How To Start Your Cybersecurity Career In 2023: A Step-By-Step Guide

Are you looking to start a career in cybersecurity? 

With the world of technology ever-evolving, it can take time to stay on top of the latest trends and technologies needed for a successful career in cybersecurity. This article will provide a step-by-step guide to starting your cybersecurity career in 2023.

Introduction to Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting electronic information from unauthorized access or theft. It includes measures to protect against computer viruses and other online threats. Cybersecurity is important for individuals, businesses, and governments to protect data and prevent losses from the activities of nefarious actors who exploit these computer systems to gain access to vital information. In 2010, non-state actors used the invasive properties of the malware, now dubbed Stuxnet, to affect Iranian government institutions, which resulted in significant loss to the then-nascent nuclear program of the Iranian government. Today, the logic of most malware put the code of Stuxnet to shame, requiring a concerted effort by involved parties to develop advanced cybersecurity regiments. Organizations worldwide invested above $150 Billion in cybersecurity protocols in 2021, and with a 12% YoY growth in cybersecurity, you can start your career in this evolving domain today. 

Cybersecurity is among the job market's most important and in-demand disciplines today. It’s a complex field, but there are many ways to get started in a career in cybersecurity.

This guide will walk you through some of the basics of what you need to know to start your cybersecurity career:

• Basic skills and experience required to start your career
• How to build your network to improve your career opportunities
• The different types of cybersecurity jobs 
• The best resources for learning about cybersecurity

What Qualifications Are Needed to Get Started?

You'll need a few key qualifications to start your cybersecurity career. 

1. First, a degree or certification in computer science or programming experience as a hobby.
2. Second, to start a career in cybersecurity, you will need strong analytical and problem-solving skills. 
3. Third, evocative communication skills. Cybersecurity experts have to work with stakeholders from business units across the organization and should have the experience to communicate requirements across multiple levels of management effectively.

The Benefits of a Cybersecurity Career

A career in cybersecurity offers several benefits, including a high salary package upwards of 6 LPA in India and the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology that employs cybersecurity like; AI, Automotive Security, Mobile Secure connectivity, and providing security for IoT-enabled devices. 

Cybersecurity professionals are in high demand, with over 3,000 openings on LinkedIn ( as of this article’s uploading on 10/1/23 ), and the demand will grow in the next five years. 

Skills You Need To Succeed In a Cybersecurity Career

There are many different skills you need to succeed in a cybersecurity career. 

Technical skills: 

• Knowledge of networking and security protocols: To properly secure a network, you must understand how it works. This means having a firm grasp on things like TCP/IP, DNS, and other essential protocols.
• Familiarity with common attacks: There are various ways that hackers can try to gain access to systems and data, so it's important to be familiar with common attack methods. This way, you can better identify potential threats and take steps to mitigate them.
• Experience with security tools and technologies: A wide range of tools and technologies are available to help secure networks and data, so experience with these is essential. This includes firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, encryption, etc.
• Strong analytical skills: Analyzing data is crucial in cybersecurity. This includes being able to identify trends and patterns, as well as looking for anomalies that could indicate an attempt at unauthorized access.

2. Business Intelligence: You need to understand how businesses operate and how to protect them from cyber threats.
3. Project management: You need to be able to plan and execute projects that improve an organization’s security posture.

 

How to Network and Get Hired

Cybersecurity professional does not exist in a vacuum. Networking with established cybersecurity professionals allows you to develop positive relationships with these engineers. When starting your career or considering an advancement in your professional life, your network will help you identify resources you can leverage to accelerate your career transformation.

You can adopt these four approaches to network and advance your career.

1. Attend industry events and meetups. 
2. Get involved in online communities. There are many active online communities for cybersecurity professionals, and getting involved in these can help you make valuable connections.
3. Reach out to companies directly. If you want to work with a specific company,  don’t hesitate to contact them directly and inquire about open positions or opportunities for internships or apprenticeships.
4. Lastly, don’t forget the power of social media. LinkedIn is a great platform to connect with others in cybersecurity and potentially find job opportunities. Twitter can also be useful for following companies or individuals you’re interested in and see if they have any job openings that fit your skill set.

Top 10 Jobs in Cybersecurity in 2023

Here are the top 10 jobs in cybersecurity that will be in high demand in 2023:

1. Security Analyst
2. Security Engineer
3. Security Architect
4. Information Security Manager
5. Risk Management Analyst
6. Compliance Officer
7. Penetration Tester
8. Network Security Specialist
9. Cybersecurity Consultant
10. Cybersecurity Specialist

Conclusion

Skill-Lync offers advanced industry-oriented courses on cybersecurity to upskill your knowledge. Our courses will cover fundamental cybersecurity concepts, sources of cyber threats, and preventive measures. The program provides exposure to real-world scenarios and helps you understand the operation of Security Operations Center (SOC) Teams. Our expert team researches the job market, training you in the latest technology trends. Our students will work on the simulation of industry-oriented projects, helping them build career-advancing skills.