How to Learn About Cybersecurity: How Do I Get Started With No Experience?
If you wish to get into cybersecurity as a career option but have no prior experience; good news – you don’t necessarily need a Master’s degree. Instead, everything you need to know can be found by simply enrolling in an online cybersecurity course found at your local college!
Cybersecurity: Starting Out
Cybersecurity is the security architecture and implementation of technologies, strategies, and processes to protect data, systems, networks, programs, and devices from cyberattacks and database vulnerabilities, such as viruses, ransomware, and data leaking.
Its aim is to reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect online systems against unauthorized exploitation.
Cybersecurity threats include hacking to control or destroy a system, stealing data and demanding a fee for its return (ransomware), breaches of privacy/spying, and the general delay or disposal of an online system. Generally, the main principle behind cybersecurity breaches is financial gain, but it can often be used as a political or industrial weapon.
The growing demand for digitalization of every service imaginable naturally means there is an increased demand for cybersecurity tools, cloud security, and security industry leaders, so if you’re thinking of delving into a career in online security, this article will show you how to get started.
Cyber Security Learning Path
If you think you need a college degree to gain cybersecurity training, guess again! While you may need to find some sort of educational institution to learn cyber security, you don’t necessarily need a degree.
You can learn cybersecurity at your own pace around your full-time job, or you can attend your local county college. These courses are becoming increasingly in demand because there is ample opportunity and need for cybersecurity professionals.
You don’t necessarily need a tech background if you’re interested in cybersecurity or are actively seeking cybersecurity jobs. It begins with looking into a learning path, such as a beginner’s course, to start carving out a basic set of digital skills. Let’s look at your options.
Entry Level Cyber Security Certifications
You can head online to find a course that will teach you the basic concepts to get you on your way to being a cybersecurity professional. Some of the online courses include:
Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
This course teaches you the best practices and skills needed to implement and manage your organization’s critical assets and infrastructure by focusing on IT infrastructure security. This course will help you on your way if your tech field interest is IT administrators or network security specialists.
CompTIA Security+
This is probably the most popular certification option for those looking for entry-level cybersecurity career opportunities. This course will teach you a deep understanding of network security, how to conduct a risk analysis, apply risk mitigation techniques, and IT risk management. It will familiarize you with cybersecurity laws and regulations.
Security Essentials (GSEC)
Topics covered here are a vast range of cybersecurity subjects and domains, from penetration testing to digital forensics and other cybersecurity fundamentals. The examination here can be quite costly, which may be something to keep in mind.
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Ethical hacking is crucial for many online organizations to protect themselves from cyber threats, so this can be quite a lucrative option for those looking to delve into the cybersecurity field or gain other industry skills.
Senior Level Cybersecurity Certificates
CISSP Certification
The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification is a qualification designed for senior cybersecurity professionals who want to design and implement a cybersecurity program at their company and are looking to move up into a management position, such as chief information security officer, security architect, or a security manager.
CISM Certification
The Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) qualification is for those who want to take on a managerial position and run a security program. You’ll need to have prior knowledge of information security incident management, information risk management, information security program development and management, and information security governance.
CompTIA CASP+
The CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner certification is considered one of the most advanced cybersecurity qualifications and focuses on cybersecurity skills such as risk analysis, software vulnerabilities, cryptographic techniques, cloud technologies, and operations and security concepts.
Learning Cyber Security on A Budget
There are many free resources for those looking for technical knowledge in the computer security industry from a self-taught angle or non-technical background. Because computing security is a sought-after skill set, many companies will take on entry-level cybersecurity employees and either train in-house or pay for you to learn cybersecurity while also paying you an average salary.
Types of Cybersecurity Jobs
There are multiple types of cybersecurity jobs in all industries/niches, and there is ample room for growth. Some of the types of cybersecurity jobs to look into include:
- Cryptanalyst
- Information Security Analyst
- Information Security Administrator
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Security Software Developer
- Information Security Consultant
- Cyber Intelligence Analyst
- Penetration Tester
- Systems Administrator
- Computer Software Engineer
- Web Administrator
- Web Developer
- IT Technician
- Cyber Intelligence Specialist
- Digital Forensics Analyst
- Ethical Hacker
- Security engineer
Cybersecurity Skills to Learn
Whether you opt for a free cybersecurity course or decide to get a degree in computer science, you will learn cybersecurity from multiple angles to gain in-depth knowledge, some skills of which include:
- Analyzing security risks/risk assessment
- Cloud security alliance
- Cyberattack security measures
- Computer hardware
- Information security skills
- Networking and systems administration
- Network security control
- Coding
- Blockchain Security
- Analytics and intelligence
- Information technology
Cybersecurity Salaries
The average U.S-based salary in the senior area of the cybersecurity sector is around $103,000 per year. Entry-level jobs are naturally lower (and vary from company to company), but it is a potentially lucrative career with a good take-home for those looking to advance.
Learning Cybersecurity – Final Words
Cybersecurity is a crucial part of our economic environment and our personal data security.
Because of the vast amount of industries reliant on computer systems, there has never been a better time to learn cyber security skills. The industry is in need of skilled workers to help them remain cyber secure. So if you choose to learn cybersecurity, there could be a very lucrative and interesting career waiting on the other side.
