If you're intrigued by the world of Cybersecurity, there's no better time than now to break in...
We’ve all felt the effects of when companies don’t make Cybersecurity a priority. You might even have had to bear the brunt of when companies don’t invest in their Cybersecurity yourself. Personal data gets leaked, sensitive information is spread across the web, and you can even lose your life savings by giving the wrong company your bank details. Perhaps it’s even motivated you to do something about it, and become a Cyber warrior!
Cybersecurity may seem complicated to those on the outside, mostly because it comes with a dictionary’s worth of jargon. But anyone with a little technical knowledge and the desire to learn can launch themselves into this exciting career path.
But that begs the question…how do you go about getting a Cybersecurity job when you’ve got no experience?
What Is Cybersecurity?
First things first, let’s truly understand what Cybersecurity is, as it’s never been more important than it is today. With many companies shifting to a remote/hybrid working model and the vast expansion of the online space, there is an increasing need for businesses to invest in IT security and protect themselves from threats such as hacking, data compromise and identity theft.
Technology is getting smarter, but that means that hackers and cybercriminals are too. Cybercrimes are varied, but may include:
- Cyberextortion - demanding money in exchange for not hacking, damaging, or deleting information.
- Ransomware attacks - locking or limiting access to data in exchange for money.
- Identity fraud
- IOT hacking
- Malware
- Phishing scams
What Does The Cybersecurity Career Path Look Like?
With a growing demand for trained professionals, the cybersecurity industry has a lot to offer prospective employees. Salaries in this field tend to be lucrative and there is ample opportunity for career growth and development. The demand for roles in this area is also set to increase rapidly over the coming years and decades. As such, there has never been a better time to explore cybersecurity for beginners, and to explore the various career options out there for people new to the field.
There are many areas for specialization and advancement which you’ll be able to branch into as your skills, experience, and career development. And as the digital world is always changing, new areas that we can’t even imagine today will inevitably reveal themselves!
Entry-level positions include roles such as Cybersecurity Specialist or Technician, IT auditor, and Incident Responder. Anyone interested in cybersecurity for beginners should research these roles as a starting point.
Mid-level positions include Cybersecurity Consultant and Penetration tester, while advanced level careers within cybersecurity include Cybersecurity Engineer and Managerial positions.
There are various roles available at each level when it comes to IT security, with plenty of scope for development further down the road. The demand for training in cybersecurity is rapidly on the rise. It may be the case that you would like to branch into this area in a company for which you already work, or that you are looking to pivot completely into a new career.
Courses or Bootcamps in Cybersecurity for beginners will prepare you for roles such as incident responder, forensics analyst, and cybersecurity analyst, along with many others. Over time and depending on the size of the company you work for, you may have the chance to branch into a management role, taking care of a cybersecurity team. Similarly, you may choose to specialize in a single area of cybersecurity in networking, software development, systems engineering, or risk analysis.
Take the first step into tech and find out more about our Cybersecurity bootcamp
Download the syllabusWhat Does It Take To Break Into Cybersecurity? The first thing you need to tackle when it comes to cybersecurity is the basics of IT systems and networks, for example, the different types of networks available and their protocols. Once you are familiar with the fundamentals you can delve into the basics of networking traffic, security, and communication principles.
Learning how to create and analyze network servers is also important when it comes to cybersecurity for beginners, while data decryption and encryption are also useful, along with topics such as backup processes and data recovery. Learning about how to prevent hacks is also a crucial subject when it comes to cybersecurity for beginners.
As technology advances and the online space grows, there is greater opportunity for cyber-attacks and hacks to occur, especially when it comes to mobile payments, e-commerce, and cloud computing, for example.
Machine learning, social media, and the vast array of apps that many of us use on a daily basis make it easier for criminals to find ways to hack systems to steal data and financial information. The risk for businesses is especially high, and this is where cybersecurity professionals come in. Building and maintaining secure systems is essential for most organizations and businesses in the modern world, and expertise in this area is heavily in demand.
Breaking Into Cybersecurity With No Previous Experience
Cybersecurity is an exciting and ever-changing career path, with high stakes and high rewards. The demand for professionals in this field is extremely high, and there are many opportunities available for anyone interested in developing a career in IT security. But, as with any job, getting started can feel like a huge wall to climb if you don’t have any previous experience.
Regardless of your background and previous experience, transitioning to a job in Cybersecurity is very achievable with some foundational training. The best place to start is with a cybersecurity foundational course for beginners that covers the basics and the main areas of IT security and data protection.
With Ironhack's Cybersecurity Bootcamp, you don’t only get the foundational knowledge and hands-on experience that you need to succeed in your first Cybersecurity role…we’ll support you in finding it! Our Careers Services and Outcomes Team are rockstars at getting you job-ready, helping you figure out the messy middle of job hunting.
Why not download our syllabus and find out for yourself?
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