Blogpost #7: Cybersecurity as a career option

Trishneet Arora, 26 years old, is the founder and CEO of TAC Security, an IT security company

which focuses on providing specialized services called Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration

Testing. The tale began when Trishneet got his first computer when he was a 11-year-old. Soon

he started to experiment with it. Because of his fascination for computers, he failed in the class

VIII examination and completed his class X through open learning.

He was named in Forbes 30 Under 30 2018 Asia list and Fortune (magazine) 40 Under 40 2019

List of India's Brightest Business Minds

Cybersecurity has become one of the most in-demand career choices for the youth today. This

career deals with efforts to protect organizations from cyberattacks and safeguard their digital

information. It ensures protection and security of various online systems, networks, data,

information, and applications by protecting against malware, virus attacks, data thefts,

information hacking and leakages, system and network security breaches, application breaches

by unauthorized users, etc.

1. To be a part of a thrilling, interesting field: In our digital age, cybersecurity plays a vital role

in ensuring online safety, as well as the safety of all the essential systems that support our

daily lives, including electricity, transportation, and financial institutions. As a cyber security

professional, you'll be working to keep critical infrastructure secure, and will constantly face

engaging challenges. The most common are Critical infrastructure security: which deals

with critical infrastructure like the electricity grid, water purification plants, traffic lights,

shopping centers and hospitals; Application security such as antivirus programs, firewalls

and encryption programs which ensure that unauthorized access is prevented; Network

security which ensures that internal networks are secure by protecting the infrastructure

protects and monitors the data in your cloud resources and Internet of things (IoT) security.

IoT refers to the wide variety of critical and non-critical cyber-physical systems, like

appliances, sensors, televisions, Wi-Fi routers, printers, and security cameras.

3. To be in a stable profession: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment

of Cybersecurity Analysts is projected to grow at 37% from 2012 to 2022. This is much

faster than the average. With such a need for cybersecurity experts and the need for many,

many more in the future, you can be assured that your skills and expertise will be most

sought after. In a world where even our kitchen appliances and cars are connected to the

internet, cyber criminals have endless opportunity to cause chaos and cybersecurity will

remain in the forefront as a desired career choice.

4. To use your entire skillset: Since every aspect of our lives could be impacted by cybercrime,

there's an opportunity for everyone to be a part of this field. You can draw on your skillset

 For those still pursuing an undergraduate degree or those who have finished their

graduation, enrolling in additional courses such as Cryptography, Computer Networks,

Software, and Hardware Security and Network, Computer Security, Programming in C,

Software as a Service (SaaS) and Software Engineering would be an added advantage.

 If you have graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, then think of Master’s

degree programs in a related field.

 Get a cybersecurity certificate starting from the beginner level and proceed to medium and

advanced levels.

Above all, it is important to learn things practically, and while choosing an institution, choose

in deciding the right career path. A career in cybersecurity is a commitment. New challenges

will keep popping up. A career in this field will involve life-long learning. You will have to

continuously upgrade your knowledge and skills and work to understanding new technologies

that emerge.