There has never been a better time to join the cybersecurity industry.
Trained cybersecurity professionals are in high demand. If we don't have the right expertise to protect ourselves, our community, family and businesses will always be victims, and there will always be trouble from malicious users (a.k.a. hackers).
Starting a cybersecurity career can be daunting, especially when the profession seems to require a huge amount of technical expertise and encompasses so many different fields across information technology, business, law, and sometimes even health science.
In reality, beyond the stereotypes, there are important, engaging roles for people from all walks of life, and different pathways to acquire the skills and knowledge you need to be a success in this exciting and growing field of Cybersecurity.
The ultimate goal of cybersecurity is to protect valuable assets from malicious users, and the valuable assets can be either human or other forms of business value. The Cybersecurity industry has outgrown from simple IT security to protecting humans and businesses overall in digital environments. This means, there is a greater scope to invite people with diverse interests and expertise, such as human-centred interface designers to business governance specialist, and people with an interest in criminology to security policing.
Of course, if you're going to be taking on a role that requires you to actively monitor company systems to identify threats or oversee organisational policies, it helps to understand what you're up against.
Here's an overview of how to get a job in cybersecurity. We'll also discuss the state of cybersecurity today, and why diversity and creativity are just as important as the ability to code.
Get a cybersecurity qualification
The core concepts in cybersecurity essentially boil down to these three principles:
- Confidentiality: Data must not be revealed to unauthorised users
- Integrity: Data must not be altered by unauthorised users
- Availability: Data must be available to authorised users upon request.
Learning how to put these concepts into action - and defend against constant attacks upon these principles - is your first step to a rewarding career in cybersecurity. Once you've mastered that, quantum, robotics and artificial intelligence will be a key part of your future.
If you want to start a career in cybersecurity without any experience, the most useful first step is to undertake a Bachelor of Cybersecurity. This qualification will provide you with a practical grounding in the field, offering solid technical foundations as well as the theoretical underpinnings that will drive innovation and development into the future.
In this course, you'll learn the technical skills needed such as programming, computer networking and systems applications that are used to fight cybercrime - and you'll do it on industry-leading software.
If you're keen to get started working in the industry earlier, you can begin your studies with a Diploma of Cybersecurity first. The diploma provides a one-year grounding in the fundamentals, after which you can decide whether you wish to jump into the industry as a junior security analyst, continue into the bachelor-level degree, or both.
If you have some IT experience, you could look to take the certification pathway, studying courses directly through tech experts Microsoft, IBM or AWS.
Why is cybersecurity important?
The war over information is heating up. Over the past 12-18 months, there have been major data breaches at prominent organisations such as health funds and telecommunications companies, with a raft of new security measures installed to combat hackers.
Internally, many of these organisations are seeking to improve their security and their responses to cyber threats. They are looking for professionals who can spot vulnerabilities and provide solutions - often before there's a problem.
In short, cybersecurity is more important than ever. In 2022, the Australian Government committed $9 billion to the sector, recognising how vital it is that we remain on the front foot against hackers.
There is a global need for cybersecurity professionals who can protect major corporations in:
- Software and web security
- Network and digital infrastructure security
- Human-centric cybersecurity solutions
- AI-driven smart cybersecurity solutions.
With these courses aligned to the Australian Computer Society guidelines, you'll be confident the skills you gain will be globally recognised. Hello World!
Why is diversity in the cybersecurity workforce important?
You might have a stereotypical picture in your head of an IT worker, but the truth is far more varied.
Cybersecurity benefits from the input and wisdom of a broad variety of people, from all backgrounds. That's because one of the most exciting things about cybersecurity is the way it deals with humans as much as it does with systems. Although we live in a digital society, human factors are one of the most important elements in building and defending the digital fortress.
Many of today's attacks on confidentiality are facilitated by hackers taking advantage of people rather than software, using psychological tactics or bypassing easily guessed passwords. In many cases, humans are the weakest link in the system, so human behaviour analysis is very important in cybersecurity protection.
