As more and more business information becomes digital, cyber security is becoming a critical part of any business. However, the evolution of cyber threats is making it hard to keep up. Cybersecurity is all about protecting sensitive data from malicious attacks, and the resulting breaches of customer trust.
Cybersecurity protects computer systems, software, mobile devices and information from viruses, spyware, malware, worms, Trojan horses, denial-of-service attacks, unauthorized access and an ever-increasing list of hacker threats from single attackers to organized crime groups and foreign governments. Businesses need to invest in cybersecurity to safeguard their customers’ personal and financial information as well as proprietary intellectual property.
For individuals, cyber security means keeping software up to date and implementing two-factor authentication. It also means being wary of phishing scams and backing up important data to ensure it can be recovered if necessary. For businesses, it’s about continuous monitoring to identify potential threats before they become a problem and educating employees on how to avoid dangerous activities such as downloading files from unknown sources or plugging in unidentified USB drives.
As cybersecurity has grown into an industry in its own right, formal education is increasingly required to secure a job in the field. A bachelor’s degree in a subject such as computer science, math or engineering is the starting point and will help you learn the technical skills necessary to excel. But many cybersecurity jobs also favor practical experience over education and prefer applicants who have completed an immersive cybersecurity bootcamp. There are numerous full- and part-time programs that can get you up to speed in as little as four to 20 weeks. SOC
