As the rise in cyber security threats becomes more and more prevalent, it’s no surprise that employment in cybersecurity is on the rise as well. It is estimated that by the year 2022, there will be 1.8 million open jobs in this field. With this becoming a bigger industry, this article will address why cybersecurity is important and what to expect from this industry in the future.
Why Cybersecurity?
As cyber attacks are becoming more common and more harmful, they are also becoming more complex and expensive. Some reports show that the average cost of a security breach has increased by 29% over the past few years. Even though we tend to only hear about attacks on high-profile entities, no company or individual with an online presence is immune to a cyber attack. Being prepared for cyber hackings and security threats is crucial for any businesses or institution. Businesses are eager now more than ever to hire adequately trained information security professionals who can help protect their client records and company assets.
Information security professionals with these coveted skills are in high demand, with a job outlook that is expected to increase 37% from 2012-2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This anticipated growth is much faster than the average for growth in other occupations. It is estimated that there are currently about 200,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the United States, with an approximate one million vacant information security positions worldwide. What’s more, projections for cybersecurity jobs indicate industry-wide increases in salaries and benefits according to Maryville University. Some experts even predict that by 2019 there could possibly be 1.5 million open positions in this industry. Computer science roles are already in high demand, however, adding the element of security makes these roles even more critical and sought after.
With the help of cybersecurity programs, these network monitoring systems serve as your eyes-and-ears, alerting you to any issues that may be on your network. It allows you to keep track of things such as printer supplies, software installations, hard drive space, contract due dates, and just about anything you can think of that relates to your network. A good network administrator quickly addresses issues that jeopardize a company’s network infrastructure. But a great one goes the extra mile and uses reliable network monitoring to proactively identify, intercept, and prevent the issues.
What Does The Future Hold?
The urgency for more cybersecurity jobs will only increase as technologies such as cognitive computing, big data analytics, and the incorporation of IoT devices continue to develop and influence our increasingly connected world in unprecedented ways. Although we have already seen a large boom in cybersecurity jobs and skills sets, it is safe to assume that this job growth is only the beginning. Not only will current professionals be able to broaden their skill set with more security training, but if colleges continue to expand their offerings, more young people will have easier access to the required training necessary to fill these cybersecurity roles.
Cutting-edge technology is going to be the center of these new cybersecurity jobs. In the future, artificial intelligence is going to be used in the workplace in a wide range of ways. With the cybersecurity industry already creating new opportunities, AI provides a way to help overcome the skills shortage often found in the cybersecurity industry. It also is an important step forward in the way employees will work and companies will defend themselves.
In addition to artificial intelligence solutions, the Internet of Things (IoT) will create massive needs and problems for cybersecurity as millions of devices log online. Data breaches through insecure IoT devices continue to increase, causing half a billion personal records to be stolen or lost.
These same technologies can also be used to rescue businesses from the growing problems within cybersecurity. The imbalance of cyber specialists in companies and organizations who are able to handle cyber attacks is not high enough to handle the number of threats received. Cybersecurity is often reactive to hacks and breaches, with actions only taken after a problem has occurred.
The technology that is commonly used to help prevent cyber attacks are threat signatures who look at patterns and are based on previous attacks. But these approaches are limited when it comes to preventing new types of attacks. Organizations in public and private sectors are using analytics and automation to improve their cybersecurity programs.
Cybersecurity is a complex career field with extraordinarily challenging problems, but with a diverse pool of experiences and ideas, companies stand a much greater chance of successfully defending a company’s assets. Businesses can do their part by sharing threat data and investing in solutions and infrastructures that are secured by design.
