From competitive salaries to ever-evolving job descriptions, there are tons of reasons why cybersecurity is interesting. Find out those reasons here. 

Indeed, zero percent unemployment is an attractive stat. Guidance counselors pick this fact as a top reason for students to pursue a career in cybersecurity. Surely, it is a nice perk. However, that is not the sole reason why cybersecurity is interesting. 

You don’t have to be a cybersecurity expert to understand that this is a growth area. It is projected that cyberthreats will cost the world $6 trillion by 2021. Thus, this makes cybersecurity professionals in demand. 

The job vacancies are so many that the number of available security professionals must grow by 145% just to meet the demand. 

No industry is safe from cyber threats. Companies are scrambling to hire professionals and they will do everything to retain them. Are you still having doubts? Read on to see the top reasons why cybersecurity is interesting. 

The future is digital

The technology is ever-expanding, and so is cybersecurity. As mentioned, companies are in need of security professionals. It’s not hard to see why. The average cost of a data breach is almost $4 million. Moreover, such breaches cause reputational damages. 

Furthermore, you can work in the public or private sector or even as a freelancer. Be it a small startup or a huge enterprise – everybody needs protection. 

Variety

As mentioned, cybersecurity is ever-expanding. This means that many new roles will open up in the near future. Meanwhile, old roles will gradually evolve to encompass new skills. Cybersecurity professionals currently have a lot of options to choose from. It’s exciting that the number of options will grow. 

For instance, you may become a big data scientist and work with machine learning and other emerging technologies. If you love solving riddles and looking for flaws, a career as a penetration tester or an ethical hacker might be for you. 

Some people view penetration tester as a synonym for an ethical hacker. It’s true that they both test the security of IT systems. However, their working methods are different. An ethical hacker is a jack of all trades. On the other hand, penetration testers specialize in specific areas. 

Salary

Companies offer competitive salaries to attract potential candidates. Generally, the salaries are good. However, take note that the figures will vary depending on the position and geography. 

For instance, Indeed, a job and recruiting website, reports that IT security specialists in the U.S.A. have an average base salary of $80,467. The average base salary for penetration testers is $117,423. Meanwhile, network security engineers have an average base salary of $112,867.

Education and certification

Enrolling in cybersecurity degrees may give you an edge among others. However, you don’t actually need a cybersecurity degree to kick off your career. Many specialties are self-taught as there’s more than one route to your goal. 

If circumstances don’t allow you to enroll in college, start by trying online courses and pursuing certifications. The latter is a crucial part of climbing the ranks. there are multiple options available but just choose the right certifications for your chosen specialization.