Begin a career in cybersecurity
Behind every new report of a data breach, data leak, or computer hack is a company or organization scrambling to put out the fire, which is great news for job seekers or soon-to-graduate students with cybersecurity skills. Unfortunately, this is bad news for most companies because there is currently an imbalance between the supply and demand of skilled professionals to address these vulnerabilities.
The 2018 (ISC)2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study estimates a global shortage of cybersecurity professionals of around three million workers. This shortage of skilled job seekers is having a real-world impact on companies and the people responsible for cybersecurity at those companies. The study also points out that Gen X and Baby Boomer workers make up about half of the current cybersecurity workforce, leaving many entry-level opportunities for new college graduates and pathways for growth as these more experienced workers approach retirement age.
The need for trained cybersecurity professionals is not going to go away. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 28% growth in US employment for cybersecurity consultants between 2019 and 2026. How can students go beyond the concepts taught in computer science or cybersecurity classes and make themselves more attractive to future employers? We encourage students to take the initiative to learn more about current issues in cybersecurity and take advantage of the many cybersecurity resources available.
Visit the UND UIT Web Page for cybersecurity career information.