If everybody thinks the same or comes with the same set of cultural assumptions, it leaves us vulnerable to attacks that take advantage of our blind spots. That's why it's important to build teams made up of people from diverse backgrounds, with diverse skill sets and ways of viewing the world.
Why is creativity needed in cybersecurity?
Hackers deploy a staggering range of assaults, and it is up to cybersecurity professionals to anticipate the next move. It's highly interesting, varied work that challenges you to be your best, get inside other people's heads and explore new ways to keep data secure.
That's especially true because these battlegrounds now extend to advanced cloud computing systems, distributed software networks and AI-driven computing systems. Whoever has the better system wins, and unfortunately, it seems at the moment that the hackers are winning.
Virtual supply chains and cloud-based services also mean that there are more online connections that can be attacked, geopolitical developments mean more attacks are taking place and a rise in overall online activity means those attackers are going after more targets - big and small.
Given that these threats come from a broad variety of sources with different motives, it's vital that we people on the pro-security side can anticipate future moves and come up with creative ways to keep our information safe.
Here's one problem that requires a creative solution: what's the best way to decentralise cybersecurity measures within an organisation, taking into account people working from home and using mobile devices more often?
So far there isn't one bulletproof answer but hopefully, you can see how this example problem requires creative thinking to accommodate a range of individuals, situations and use cases - before we approach the technical side of things.
Can I study a cybersecurity degree if I have no IT or programming experience?
When you study a Bachelor of Cybersecurity at Torrens University Australia, you're learning everything you need to launch your career in this vital field.
Designed with industry leaders IBM and CISCO, and aligned to the Australian Computer Society's skills assessment guidelines, our courses are built to prepare you with the ability and knowledge you need to thrive. That means we give you the foundational skills you require, as well as hands-on experience so you will be able to begin your cybersecurity journey with confidence.
At Torrens University, our cybersecurity programs specialise in:
- Ethical hacking: How to beat hackers at their own game
- Software, data and user security: Leveraging blockchain technologies
- Human-centric cybersecurity: Behaviour analysis for better cyber protection
- Digital infrastructure security: Focused on the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud security
- Enterprise-grade cybersecurity systems: Building multiple layers and types of defence against attack vectors
- Cybersecurity for future digital environments: Keeping an eye on upcoming technologies and what may come next.
Our teaching is focused on proactive and preventative cybersecurity practice - learning to detect vulnerabilities so that companies can remain protected. This is where your skills in human-centric design will stand you apart.
More specifically, a Bachelor of Cybersecurity helps you learn:
- The fundamentals of preventative cybersecurity principles
- Vulnerability detection using next-generation technologies and security solutions
- Ethical hacking and penetration testing practices
- Threat identification
- Enterprise-level security solution design
How to get into cybersecurity with IT experience
If you already have a Bachelor Degree, a Master of Cybersecurity can help you build upon your existing skills from business, law, or science, adding critical analysis, innovative and agile problem-solving, technology assessment, and the ability to evaluate and recommend human-centric cybersecurity solutions to emerging threats.
10 cybersecurity companies to work for and the roles you can start
This industry presents an array of amazing career opportunities, because cybersecurity is a field high in demand, with salary bands increasing worldwide - well into six figures.
There are many dedicated cybersecurity organisations operating both locally and globally, with entry-level roles available for people who want to be part of this challenging, exciting sector. Here are 10 examples of organisations that offer jobs you can get with a cybersecurity degree, including some companies who have co-designed and evolved our courses to ensure they're on point:
- IBM
- Fortinet
- CISCO
- PWC
- DCX
- Palo Alto
- AWS
- CyberCX
- CrowdStrike
- AustCyber.
And here are some potential roles you can take on within the industry:
- Cybersecurity analyst
- Cybersecurity engineer
- Network engineer
- Cybersecurity consultant
- Cybersecurity administrator
- Systems engineer
- Vulnerability analyst
- Software developer
- Cybersecurity technician.
We expect that hyper-analytical mind of yours is now ticking. Talk to our Future Student Advisors to find out which course is right for you.
