Careers in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity involves the protection of data, devices and networks from unauthorized access or criminal use. It includes activities like identifying and responding to attacks, maintaining integrity and availability of systems, protecting intellectual property and complying with privacy laws.
Everyone depends on cybersecurity to protect their information: Individuals from identity theft or extortion, companies whose business models depend on customer data, and even critical infrastructure, such as power plants, hospitals and financial service providers. Attacks on these organizations can result in loss of life and property, disruption of services and even the destruction of records and equipment.
In most cases, a successful cyberattack begins with malware (malicious software). Malware, short for malicious software, can be used to gain unauthorized access to computer systems and networks, disrupt or damage computers or networks, steal or hold data hostage, and more. It is an increasingly significant threat, as malware can be created using inexpensive tools and sold to cybercriminals and nation states.
As cybersecurity becomes more important to individuals, businesses and governments, so does the need for professionals who can provide solutions that help keep those entities secure. Many cybersecurity jobs are specialized and require advanced training in a specific area of the field. People who stay in this profession find that they can pursue a variety of different paths as the work evolves. For example, if you are interested in the managerial side of cybersecurity, you might pursue a job as a manager or run audits to tell companies where they need to improve to meet compliance standards. Alternatively, if you enjoy the adversarial part of cybersecurity, you might become a penetration tester, also known as an “ethical hacker.”