/ March 24, 2017

I’m interested in a career in cybersecurity or know someone who would be great in the field. Where do I start?

Congratulations for considering a career in cybersecurity. According to Cisco Systems, there will be a shortage of 2 million cybersecurity professionals by the year 2020 and there is near zero unemployment in the field. Average salaries for experienced professionals can easily top $200,000 with some Chief Security Officers in large organizations approaching $400,000 annually.

Many people considering a career in cybersecurity often do not appreciate how diverse the field is. They think they must be a technical guru or uber hacker. The fact is, there are various pathways to joining the cybersecurity profession, including:

  • Technical positions i.e. installing firewalls, managing intrusion detection systems, incident response, vulnerability assessments and protecting computer networks
  • Computer forensics—finding evidence on digital devices
  • Government positions fighting and investigating cybercrime
  • Military or National Security services—working on cyber warfare and national defense
  • Cyber law and public policy—examining legal and public policy challenges working in academia thinktanks and for large companies

Whatever your interest, the needs are great and the opportunities are fantastic. Though you may not currently have the exact right technical background, do not be discouraged as many positions in the field are non-technical (such as sales and marketing,) while others will provide extensive training for their employees, such as government positions and large consulting companies. See below for an extensive list of resources.

General Information on Cybersecurity Careers

Scholarships for Cybersecurity Resources

The government has a wide variety of scholarship programs that will pay for your full undergraduate or graduate education.

Online Courses and Degree Programs

Current Job Openings

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