Are you considering attending cybersecurity school but not sure you have the time to complete your education? If you have 45 weeks to complete your formal education, you will find that going to school for cybersecurity is worth it. Plus, it is important to invest in your future, and a great way to do that is to attend the Network Engineer program at CyberTex.
Why You May Be Interested in Cybersecurity
You may be interested in going to school for cybersecurity for many reasons. Cybersecurity has many roles, and it’s a field where you have options in your career path. Some of the other reasons you may be interested in cybersecurity include:
Computer Lovers
If you are passionate about computers, you might be interested in cybersecurity. If you love to learn more about computers and want to test out new software and tools, consider a career in cybersecurity.
Problem Solvers
Do you love finding solutions to complex problems? A large part of your job as a cybersecurity specialist is debugging software, finding vulnerabilities, developing hacking methods, and identifying attacks. If this sounds interesting to you, then you may be interested in cybersecurity.
What does a Cybersecurity Specialist Do?
Safeguarding computers, networks, and confidential data from malicious actors is part of the job a cybersecurity specialist is responsible for. On a day-to-day basis, they work on the following:
Risk Management
Risk assessments, vulnerability evaluations, and risk profiling are critical to identifying vulnerabilities and implementing effective risk management solutions. Risk assessment is an ongoing process that evolves to catch up to the ever-evolving hacker mindset.
Security Operation Monitoring
Cybersecurity specialists monitor computers, networks, mobile devices, and web apps to identify security issues and stop unauthorized access. They use cybersecurity tools to detect, analyze, and report on security events while acting during hacking attacks.
Vulnerability Management
Assessments to identify computer and network vulnerabilities are part of the cybersecurity specialist’s job. They find vulnerabilities by reviewing, penetrating, and analyzing security protocols while recommending improvements to network security.
Security Architectural Design
Cybersecurity specialists start by building secure networks. They work as a team with system architects and web developers to implement security protocols, not the architectural design. They follow cybersecurity best practices to implement security and encryption protocols and secure network configurations.
Incident Forensics
A cybersecurity specialist follows incident response protocols, collects and analyzes traffic and data, investigates with computer forensics, and recommends vulnerability remediation. They also work with IT, legal, and law enforcement if needed.
Security Awareness
Cybersecurity specialists create and conduct staff security educational training. They teach coworkers security protocols, policies, and procedures to improve their awareness. Cybersecurity specialists also simulate attacks with coworkers to raise awareness and improve their response.
Regulatory Compliance
A cybersecurity specialist ensures the organization follows cybersecurity rules and regulations. They stay on top of regulation changes, including data protection laws and privacy procedures. Cybersecurity specialists also implement security controls to meet regulatory compliance standards and ensure data management practices adhere to their organization’s legal requirements.
Research and Development
As a cybersecurity specialist, you will continuously learn and research new threats, industry trends, and computer technology. You will attend conferences, industry forums, and professional development programs to improve your knowledge and skill set. You will also share your knowledge with coworkers and collaborate on cybersecurity research.
Are Cybersecurity Specialists in Demand?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for cybersecurity specialists is expected to grow 33 percent through 2033. Since the Internet and computers are part of our everyday lives, we need cybersecurity specialists to protect our personal data and safeguard us from malicious attackers.
Is Going to School for Cybersecurity Worth It?
The short answer is yes. If you enjoy working with computers, finding malicious activity, and being the hero of your organization, then going to school for cybersecurity is worth it. While you can learn on your own, there are many reasons to complete a formal education. These reasons include:
A Complete Curriculum
While you may think it is easy to learn on the job, you may find that you don’t know what you don’t know. A formal education starts with the basics of cybersecurity and lays a strong foundation you can build throughout your career. You will also learn about the many facets of cybersecurity, including threats like viruses and trojan horses, penetration testing to find vulnerabilities, and computer forensics to identify and catalog malicious activity. Without a formal education, you may be pigeonholed into one aspect of cybersecurity and not have the opportunity to advance in your career.
Practice, Practice, Practice
There is no better way to learn cybersecurity than to practice the trade under the watchful eye of an instructor. As you know the trade, you will spend hundreds of hours in the computer lab, implementing what you learn during classroom lectures. Plus, your instructor will be available to offer direct feedback and guide you as you learn about cybersecurity.
Further, you will be able to make mistakes and learn from them. This way, you can learn from doing without worrying about shutting down your employer’s network or compromising confidential data. You will build your confidence so that you are ready to secure networks and computers and thwart hackers before they even get started.
Career Services
One of the great reasons to attend CyberTex for cybersecurity is because we help you find a job after graduation. Since you will have the knowledge and certifications employers are looking for, you will have more opportunities to find the right job. Whatever your passion is, we can help you find a job that you will enjoy daily.
Want to Learn More?
IT careers have become essential not just in Austin & Killeen but globally, and there is no better time to pick up than now. In 2021, Austin was ranked #1 in Best Tech City for IT jobs by CompTIA, and the demand is only growing.
Ready to start a rewarding and challenging career in IT as a cybersecurity specialist? The Cybersecurity Specialist Program at CyberTex prepares you for advanced computer networking and security jobs. You will learn the skills and abilities to set up, install, configure, repair, and manage modern computer networks and their security.
Contact us today to learn more about our Cybersecurity specialist program.
