Breaking into the cyber field can seem like a daunting task, especially for those highly technical cybersecurity roles. This month’s post is here to show you the steps you can take to get into cybersecurity without the commitment of a four-year degree.
ZipRecruiter reports that the national average for entry-level Cybersecurity Analysts is around $77,000. With a labor shortage and highly lucrative salaries, it’s the perfect time to dive into cybersecurity! You can protect our nation’s security, explore your passion, and earn big all at the same time!
If you’re ready for a career switch, but don’t want to commit to going back to school for a computer science or cyber specific degree, here are a few alternatives.
CySkills Foundational Courses
CySkills is a catalog of cybersecurity courses designed to help one reskill or upskill in a current role, or get one started in the cybersecurity field. Check out CySkills.
CompTIA Certifications
CompTIA is a well-known brand in the technology community, offering an array of certifications from security to networking. The Secuity+ is a gold-standard certification that covers topics like monitoring enterprise environments, assessing security posture, identifying malware, and much more. This functional certification can give someone new to the cybersecurity industry an excellent foundation and lay of the land.
If you are brand new to technology as a whole, the Security+ might be a little too much to start. However, CompTIA offers an introductory certification called the CompTIA A+ exam. This credential delivers a strong base of technology operations and support knowledge. For complete career changers, this could be a strong first step before jumping into the Security+.
ISC2 Certifications
ISC2 is the most recognizable governing body in the security space. While most known for the CISSP exam, they offer an entry level certification known as the SSCP. The SSCP covers similar topics as the Security+ exam and can prepare participants for roles like systems security analyst, network security engineer, and security administrator. However, it is important to note that the SSCP is a much longer exam and more expensive.
This is the perfect stepping stone to earning a more advanced certification in the space, like the CISSP by ISC2. The CISSP is a cybersecurity leadership credential that requires 5 years of experience in the space.
SANS Institute
The SANS institute offers a series of courses and workshops for those interested in cybersecurity. This can be a great place for newbies to start learning on-demand and to choose from a range of topics. SANS has courses ranging from ethical hacking to cloud security to foundational architecture reviews. The institute has a variety of roadmaps and paths that one could follow based on interest. Some resources are even free!
There’s No Time Like Now
Certifications and cybersecurity training courses are great options for an in-depth understanding of current cybersecurity trends in an ever-changing threat landscape. By earning one of these credentials or just attending some of these courses, new cybersecurity professionals will be well on their way to a new, thrilling career in one of the hottest fields.
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