We are happy to present this guest blog from Stuart Cooke at Evalian.
Whether you’re leaving education soon, you’ve recently graduated, or you’re looking to take the next step in your career, you might be considering a job in cybersecurity.
And this could be a good career move. With cyber threats on the rise and cybercriminals becoming increasingly sophisticated, the demand for security experts is only growing.
But the only problem is, this is a very technical industry that requires a strong skill set and lots of dedication; as such, it’s definitely worth considering your options before you jump in.
So if you’re not sure whether embarking on a career in cybersecurity is going to be the right move for you right now, then this article is for you.
Below, we’re going to outline five of the key reasons that a career in cybersecurity can be a rewarding one. This should help you to make an informed decision about your next career move.
So what are we waiting for? Let’s get started!
1. There is a huge amount of room for career progression
As we said in the introduction, cybersecurity threats are on the rise. In fact, data from Kaspersky released in 2020 found that there were somewhere in the region of 1.5 billion cyber-attacks per year. And this figure will only increase.
Therefore businesses are relying more heavily on cybersecurity experts to protect their data. And with laws like General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) in place, this is hardly surprising.
Because of this, there are plenty of opportunities in the industry and lots of scope for career progression.
After all, no one wants to embark on a career that only offers them limited growth. Nowadays, it’s important that we find a fulfilling career path, one that keeps us engaged and challenged – and a career in cybersecurity will do just that!
So even if you start out as a cybersecurity apprentice or a junior cybersecurity analyst, with time and experience, you can work your way up the ranks until you eventually reach the post of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or a similar position.
So really, when it comes to your career in cybersecurity, the only thing that will hold you back is your own desire. Otherwise, there are plenty of exciting opportunities to grow and progress and become an expert in your field.
2. It’s an exciting and varied industry
The reason there are so many opportunities for growth is not just because of the increase in cybercrimes. This is also because the industry itself is very exciting and varied. Cybersecurity professionals can work in a number of positions across a range of different industries.
Think about it, data security is crucial for every business, no matter what they’re selling or which industry they’re in. From hotels to cars to retail websites serving millions of users each day, the variety is near infinite.
This can give you some very exciting career options and can be great if you like to shake up your job role every once in a while.
And better still, the more variety of roles and industries you have under your belt, the better a security professional you’ll be. Therefore, switching up your positions and keeping it fresh won’t harm your career prospects; it’ll actually boost them.
It’s a win-win, really!
3. You’ll be making a real impact on people’s lives
Cybersecurity matters for so many reasons. In a world where we are increasingly sharing our data with organisations, particularly over the internet, we rely on security to keep us safe.
And we don’t just mean stopping people from hacking into our Facebook account – although tasks like these are also very important. But if you embark on a career in cybersecurity, you can make a real difference to people’s lives.
Some important examples of how cybersecurity is used include:
- Protecting medical data to stop criminals tampering with potentially life-threatening information
- Stopping hackers from stealing peoples financial details and therefore, their money
- Protecting people’s privacy in important cases such as legal battles
Now, of course, these might be some of the more extreme examples of data protection, but depending on the role you choose, you can see how your job in cybersecurity could make a real-world impact on the lives of others.
4. The earning potential is high
As we’ve mentioned on several occasions, cybersecurity is absolutely crucial in today’s digital world. Because of this, the earning potential for professionals in the industry is understandably high.
Of course, as in any job, salaries will vary depending on factors like your experience, qualifications, type of employer, etc. but the average UK starting salary for a cybersecurity analyst in the UK is between £25,000 and £35,000.
Not bad for a starting wage!
Then as you progress and gain more experience and skills, your earning potential also grows. Senior cybersecurity specialists could expect to earn anywhere between £35,000 and £60,000 a year.
And then once you reach top status and find yourself in a managerial position, your salary could be in excess of £70,000. Especially if you work for a large corporation or one which handles extremely sensitive and important data.
5. The industry is known for having high job satisfaction
Last but certainly not least, a career in cybersecurity promotes good job satisfaction, something which is important to today’s professionals. And this is understandable given that many of us spend upwards of 40 hours a week at work – so it’s important that you love what you do.
In fact, a survey from Exabeam found that a staggering 96% of cybersecurity professionals and those in related fields said they were happy in their jobs and a further 87% were satisfied with their earnings.
These figures are very impressive and clearly show that this is a progressive and satisfying industry to get into.
And this is largely due to the varied nature of the industry, the great earning potential and the new waves of technology that keep security professionals on their toes.
So if you were still undecided as to whether a career in cybersecurity is the best option for you, all we can say is, if you’re looking for a satisfying role that you won’t get bored of, this could be the career path for you.
Written by Stuart Cooke, Blog Editor at Evalian.co.uk, data protection and penetration testing specialists.