engineer
- Cybercrime Technology Director
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Cybersecurity Manager
- Cybersecurity Specialist
- Cyber Systems Analyst
- Director of Internet Security
- Security Operations Manager
- Threat Intelligence Analyst
To learn more about getting started in the challenging and exciting career of cybersecurity, click here.