Cyber Security as a Career: A Comprehensive Guide; Top Facts; 50+ Colleges List and more

Want to take lead in the digital world’s biggest challenge? Yes, you heard that right. Cyber security is a term we hear now more often. You may obviously know why! As the more digitally advanced our world gets, the more vulnerable our computer systems and networks are becoming. The world needs more Cyber security experts than ever. Let’s figure out who these are and how you should go for a career in cyber security!

What is Cyber Security?

Cyber security, also called Computer security or Information Technology security, is the process of protecting the computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from vulnerabilities and cyber attacks. A cyber attack is an attempt to destroy, steal, expose, disable or gain unlawful access to computer information systems, infrastructures, computer networks, or personal computer devices.

Cyber Security Experts play a major role in protecting and defending a nation’s critical infrastructures such as the computer information systems & networks of financial institutions, control systems, telecommunications, armed forces, police forces, aviation, organizations and individual’s devices from direct-access attacks, phishing, social engineering, tampering, destroying or spoofing etc.

Cyber Security Experts protect systems and networks from cyber attacks, risks, threats, and vulnerabilities by investigating, monitoring, analyzing and fixing cyber security breaches from potential hackers.

Why is Cyber Security important?

As the reliance on information technology systems, computers, cloud services and devices are increasing day by day, critical information and data of individuals, organizations and the entire nation are more vulnerable to cyber attacks than ever. Cyber attacks can be against nations’ critical IT infrastructures and disrupt, destroy these essential services.

To understand why Cyber Security is important, let’s take an example: An attack on a nation’s financial infrastructures would project to large sums of money being stolen or transactions redirected. The financial industries would cripple down the entire nation’s economy, civilians could lose out on jobs and security.

Cyber Security: Importance & Facts

To be better equipped with the right information and facts, read the following pointers to understand why cyber security industry is emerging as extremely important in today’s time:

1. According to Cisco, there would be over 75 billion connected devices all over the world by the year 2025. Moreover, the Internet of Things (IoT) would lead the digital world; as connected cars to traffic lights, home automation & security systems, and smart devices, and many others would fuel technological advancements.
2. Also, the fourth industrial revolution (which is the evolving tech environment in which advanced technologies and trends like the internet of things (IoT), robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR) are changing the world) has introduced 5G networks, AI, robotics, and cloud computing leading to more connected devices.
3. Considering the pace of technological advancements and escalating numbers of connected devices and cloud services, it is no wonder that these systems and networks need protection and security from malicious attacks and cybercrimes.
4. Cyber attacks challenge and question the safety and security of these connected systems because of which Cyber security is and will be critically important for today and the coming future.

How to Become a Cybersecurity Expert?

To pursue a career in cybersecurity, you can go for:

1. Bachelor’s in Computer Science or related + Certification in Cyber security/ Ethical Hacking, or similar> Start working as an intern or trainee in a similar field.

Pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/ Information security or Information systems/ Computer Programming/ Information Technology/ Computer Applications / Digital Forensics/ Network Administration Security/ Network Security/ Digital Systems Security.

While pursuing your bachelor’s degree in any of the above fields mentioned, you can pursue certifications in Ethical HackingCertified Risk and Information System Control/ Cisco Certified Network Professional/ Cisco Certified Information Security Expert/ ISACA Certified Information Security Auditor/ Certificate in Information Security/ ISACA Certified Information Security Management similar certifications.

2. B. Tech + Certification in Cyber security/ Ethical Hacking or similar> Look for opportunities in cyber security.

Pursue B.Tech. in Computer Science & Engineering in Cyber Security & Forensics/ Cloud Computing & Virtualization/ Cloud Technology & Information Security or similar subject.

While pursuing your graduate degree you can also go for certifications in Ethical Hacking Certified Risk and Information System Control/ Cisco Certified Network Professional/ Cisco Certified Information Security Expert/ ISACA Certified Information Security Auditor/ Certificate in Information Security/ ISACA Certified Information Security Management or similar certifications in Cyber security.

3. B. Tech + Certification in Cyber security/ Ethical Hacking or similar> M.Tech>Look for work opportunities in cyber security.

Pursue a B.Tech. in Cloud Technology & Information Security or similar subjects followed by M.Tech in Cyber Security/ Computer Science and Engineering (Cyber Forensics and Information Security/ Data Security/ Cyber Forensics and Information Security or similar subjects.

While completing your degree courses, you can also take up certifications in Cyber security in Ethical Hacking Certified Risk and Information System Control/ Cisco Certified Network Professional/ Cisco Certified Information Security Expert/ ISACA Certified Information Security Auditor/ Certificate in Information Security/ ISACA Certified Information Security Management or similar certifications in Cyber security.

4. B.Sc. + Certification in Cyber security/ Ethical Hacking, or similar> M.Sc.>Start working as Cyber security professional in govt. or the private sector.

