Cyber security has become the need of the hour for every organization, regardless of the field or industry. As the cyber traffic increases every day, a threat to the smooth systems functioning and security of sensitive data also shoots up. Cyber security ensures a safe and secure environment for daily IT operations to take place without any menace.

Companies have been investing significantly in data protection and talent. For instance, demands for cyber security job roles such as CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) are peaking now more than ever. If you want to take advantage of this career opportunity, read on and get to know the complete road map to start your career in cyber security.

See if Cyber Security is a Perfect Fit for You?

Step one is to see if you have the right mindset and passion for excelling in cyber security. Many people decide to start a career in cyber security solely because the number of opportunities available in this field exceeds the number of applicants, which is not the correct way of getting into any field, let alone cyber security.

You must adequately analyze every aspect of the field and see if that’s something you want before making up your mind. And for this, you can connect with the experts and professionals already working in the field. In addition, you can gather all the information relating to cyber security through various sources available on the internet. It is better to know what you’re getting into before actually getting into it.

Get a Formal Degree in IT

Earning a degree in the IT sector will build the foundation needed for cyber security certification. Having a degree in any IT streams like computer science, information security, computer technology, information systems, programming and internet technologies, or any other will give you the proper exposure needed for more complex themes such as CEH.

In addition, employers are more likely to hire a professional with a degree than someone who has just obtained the ethical hacker certification without any formal education. But at the same time, it is not mandatory to hold an institutional degree in the IT sector to kick start your career in cyber security. You can go ahead with many cyber security certifications, like CEH, without an IT degree. However, it is advisable to have a proper roadmap to complete the certificate.

Get Yourself Certified

There are several cyber security certifications you can attain as per the specific job roles. And it has become an obligation to achieve industry certification based on your job role to even apply for any cyber security positions. In addition, there are many subfields within cyber security for which you can attain industry-relevant certifications.

So, you can get the certification according to what you like and want to do as a job. And it is vital to select the correct certificate based on your interests and future scope. Some of the leading programs available under cyber security are listed as follows:

• CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)

• CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)

• CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor)

• SSCP (Systems Security Certified Practitioner)

• CISM (Certified Information Security Manager)

There are many more certification programs in addition to the ones mentioned above. However, ethical hacking is one of the most sought-after certifications among all cyber security programs.

Getting the Job

Getting a job would not be an issue in cyber security, as there are more vacancies available in this field than the number of applicants. So, if you have the proper knowledge with the right skills, you can easily land a decent job as per your area of expertise. But one thing to make sure, you will need to be collaborative and work in a team for almost all cyber security job roles. At the same time, you must also possess excellent communication skills to cooperate with your colleagues efficiently. And one plus point here would be getting the internships done before going for the job, as the proper training will help you gain insights into the work and eventually help you perform better during the interviews.

Now coming to the salary, the average salary of an EC Council ethical hacker or CEH is in the range of $79,500 to $109,500 annually. So, you can tell that cyber security is one of the most lucrative career options with more job availability than other streams within the IT industry.

Given these points, if you follow the structured roadmap as explained in the article, you can quickly start and excel in your career in cyber security and expect a fair-paying job at the end.