Did you know the cost of damages caused by cybercrimes is expected to reach $10.5trillion in 2025? This is an exponential rise from the $3 trillion damage cost statistics recorded in 2015.
Cyber Crimes are more rampant than ever before. Important financial and end-user information is exposed daily on the internet. And cybercriminals leverage loopholes and security breaches in a system to inflict damages.
In order to curb this and reduce the damage cost by a greater margin, cybersecurity professionals are needed. And cybersecurity careers are the future.
However, before we dive in, let’s discuss the meaning of the term cybersecurity.
What is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is a defense for computers, devices, and other tech-gadget while using the internet. It also refers to processes, technologies, and practices that have been designed to offer protection to your network, apps, data, and devices from any form of cyber attack. It is also known as Information Technology (IT) security.
The topic of cybersecurity revolves around the protection of your devices and internet network from unauthorized usage or access.
Now, the internet has surpassed its primary purpose of communication. The internet is now used for business. It is safe to say; that the internet is a global marketplace. Different people from different regions around the world can do transactions with one another.
However, all this internet usage leaves internet users at risk of third-party access to their personal information. But cybersecurity professionals can help to prevent third-party information exposure and data loss.
As stated earlier, careers in cybersecurity are the future. However, to explain this further, below are the reasons why Cybersecurity Careers are the future
Reasons Why Cybersecurity Careers Are The Future
Increasing Usage of the Internet
Based on statistics, 63% of the world’s population are internet users. This is five percent higher than statistics recorded a decade ago. The implication is that as internet users increase, the risk of cyber crimes increases.
So, more internet users input important information like their credit card number, social security number, tax information, etc., on the internet. This leaves them at risk of cyber attack. This is because cybercriminals can breach internet security to access this information. This can lead to financial and statistical loss of data.
Therefore, as the world population and internet users increase, cybersecurity professionals are needed. They can tackle security breaches and restore the integrity of the internet space.
In-Demand
Cybersecurity is one of the career paths in high demand. As internet users increase and more information is stored online, the risks of a cyber attack are exponentially increasing as well.
However, to prevent this, cybersecurity professionals are needed. A career in cybersecurity is never stale or useless. In 2021 according to the (ISC)², the number of unfilled job positions was around 400000. Now, the Bureau of Labor projects that by 2026, the number of available cybersecurity jobs will increase by 28%.
The demand for cybersecurity professionals is rising because internet users are increasing. And to secure the information of end-users, companies are ready to hire cybersecurity professionals to get this done.
Growth is unlimited
Cybersecurity is a broad career with an always-expanding scope. As long as advancements are made in internet usage, the growth in the cybersecurity field is unlimited.
Therefore, choosing a career path in cybersecurity presents more learning opportunities.
When cybersecurity started, security teams were “jack of all trades.” However, over the years, the cybersecurity field continued to evolve and expand, and only security teams were not enough. The workload required expansion and diversification. Now, from a single security team, there are various career paths in the cybersecurity field.
In the near future, 5 or 10 years from now, the concept of cybersecurity jobs and career paths will not be the same. This is because a good number of the technologies available today were not what was in existence a decade ago.
Furthermore, the total world population is almost eight billion people. And in a few years, the population will be more than that. Invariably, more people will need different products, goods, and services.
Now, 60% of these people will not only use the internet, computers, and mobile phones. But they’ll also depend on other technologies to manage and support their lifestyle and needs. The implication is that there will be an increase in cyber crimes. And to keep these crimes at bay, cybersecurity professionals will be needed to ensure the safety and security of important information on the internet.
Real-life Impact
One of the career paths that affect the life or solve real-life problems is Cybersecurity. The future is unpredictable. But as regards cyber crimes and information breaches, cybersecurity is dynamic enough to provide real-life solutions to real-life threats.
A career in cybersecurity is not static, nor can it be stale. Cyber crimes are real-life problems. A security breach in the financial sector can lead to the loss of millions of dollars. The 2021 biggest cyber attack affected major companies like Facebook, Colonial Pipeline, Volkswagen, etc.
To solve these problems and prevent future attacks, cybersecurity professionals are needed to set up security measures.
In addition, there will be new challenges and cyber threats in the future. Cybercriminals are always developing new ways to breach security systems. And as a cybersecurity professional in the future, you’ll be required to uncover the loopholes. Then, improve your company’s security system.
Furthermore, businesses change and evolve in functions over time. These changes can require you as a cybersecurity professional to alter or create a new information security system.
In cases of company growth surge or branching out in the future, you, as a cybersecurity professional, will be required to make the necessary security adjustment. This adjustment will guarantee the safety of all newly collected data and information.
So, a career in cybersecurity now and in the future has a real-life impact it makes.
You Are Not Stuck
If you want to change your desired specialty in Cybersecurity, you can do this with minimal effort. Unlike other career paths, you are not stuck in a position as a cybersecurity professional.
Switching specialties as a cybersecurity professional isn’t an arduous task. All you need to do is shift your focus to understand the responsibilities in your desired new position. Once you have a comprehension of your new specialty functions in an organization, you can set out to seek employment in new job positions.
If you consider a career in cybersecurity, you are not stuck. This is because you can always set out to learn more even while on the job. You can take different classes to improve and expand opportunities in your career.
Conclusion
The increase in internet usage and the invention of new technologies are inevitable in the near future. A career in cybersecurity is needed for the future. This guarantees the security of information and prevents the occurrence of cyber attacks at large.
