Cyber security is among the fastest-growing industries in the world. More than 700,000 people joined the cyber security workforce in the year ending 2021, and it’s easy to see why.
In an increasingly digital world, there is an inexhaustible demand for qualified professionals to protect organisations from an ever-increasing number of risks. Meanwhile, the cyber security industry offers generous salaries, plenty of room for career development and enough variety between job roles to suit almost any set of skills.
Despite the industry’s growth in recent years, there remains a staggering shortage of qualified professionals. One report estimates that there is a shortage of almost 200,000 people in Europe alone.
So why are these jobs being unfilled? Part of the reason is that there are plenty of people just getting into the industry but not enough people with advanced qualifications.
According to the 2021 (ISC)2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, 72% of cyber security professionals are required by their organisation to earn certifications.
This demonstrates the huge advantage that can be had for those willing to take on additional training.
Whether you’re an individual trying to further your career or an organisation looking to upskill its staff, we can help you close that skills gap in this blog.
Learning paths
IT Governance’s learning paths help visualise that approach, providing a guide to help you see which training courses and qualifications are necessary for specific job roles. The path also demonstrates how individuals can move into more advanced positions with further experience and qualifications.
These paths are specifically designed to build information security and cyber security careers by delivering the up-to-date knowledge, skills and qualifications required by organisations worldwide.
While all cyber security careers require technical expertise, it is important to first decide if you want to become a technical specialist or a cyber security manager/director.
There are plenty of technical training options. For a career in security IT admin or operations, the CompTIA Security Training Course delivers the knowledge required to install and configure systems to secure devices, applications and networks.
Ethical hacking or penetration testing involves identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities in an organisation’s systems using the same techniques as a criminal hacker. The demand for ethical hackers has skyrocketed in the past few years and you can develop the skills you need on our Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Training Course.
Meanwhile, Microsoft qualifications are increasingly in demand. Microsoft 365 and Azure are used by 258 million people worldwide, as well as more than a million organisations.
Our Microsoft Security Training Course portfolio will ensure that you quickly achieve the Azure and Microsoft 365 cyber security qualifications you need to meet the demands of organisations of all sizes.
Opening the doors to cyber security management
Most cyber security career paths eventually lead to a management position, which means that you might be leading a group of specialists in an area in which you are not a technical expert.
ISO 27001 is the international standard for information security. Its best-practice approach enables organisations to address their security needs through an ISMS (information security management system). The Certified ISO 27001 ISMS Foundation Training Course and Certified ISO 27001 ISMS Lead Implementer Training Course deliver a complete education and globally recognised IBITGQ qualifications.
No matter what area of cyber security you move into, you will almost certainly come across the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
Data protection and data privacy are at the core of cyber security, so it’s worth getting a solid understanding of these issues. To get started, we always recommend the Certified GDPR Foundation Training Course.
Those with several years’ experience in cyber security may also consider becoming a CISM® (Certified Information Security Manager) or CISSP® (Certified Information Security Systems Professional).
Speak to a training expert
Whether you’re looking to develop your career, enhance your knowledge or train your staff, IT Governance has the training solution for you.
Our team of qualified trainers have extensive knowledge and understanding of cyber security, data protection and IT governance.
We offer a wide range of training options designed to work around your needs, including bespoke in-house tuition, staff awareness courses and classroom training. Learn in your own time with our pre-recorded distance learning courses, or attend a live training course online.
Let us share our expertise. Speak to an expert for more information on our full range of training courses.
A version of this blog was originally published on 8 March 2022.
