Cyber Security: Is it an ideal career path?

Cybersecurity is a domain and body of knowledge consisting of technologies, practices, and processes to secure networks, systems, devices, and data from cyberthreats, cyberattacks, and unauthorized access. Cybersecurity is also referred to as information technology security. The professionals specializing in this domain are known as cybersecurity experts. With the increasing volume and sophistication of cyberattacks and cyberthreats, the domain of cybersecurity has witnessed a threefold increase in the past few years, and it is expected to continue with this trajectory.
These days, almost every organization relies on the cloud for data storage. This has led to the need for a strong cybersecurity network, which is increasing with each passing day. Therefore, organizations are now focusing on onboarding skilled professionals with expertise in cybersecurity.

As a career, cybersecurity has a lot to offer in Australia. Let us take a look at the reasons that make cybersecurity a rewarding career option, and why enrolling in a Cyber Security course in Australia will help you in your career:

There is a demand–supply gap in the field of cybersecurity, and this is the primary reason why professionals who are skilled and experienced in cybersecurity are offered lucrative salaries around the world. As per Glassdoor, the average annual salary of a cybersecurity engineer is $100,000 in Australia. With certifications and experience, this figure keeps on increasing at a rapid rate due to regular advancements in this domain.

Cybersecurity is a vast domain consisting of varied roles requiring different skill sets. Skilled cybersecurity professionals can adapt to a number of job roles. One can pursue various roles based on their preference. Some of the roles in cybersecurity are network security engineer, cybersecurity analyst, cybersecurity manager, etc. These roles will be discussed later in this blog.

Job security is a relative term, and hence, no domain can guarantee 100% job security. However, cybersecurity is known as a secure domain because of the high demand–supply gap. No organization wants to lose a skilled cybersecurity professional and risk its data. So, it is no surprise that once one enters this domain, they just need to keep on upskilling and learning new technologies in cybersecurity to grow in their career.

We are living in the era of remote and hybrid work culture, where one can work from the comfort of their personal space and excel at the job. The cybersecurity domain has flexible working options; whether one is an independent cybersecurity consultant or works in a reputed organization, all work can be done remotely.

Many cybersecurity professionals have been reported saying that they have 100% job satisfaction. This basically means that they love what they do and are satisfied with what they are paid for their work. As already mentioned earlier, the salaries offered to cybersecurity professionals are better than acceptable and the domain offers various job roles. So, if one is doing what they excel in and are paid well for it, job satisfaction is bound to be high.

With every passing day, cyberattacks are getting more and more sophisticated; because of this, organizations rely on cybersecurity professionals to keep the organizational data safe. This has not only increased the demand of cybersecurity professionals but also their importance in the organizational and industry space.
Another thing that has had a positive impact on the future career scope of cybersecurity as a domain, is the pronounced rise in the number of people working from home. Because of the rise in the practice of work from home, the need for protecting the network has increased.
All these factors have contributed positively to the domain of cybersecurity and the career scope offered by it. Still, cybersecurity professionals must upskill themselves to remain competitive and relevant in the field.

Forrester predicts that the spend by organizations on cloud security tools is expected to reach US$12.6 billion by 2023. Gartner also forecasts that the worldwide security and risk management spending will exceed US$150 billion in 2022. Resultantly, top IT-hub countries, such as Australia, India, and the US, that are home to a lot of MNCs, are expected to witness huge growth in the cybersecurity domain.

A cybersecurity professional in Australia will earn an average salary of $75,000 p.a. to $120,000 p.a.The cybersecurity domain in Australia is surely going to see a rise in the near future. Some interesting cybersecurity roles are information security analyst, IT security architect, senior security consultant, etc. All those willing to develop a career in this domain can expect a decent career trajectory in Australia.

As mentioned earlier in this blog, the cybersecurity domain offers varied job roles; a few of the cybersecurity job roles are discussed below:

A network security engineer is responsible for identifying cyber malware, malicious bugs, and hacking attempts. A network security engineer's responsibility is to ensure that an organization’s network security is fully secured. A network security engineer takes care of tracking suspicious activities and building strong configurations for systems to avoid future cybersecurity threats.

A Cyber Security Analyst checks for the vulnerabilities present in an organization’s networks and systems. As a part of their job responsibilities, a cybersecurity analyst performs penetration testing to find the loopholes, present in the organizational network, that can be used to intrude and exploit the system.

A security architect is responsible for keeping a check on the hardware and software in an organization. A security architect is also responsible for designing security systems in order to prevent malicious attacks. A security architect highly skilled in tactics that are used by cyberattackers to gain unauthorized access.

A cybersecurity manager controls, monitors, plans, and designs effective solutions for any and all security breaches. A cybersecurity manager is also supposed to present reports to the management and help in implementing security measures in an organization’s systems.

To further understand the career prospects in cybersecurity, let us now discuss the salaries offered in various locations in Australia:

We hope that this blog helps you in making an informed decision about choosing a career in cybersecurity. It is indeed an ideal career path for those who possess the right skills and are enthusiastic about cybersecurity, networks, etc. Having said this, it is also important to regularly upskill oneself irrespective of the career or domain. Every field requires its professionals to be updated and ready to face any and all challenges. All in all, one can definitely aim for a successful career in the cybersecurity domain, if one is interested.