Data protection is at the heart of cyber security. In today's modern world, nearly all information is stored digitally – everything from a company's customer database to a contact list on your phone is all vulnerable to attack. Globally, we create over 2.5 quintillion bytes of data each day. In fact, the amount of data we produce is increasing so rapidly that 90 per cent of all the data in the world was generated in just the last two years.
With the amount of data in the world increasing so rapidly, so too is the amount of cyber attacks. Hackers, cyber terrorists and hacktivists usually have one of three aims: to access, change or destroy sensitive information; extort money from users; or interrupt normal business processes. It's the role of cyber security professionals to protect systems, networks, and programs from these digital attacks.
It can seem like our whole lives revolve around the internet and computers. Advances in technology such as cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT) are contributing to the growth in the number of security threats. With everything from footwear to fridges now connected to the internet, the risk of hacking has never been greater.
As technology impacts our lives in new and different ways, hackers continue to innovate and find new avenues to exploit customers and companies. In fact, cybercrimes cost the Australian economy up to $1 billion dollars a year in direct costs alone.
Some of the most common cyber security problems businesses face include:
While IT security is not a new idea, this increasing prevalence of cybercrimes is driving unprecedented demand for qualified cyber security professionals. Strong media coverage of high-profile attacks has meant that businesses are warier than ever of being publicly named and shamed for putting their customers' data at risk.
The good news is there are strong job prospects for those who want to enter this growing industry. Australia is facing a severe skills shortage of cyber security professionals with a current shortfall of 2,300 workers, and more than 17,000 additional professionals estimated to be required by 2026.
This strong demand for skilled workers is driving up salaries in the industry. In fact, a survey of 900 information security professionals from around the world found that both entry-level and senior IT security workers are paid the most in Australia. With the average annual salary for a cyber-security professional ranging between $75,000 to $120,000, cyber security is becoming an increasingly attractive career option for many in Australia.
Despite what you might think, cyber security isn't just for computer scientists. Organisations require people from varied backgrounds and disciplines to work in this area. Anyone who has good problem-solving skills, is innovative, and can think strategically would be well suited to a career in cyber security. Other types of people that are highly valued in this area are good communicators, educators, analytical thinkers, and with sound ethics.
Because cyber security is an issue in nearly every business, a cyber-security qualification really can take you anywhere in the world. Small businesses to large corporations and even government organisations require cyber security professionals to protect them from cyber-attacks.
Some of the types of careers that cyber security training can unlock include cyber security technical support, cyber security intrusion tester, security support officer, penetration tester, networking security support officer, and website security support officer. Few careers offer the variety in both roles and industries that cyber security training can unlock.