Work dynamics have been changing rapidly long before the pandemic came into the picture. There are several options available for you to choose from when you are in the IT domain but there are also a bunch of too many professionals fighting for those positions. A job role in cyber security has a lesser competition comparatively and a lot more opportunities across multiple domains like finance, retail, etc. So if you are a professional working in the IT domain, transitioning your career to cyber security will result in better job security for you.
Before learning how you can switch your career from the IT domain to Cyber Security, you need to understand what cyber security is and what does it have in store for you!
Cyber Security
Cyber Security is a popular field that assists in the protection of systems that are connected via the internet, such as data, software, and hardware from malware threats and other cyber attacks. Cyber Security professionals are recruited by companies across all industries to secure their organization and protect it from the data breach, unauthorized access, and other cyber threats.
Cyber Security provides good security to servers, computers, mobile devices, networks, the data on these gadgets from hackers and cyber attackers. Hackers can access, corrupt, and extort confidential and sensitive data of a company or an organization, and only Ethical Hackers and Cyber Security professionals can prevent this.
Learn from the best Cyber Security courses and become proficient in it.
You have learned what cyber security is and how it is a core part of most industries. Now, read about the steps that you must follow to build a career in this technological field.
Steps to follow to become a Cyber Security Professional
While you may think that it is easy to transition your career from a regular IT job to a cyber security profile, it is not. Cyber security demands you to have in-depth knowledge and experience of the core concepts in the respective branch since you will be dealing with complex and sensitive business data.
Step 1: Streamline Your Options
There are multiple options available in the cybersecurity domain for you to choose from, including application security, ethical hacking, network defense, risk and compliance, digital forensics, etc., and you can not master them all. You must specialize in a single branch and excel in it to pursue a career of your choice.
Step 2: Enroll in a course
Based on the branch you opt for, you must enroll for the respective course. There are several e-learning institutes that offer online courses on the latest technologies including various cyber security branches. So, once you have decided the branch you wish to get into, you can sign up for the respective online course or get a diploma from the best institute.
Learn cyber security Step 3: Acquire the required skills
After you register for the course and start it, you will gain knowledge of all the concepts of the particular branch of cyber security. Not only will you gain theoretical knowledge but also attain the skills to get a job in it.
Step 4: Work on projects
Most online courses, irrespective of the field, offer several projects. While learning the concepts and skills, you will work on several assignments and projects that won’t only enhance your learning experience but also give you industry experience which will be beneficial when you apply for jobs. Besides, the projects will allow you to test your skills and knowledge, giving you industry-level experience in privacyinthenetwork.
Step 5: Get the certification
Finally, you must get the certification for the specific cyber security branch as proof of your knowledge. After completing the course from Intellipaat and executing all the projects, you will get a course completion certification recognized by major organizations around the world.
Step 6: Prepare for your job interview
Now that you have selected your specialization, enrolled in the respective course, attained the necessary skills, worked on the required projects, and received your certification, you have enough experience to apply for your dream job. But, before doing that, you need to prepare your resume and mold it as per the requirements of the job role and the company you apply for. After creating the perfect resume, prepare some of the most common interview questions and answers, and get ready to crack your job interview.
These are the 6 major steps that you need to follow to transition your career from an IT professional to a cyber security professional.
Further, you will come across the skills that are required when you pursue a career in this domain.
Skills Required to Pursue a Career in Cyber Security
There are numerous skills that you need to have if you are aiming to pursue a career in the field of cyber security. The skill set needed to build a career in this domain is a combination of networking skills, coding skills in various programming languages, and skills in operating systems. Some of these skills are listed below:
Networking Skills
- TCP/IP
- Firewalls
- Packet analysis tools
- VPNs
- Load balancer
- Knowledge of proxy servers
- Protocols to detect and prevent intrusions
- Visualization software
Programming Skills
- MAC Bash or Linux shell scripting
- Java
- C, C++, and C#
- Python, Ruby, and Perl
- PHP
Database Management and Operating Systems
- Linux operating system
- UNIX operating system
- Windows operating system
Now, you will learn about the various IT professionals who must learn cyber security (a particular branch or expertise) and start a career in it to extend their career options.
Who can switch their career to Cyber Security?
Though it has now become possible for almost anyone to pursue a career in cyber security by taking up the necessary course and gaining the required knowledge and skill set by taking up the necessary course. However, professionals for whom it will be easy to make this career switch are as follows:
- Web Administrators
- Programmers
- Database Administrators
- System Admins
- IT Technicians
- Computer Support Specialists
- Data Analysts
- IT Technical Support and Customer Service Agents
- Engineers
- Network Admins
Excel in a Career in Cyber Security
In this blog, you have got a detailed understanding of how you can become a professional in cyber security and build a successful career in it. So, without wasting any time, get started by obtaining the necessary certifications that validate your skills. You can prepare for the respective certification exam by enrolling in one of the best courses in cyber security and gaining all the skills required that will help you prepare for them. Moreover, this will help you land a lucrative job in a reputed organization.