Pursue a B.Sc. in Computer science/ Cyber Forensics/ Information Security or similar along with certifications in Ethical Hacking Certified Risk and Information System Control/ Cisco Certified Network Professional/ Cisco Certified Information Security Expert/ ISACA Certified Information Security Auditor/ Certificate in Information Security/ ISACA Certified Information Security Management or similar certifications in Cyber security. After completing graduation, you can go for an M.Sc. in Cyber Security or a similar field of discipline.

5. Bachelor’s in any subject+ Certification in Cyber security/ Ethical Hacking, or similar>Start working as an intern or trainee in a similar field.

Pursue a Bachelor’ degree in any subject along with a certification in Ethical Hacking Certified Risk and Information System Control/ Cisco Certified Network Professional/ Cisco Certified Information Security Expert/ ISACA Certified Information Security Auditor/ Certificate in Information Security/ ISACA Certified Information Security Management similar certifications and start working as an intern or trainee in private or government sector.

Top 25 Cyber Security Courses

Some of the top 25 cyber security courses are:

1. Diploma in Certified Network Defender (C|ND)
2. Certification in Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator (C|HFI)
3. Certification in Ethical Hacking
4. Certified Risk and Information System Control
5. Certification in Cisco Certified Network
6. Professional Certification in Cisco Certified Information Security Expert
7. Certification in ISACA Certified Information Security Auditor
8. Certificate in Information Security Certification in ISACA
9. B.E. (Hons) Information and Communications Technology (Information Security)
10. B.Tech. Cloud Technology & Information Security
11. B.Tech. Computer Science & Engineering (Cloud Computing & Virtualization)
12. B.Tech. Computer Science & Engineering (Cyber Security & Forensics)
13. B.Tech. Computer Science & Engineering (Cloud Technology & Information Security)
14. B.Sc. in Cyber Forensics
15. B.Sc. in Information Security
16. B.Sc. in Computer Network security
17. M.Tech. Computer Science & Engineering (Cyber Security)
18. M.Tech. Cyber Security
19. M.Tech. Computer Science and Engineering (Cyber Forensics and Information Security)
20. M.Tech. Cyber Forensic and Information Security
21. M.Tech. Data Security
22. M.Sc. Cybersecurity
23. M.Sc. Information Security
24. M.Sc. Digital Forensics & Information Security
25. M.E. Computer Science and Information Security  

List of 55 Top Cyber Security Colleges

Take a look at some of the colleges offering undergraduate and postgraduate level degree courses in cyber security:

1. Ajeenkya DY Patil University School of Information Technology
2. Ambedkar Institute of Advanced Communication Technologies and Research
3. Ansal University, Gurgaon, Haryana
4. Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Gwalior
5. BITS Pilani
6. Central University of Punjab
7. Centre for Information and Network Security University of Pune
8. College of Engineering Chengannur, Kerala
9. College of Engineering, Kallooppara
10. Ganga Institute of Technology and Management
11. GITAM School of Technology Visakhapatnam
12. Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Trivandrum
13. Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing, Kurnool
14. Indian Institute of Information Technology Raichur
15. Indian Institute of Information Technology Tiruchirappalli
16. Indian Institute of Information Technology Una
17. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Agartala
18. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad
19. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bhagalpur
20. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bhopal
21. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Dharwad
22. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Guwahati
23. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Kalyani
24. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Kota
25. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Kottayam
26. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Lucknow
27. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Manipur
28. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Nagpur
29. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Pune
30. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Ranchi
31. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Sonepat
32. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Sri City
33. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Surat
34. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Vadodara
35. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
36. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
37. Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar
38. Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
39. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
40. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
41. Indian Institute of Technology Madras
42. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
43. Institute of Forensic Science, Gujarat Forensic Science University
44. Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education
45. Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology Bhopal
46. MET’S School of Engineering, Mala, Kerala
47. Mody University of Technology and Science for Women, Laxmangarh, Rajasthan
48. National Institute of Technology Warangal
49. National Institute of Technology, Thrichy
50. Rajiv Gandhi Prodoyogiki Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
51. SCMS School of Engineering and Technology, Kochi, Kerala
52. Thapar University, Patiala, Punjab
53. Thiagarajar College of Engineering
54. Toc H Institute of Science and Technology, Ernakulam, Kerala
55. VIT University

List of 25 Online Cyber Security Courses

Some of the latest beginner and advanced level courses in cyber security are as follows:

1. IBM Cybersecurity Analyst
2. IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity
3. Introduction to Cybersecurity Tools & Cyber Attacks
4. Palo Alto Networks Cybersecurity
5. Fundamentals of Computer Network Security
6. Applied Cryptography
7. Computer Security and Systems Management
8. Penetration Testing, Incident Response and Forensics
9. Security in Google Cloud Platform
10. COBIT®2019- Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies
11. CompTIA Security+
12. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
13. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
14. Certified Ethical Hacking (CEH)
15. CISM (Certified Information Security Manager)
16. Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
17. Cybersecurity: The CISO’s View
18. Network Security
19. Microsoft Security in Office 365
20. Computer Forensics
21. Microsoft Azure Security Services
22. Blockchain for Business
23. Advanced Computer Security Program
24. Essentials in Computer Forensics
25. Introduction to Hyperledger Blockchain Technologies

Cyber Security: Facts, Jobs and future prospects

Cyber Security Facts

• Cyber Security Ventures, a leading researcher and publisher of the global cyber economy- facts and statistics, predicts that the world will store up to 200 Zettabytes of data by the year 2025.
  
