6 Reasons why You should be a Cyber Security Professional

Technology jobs are among the most sought after out there, but even among those, the future is especially bright for cyber security, which is already an essential for all organisations and even individuals as cyber attacks become more frequent and aggressive.

Here then are our top six reasons why cyber security makes for such an amazing, future proofed career…

1. Zero Unemployment

More and more hackers are attacking systems, and online security is extremely important, remaining a critical priority for businesses and the government. Correspondingly, there’s an ever-increasing demand for cyber security professionals.

In the UK alone, there has been a more than 100% rise in vacancies over the past few years, making cyber security one of the most in demand jobs in the world. According to the Cyber Security Workforce Study, two-thirds of companies worldwide are also looking at skills gap, with the prediction that there will be a shortage of 1.8 million information security workers in the industry by 2022. The unemployment level is also an impressive zero, so you’ll never run out of job openings.  

2. High Salary

In line with the high demand and a shortage of workers who can meet this, cyber security jobs pay very well. While salary varies widely depending on what kind of cyber security work you’ll be doing and other factors such as experience and qualifications, even entry-level pay is higher than the average salary.

The average salary for cyber security jobs is £72,500, with many falling between £57,000 and £84,000, but senior positions can reach up to £200,000. For part-time engagements such consultancies, rates range from £250 per day up to £1,500. It’s generally among the highest-paying industries, and this is likely to continue in the future. Just last year, from 2017 to 2018, average salaries for cyber security professionals in the UK went up by 6.3%, which is much higher than the national average of 2.9%.   

3. Diverse Career Paths

From the outside, cyber security may seem like an extremely technical field that requires a narrow set of skills, but it’s more like an entire industry rather than one streamlined career path. cyber security in itself involves not only technology but also psychology, sociology, law, and business management.

Many cyber security professionals today didn’t start out with a computer science or engineering background. Rather, it’s even said that a non-technical background can set you apart, since you’ll be able to carry over existing skills to the cyber security work that you’ll be doing. A cyber security professional can tackle laws and policies, design and code large-scale systems, or focus on education and training, just to name a few options.

4. Endless Growth and Learning

Not only does cyber security provide diverse career options, it’s also innately rewarding and engaging. You’ll never run out of challenges and learning opportunities because you’ll have to continually pick up new skills, and a regular day at your job will never be boring. From working on advanced systems such as robots and self-driving cars to tracking down cybercrime, you’ll constantly be at the cutting-edge of technology.

You won’t necessarily have to be in front of a computer all the time, either. cyber security professionals also work with individuals and organisations, and they can have their pick of which industries to focus on because cyber security is already a necessity for anybody who handles data.   

5. Accessibility

As with most careers in technology, a major advantage of going into cyber security is ease of entry. You do need to gain expertise and have definite know-how in your chosen track, but you won’t have to expend huge amounts of money doing so. The resources to learn cyber security are right at your fingertips, with plenty of learning materials and communities offering guidance online. Many of these are free or affordable while remaining high-quality, to the point that they can prep you for certification exams right from the comfort of your home!

With many cyber security professionals transitioning from other industries, you can gain experience by interning, volunteering, or working on your own projects. As long as you’re willing to put in the effort, you stand a good chance of getting a cyber security job, regardless of your background.

6. Impact

The role of a cyber security professional is extremely important. cyber security is such a major concern because the consequences of being undefended against a cyberattack is dire, resulting in millions of pounds worth of loss but also disrupting business transactions, stealing or destroying crucial data, and ruining a company’s reputation. The lives of people may even depend on it, as shown by how pacemakers worn by the elderly were recalled when security vulnerabilities were discovered in these.

Cyber security professionals uphold safety, privacy, and the smooth functioning of systems relied on by many, and in the case of a cyberattack, they’re the ones who take over and ease the situation back to normal.   

The most obvious perks are the high salary and demand, but many opt for cyber security and thrive there because it’s challenging, impactful, and diverse. The world needs more cyber security professionals, and with the ever-widening skills gap, there’s definitely a place in the industry for you.