Cybersecurity: Learn More
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Learn Cybersecurity in 2021: What it is, Job Outlook & Where you can learn it
Laurance Bradford, Learn to Code’s blogger, has written a great blog post: Sharing as it is
Cyberattacks are a constant threat. This means that it is crucial to keep your data, software, and hardware safe and secure.
These skills are in short supply, so it is worth learning how to get started in cybersecurity. According to the ISC Cybersecurity Workforce Survey, computer security professionals will need to grow by 62% in order to meet today’s growing needs.
Even if you don’t want to pursue a career in cybersecurity, you can learn cybersecurity for beginners to help you improve your internet safety.
This post will explain what cybersecurity is, why there is such high demand for these skills, how you can get into cybersecurity, what career options are available in cybersecurity, and much more.
What is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is, in short, exactly what it sounds. Chris Coleman, president at Woz U, summarizes cybersecurity as “the practice or protection of electronic data, computer networks, and other confidential information.”
“Specifically, this content must be protected against cyberattackers. Cyberattacks are often used to disrupt business processes, extort money, or access, steal or destroy sensitive information.
Why is Cybersecurity Important?
Cybersecurity is important for all, from governments and large corporations to small business owners and employees to individuals at home. Why is cybersecurity so important?
Josh Feinblum, a former CSO at DigitalOcean, says that “We live in an age of unprecedented connectedness.” Every year, we see more connected devices to the Internet. Almost every aspect of our lives is tracked electronically at the same time. This includes our health records, financial information and power consumption. It also includes what we wear, how we get home, where we travel, and when. Machines can create profiles that better understand us than we do.
This highlights the importance of individual knowledge, and taking action to protect your information security. Robb Reck (CISO at Ping Identity) says that data is being spread more than ever and that it is up to you to protect your data. “You must take responsibility for where you share your data, understand the implications, and take every step to manage the risks.”
Cyberattacks are becoming more common and more costly for companies. IDC estimates that companies will spend upwards $174.7 billion in network security in 2024. This is a compound annual growth rate (CAGR), of 8.1% between 2020 and 2024. PwC reports that over half (55%) enterprise executives intend to increase their cybersecurity budgets by 2021. 51% will also be adding full-time cybersecurity personnel in 2021.
COVID-19 has also led to an increase in cyber crimes. The FBI reported recently that they have received as many as 4,000 cyberattack complaints per day. This is a 400% increase over pre-COVID.
“There is an exploding amount of unmanaged IoT [Internet of Things] devices within companies, so there’s an exponential attack landscape,” says Nadir Izrael (co-founder and CTO at Armis). Cybercriminals and nation-states are targeting IoT because of the lack security built into these devices. I have seen vending machines extorting data. In the first half of 2018, we saw IoT attacks rise by 300%.
Cyberattacks can be devastating for businesses so companies are making cybersecurity training and hiring a priority. “Security has evolved from a technical discipline within IT into a business risk management function over the past few years,” expla