  Do you know what a Zettabyte equals to? A zettabyte is a unit of information equaling to one sextillion or 1021. It is equal to one trillion gigabytes.
  
• This means the total amount of data stored in the cloud including public clouds operated by Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter, etc. and other cloud-based service users and providers would eventually lead to data explosion in the coming years.

Cyber Security Jobs: Availability and scope

• As per CIO Dive, not only there’s 0% unemployment rate in cyber security, the professionals who are looking for a career in cyber security have a promising future. Cyber connects with almost all the significant aspects of a business and considering the data explosion in the coming years, cyber security is going to be the most prominent solution to businesses and organizations.
• Another IBM study reveals that the current demand for Cyber security professionals is exceeding the supply of skilled workers. A massive shortage of 65% of security staff was estimated which hints toward a pool of opportunities in the global security workforce. Those looking for cyber security jobs in government and private sectors may find the cyber security industry a hub of opportunities.
• After completing your education, you may find jobs in profiles such as:
  1. Cyber Security Analyst
  2. Application Security Analyst
  3. Data Security Analyst
  4. Network Security Engineer
  5. Security Architect
  6. Cyber Security Manager
  7. Information Security Specialist
  8. Malware Analyst
  9. Digital Forensic Analyst
  10. Cybercrime Investigator
  11. Junior Intelligence Analyst
  12. Intrusion Detection Analyst
  13. SOC Analyst
  14. Incident Responder
  15. Certified Ethical Hacker (those who have been certified or trained in ethical hacking)
• There are a number of job opportunities available in:
  1. IT Software and Services companies such as IBM, Infosys, TCS, Cognizant Technology Solutions, etc.;
  2. IT hardware and networking equipment manufacturing and servicing companies like Intel, Qualcomm, Cisco, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony, etc.;
  3. IT departments of any corporate organization such as Hindustan Unilever, SAIL, Larsen and Turbo, Reliance Industries Limited, ITC, etc;
  4. IT departments of Banks and financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, etc;
  5. Telecommunication and data service providers such as Jio, Airtel, Vodafone, etc.

Cyber Security Jobs in Government Sector

• Starting as an intern/ trainee in Cyber security, you may also look for opportunities in Non-Profit Organizations or Government initiated programs such as:
  1. Data Security Council of India (DSCI)
  2. National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC)
  3. Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)
  4. National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC)
  5. Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre), etc.
• You may find cyber security jobs in government launched independent business divisions like National e-Governance Division (NeGD) under Digital India Corporation. Initially, you will get appointed as Project Manager/ Program Manager under various e-governance projects such as:
  1. Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG)
  2. Digi Locker
  3. Program Management Information System (PMIS)
• You may also find work opportunities under:
  1. Cyber Laws and eSecurity divisions of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) such as Indian Computer Emergency Response Team(ICERT);
  2. Ministry of Communications & Information Technology such as the Department of Telecom (DoT);
  3. National Security Advisor such as the National Technical Research Organization (NTRO), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Defence Cyber Agency (DCA), etc.

In Conclusion

By now you must be thrilled to kick start your career in Cyber security! If you are still not sure about your career, don’t worry! You have got our back. You can talk to iDreamCareer’s expert career counsellors and clear your career-related queries and doubts. You can also talk to the counsellors about the scope of a career in cyber security or any other career field of interest.

Useful Links:

• eDX Cybersecurity courses from Harvard, MIT, and world-leading Universities
• List of jobs available at IBM for Cyber security professionals
• Free Online Cyber Security Courses (MOOCS) at Cyber Degrees
• Coursera courses- Cyber Security
• Read Digital Forensics reports at Cyber Secure India
• Know more about National e-Governance Division (NeGD)
• Find more details on National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre

More blog topics you may find interesting:

• Criminology: A Comprehensive Career Guide
• A Comprehensive Guide on Online Courses, Top 10 Free Online Courses, MOOCs, and much more
• What is Freelancing and How to Become a Freelancer? Ultimate Guide with Top #5 Pro Tips
• Mastering Data Science in 2020

Shruti Verma

Shruti Verma has an experience of around 2+ years in research and analysis of careers, jobs, and industries. She has a knowledge of diverse fields spanning from career counselling, management consulting, engineering, and technology to science, finance, and humanities.