We are just a couple of months away from entering the year 2024 and in the past 1 year, the world has seen a complete transformation in the tech world. The advancement in Artificial Intelligence, increased availability of the internet and the advent of Generative AI have made technology more accessible to everyone. And this has also given rise to cybersecurity threats around the world. Many students and young professionals look forward to getting into a cybersecurity career but wonder if this career path is worth considering, and if yes, then what are the right ways to prepare for it?
In this article, we will be answering all your questions and guide you on how to succeed in the cybersecurity domain.
Is it worth making a career in cybersecurity?
CompTIA reported that in 2023 the phishing attacks increased by 48% also the ransomware attacks on supply increased by 21%. According to Coveware, the average cost of a ransomware attack is $8.1 million.
On the other hand, Polaris Market Research has mentioned the global cybersecurity market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.7% to hit a market size of $504.46 billion by 2030. Not only that, the employment of cybersecurity professionals is expected to rise by 33% by 2030, much faster than the average of all other occupations.
Glassdoor also reported the annual average base pay of cybersecurity experts in the United States is $77,000 to $100,000. 3
All these numbers suggest cybersecurity is a great career option to choose in 2024. Below mentioned are some of the top resources to prepare you for this career path.
Top cybersecurity certification programs in 2024
You need to master all the cybersecurity skills to prove your expertise and increase your chances of getting hired. These cybersecurity certifications will help you in your journey toward a successful cybersecurity career.
- Certified Cybersecurity General Practitioner (CCGP™) – USCSI®
The United States Cybersecurity Institute (USCSI®) offers this prestigious and highly credible cybersecurity certification program for beginners. It aims to provide students and young professionals with the fundamental knowledge of the cybersecurity industry to make their foundation strong and start their careers with a stronghold of all required cybersecurity theories.
Certified Cybersecurity General Practitioner (CCGP™) is a self-paced online learning program that can be covered within 4-25 weeks as per your capability and schedule. Students must ensure they commit at least 8-10 hours a week to prepare for this certification exam. How to prepare? Well, the institute offers a well-organized resource center that will give you access to personalized eBooks, lecture videos, use cases, and real-world practice codes to easily get you through the exam.
Priced at $389, this program also offers various discount programs to encourage students to take this career path and fill the skill gap. Students can also upgrade their certifications by paying nominal fees.
2. Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate
This comprehensive online program helps learners get their basic rights before they enter the world of cybersecurity. It offers important cybersecurity concepts in its curriculum along with hands-on projects for practical skill development.
Since it is designed for young students seeking a career in cybersecurity, no prior experience is required to enroll in this program. The program is divided into 9 courses each focusing on a specific concept of cybersecurity.
3. Cybersecurity Certification by the University of Maryland
The University of Maryland offers this cybersecurity certification course to help students acquire the necessary knowledge and technical cybersecurity skills needed to unlock their potential and become cybersecurity specialists.
This is another foundational level course that you can consider to master the core concepts of cybersecurity in 2024. You will learn to secure everything, from software to hardware along with using cryptography in your cybersecurity operations.
4. Cybersecurity for Business Specialization by University of Colorado
If you want to learn how to defend yourself and your organization against attackers, then this is among the top cybersecurity certification programs designed to impart sufficient cybersecurity knowledge in the business world. You will learn how attacks are carried out in more innovative and sophisticated ways and thus you will be able to better counter-attack those cybersecurity threats.
5. IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate
IBM is one of the technology giants revolutionizing the world with its innovative products and services. Now, IBM offers the best cybersecurity certification to help students learn the cybersecurity skills needed to become future-ready and protect their organization from different kinds of cyber threats. By completing this certification, you will be able to demonstrate the expertise and knowledge required to become a cybersecurity analyst.
Conclusion
The cybersecurity industry is a domain that will only grow as malicious users around the world try to exploit businesses and individuals by using the internet and technology. In such cases, organizations have to be future-ready and one step ahead of the cyber-criminals so as to mitigate the cyber-attacks and respond promptly to them.
With these cybersecurity certification programs, you can earn credibility for your knowledge and prove yourself as a potential candidate to take your cybersecurity jobs responsibly.
