For many of us during lockdown and this covid-19 pandemic, work and personal dynamics changed with a lot of platforms moving digitally. One sector that has been thriving during the pandemic is the cybersecurity industry. People staying at home meant more purchases were being made online as well as the nature of work as it was all being delivered from “home” offices. This also meant the risks of online hackers and phishing scams targeting members of the public were increasing exponentially. The cybersecurity sector has helped retail, banking, health, government and private business outlets combat individuals as well as Nation State actors trying to gain access to private and confidential information.
Cybersecurity roles are increasingly growing with employers such as Reed stating that cyber security job roles on their website are “99% year-on year” (Reed, 2018). The team at QCS thought it would be ideal to provide an overview and insight into this field of security, particularly for those who are perhaps considering a career in cybersecurity.
What is cybersecurity, and do I fit the job roles?
We thought it would be best to clear any misconceptions of the sector. Cyber security is essentially “the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks.” (Cisco, 2020). Cyber attacks are normally based on accessing private or unlawful information, disrupting procedures on digital systems or software and extorting money from users.
For many people on frontline security who work in retail, event or corporate security, there are similar resonances to the job roles found between these sectors and cybersecurity. The aim is to ensure users online are protected whether it is securing payments on retail and banking platforms or ensuring private data is guarded so no hacker gains unlawful access. Just like physical security, you will be protecting people but on a digital platform.
Like physical security, cybersecurity monitors the activities of users on software, websites and applications. The many ways you can identify a suspicious character physically, cybersecurity looks at what users are doing online. Whether it is someone spending a large sum of money or emailing people suspicious messages which are encrypted and allow unauthorised access to personal documents, you are still using the same skill set you would do out in public but using a computer.
In essence, you are managing risk but in a digital context. Many people are put off by cybersecurity roles because they feel that they don’t hold the required skill set or believe the myth that you must be an expert in IT to pursue these specific roles. Quite the contrary, cybersecurity is a wide discipline where you can gain opportunities from security administration to web development or cyber security engineer.
Job roles start for £20k per annum to £60k per annum, whether you would like to start your career in cybersecurity or transition into a role within the sector, the possibilities are endless!
Best training platforms for cybersecurity
Don’t fear if you don’t know where to begin with the cybersecurity training. There are some useful links provided by The Learning People provides a great overview course which you can learn more about here, the Medium can help you narrow your search with different divisions in ethical hacking. Tech Radar also provides you with a list of degrees, masters, free and certificate based courses for cybersecurity which can be accessed here.
We hope that this has cleared any misconceptions about the cybersecurity industry. The digital world is taking such prominence in our daily routine, that job opportunities are plentiful. It is definitely a sector which will be thriving and in demand in years to come.
We hope you have enjoyed our article. Our aim at Quick Click Security is to centralise access to jobs, training and knowledge - creating a community and working together to professionalise the private security sector.
