Data has become more important than ever at present. Unprecedented amounts of data is collected, processed, and stored every day on computers and other devices by government, corporate, medical, financial, e-commerce, and other organizations. Such data needs to be secured when transmitted across networks as a large portion of that data may contain sensitive information. Otherwise, it can be misused by malicious hackers for their personal gains.
This is where cyber security comes in. Simply put, cyber security is all about the techniques, processes, and practices meant for securing networks, data, and devices from illegal access. Professionals who are skilled in dealing with malicious hackers and prevent any possible data breaches are called cyber security experts. Hiring managers often look for a cyber security certification in a candidate’s skill set so as to be assured of his skills.
A Career in Cyber Security
According to a Ladders report, cyber security specialist is on the list of top 15 fastest growing jobs that will dominate 2020, with an annual growth rate of 30 percent. It also highlighted the fact that as data breaches increased above 50 percent in 2019, the role of cyber security specialist has become extremely crucial.
If we talk about the demand, we can get insights from Cybersecurity Ventures which has predicted that by 2021, there will be 3.5 million unfilled cyber security jobs across the world. The World Economic Forum also observed that nowhere is the workforce-skills gap more pronounced than in the field of cyber security. However, this scarcity has hidden opportunities for professionals who are willing to consider a career in this domain. If you have the right blend of skills, you can not only contribute to filling this skills gap but also pave your way to a high paying job.
To demonstrate your skills in this field, you can start by learning the basics, gain some experience, and achieve renowned certifications. There are many entry-level as well as advanced certifications which are industry-recognized from institutes like:
- Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)
- International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2
- Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)
- Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants (EC-Council)
You can go to the official website of these organizations, navigate through the certifications provided by them, and take up the one which meets your career goals.
Now, as the first step in any career path is gaining foundational knowledge, one can opt for online training courses. With the advancement in technology, today a learner doesn’t need to go to any physical location or any popular university to take up courses. There are eLearning platforms that give you the facility of learning from industry experts sitting anywhere in the world. Let us explore what are the best courses you can begin with.
Top Cyber Security Courses to Take Your Career Ahead
Listed below are some of the training programs that will not only clear your basic understanding of the subject but will also prepare you to achieve the certifications from institutes mentioned above.
Simplilearn’s Cyber Security Expert Master’s Program
This program is ideal for professionals who wish to become a well-versed cyber security expert. With more than 96 hours of live online classes, the course introduces you to cyber security and prepares you for various exams like CompTIA Security+, CEH, CISM, CISSP, as well as CCSP. The entire syllabus is divided into foundational, intermediate, and advanced levels so that you get a step-by-step comprehension of each concept.
The program consists of the following courses:
- Introduction to Cyber Security
- CompTIA Security+ 501
- CEH (v10) – Certified Ethical Hacker
- CISM
- CISSP Training
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
Cyber Security Courses by ISC2
ISC2 not only is a certification body but also offers training courses for the various exams it conducts. As the world of cyber security involves combating new attacks every day, you can find courses on relevant and timely cybersecurity topics as well. Some of them include:
- Understanding Security in the IoT Ecosystem
- Building a Strong Security Culture
- CISO’s Guide to Success
- DevSecOps: Integrating Security into DevOps
- Incident Management: Preparation and Response
Courses by ISACA
Similar to ISC2, ISACA also offers online training that comprises of webinars, virtual instructor-led training (VILT), virtual summits, Continuing Professional Education (CPE) on-demand, and online review courses. The state-of-the-art online training is designed by subject matter experts. You can begin with the Cybersecurity Fundamentals course which focuses on basic cybersecurity principles, security architecture, risk management, attacks, and emerging IS technologies.
Other popular training programs include:
- Cybersecurity Fundamentals
- CISA Online Review Course
- COBIT 2019 Foundations
- CRISCExam Prep Course
Rochester Institute of Technology’s (RIT) MicroMasters Program in Cybersecurity (EdX)
EdX in collaboration with RIT offers this training program and has five graduate-level courses, namely:
- Cybersecurity Fundamentals
- Computer Forensics
- Cybersecurity Risk Management
- Network Security
- Cybersecurity Capstone
Some of the important skills that will gain with this program are setting up and securing basic computer systems, information security risk management framework, implementing network security solutions, conducting digital forensic investigations, and practicing cyber security skills in the real world scenarios.
Over to You
It can be safely said that cyber security is one of the most sought-after career options. Now that you have got an idea about what are the best cyber security courses, time is ripe to select a course of your choice and start learning. Though all the courses are designed for the different needs of learners, you can choose the one that best suits your interests. As the data generated continues to grow exponentially, so will the need to protect it. Moreover, cyber security professionals would continue to remain in demand and a career in this domain would be rewarding.