How To Begin A Career In Cyber Security

Cyber security experts are more in demand now than ever, as cyber crime gets more advanced and the majority of our information is stored online. 

As a cyber security professional, you will be in high demand, and you can utilise your IT skills and problem-solving nature to kick-start an incredible career.

Cyber security careers can be highly rewarding for the right person, offering high salaries, career growth, plenty of job opportunities, flexibility and an interesting day-to-day life. However, before embarking on a career in cyber security, it is important to consider whether this career path is right for you.

Whether you are a cyber security analyst, cyber security engineer or cyber security specialist, you will need to have an in-depth understanding of IT in general and, in particular cyber security. If you are not that interested in IT and are just looking for a stress-free career with a good salary, then this might not be the career for you. 

Cyber security careers take time, as you’ll need to be both invested in the qualifications and experience needed to embark on this career and on the day-to-day tasks of a cybersecurity professional. You will need to pay close attention to detail, get to the bottom of cyber security issues and ensure that your clients are protected from cyber attacks

Cyber security is all about keeping people’s digital information and data safe and secure. Some of the day-to-day duties in a cyber security role might include: 

Working in the cyber security field can be stressful, but if you are someone who enjoys a challenge and is confident in their IT abilities, then it could be the perfect job for you. However, if you want to use your IT security knowledge to help people secure their data and be more protected online, then exploring cyber security jobs in Ireland could be just right for you.

There are several skills which are within every cyber security professional’s playbook. Some of these skills may be developed on the job. However, no matter where you are in your career journey, you can develop the skills you need through cybersecurity courses and relevant experience. 

Some of the main soft skills and technical skills you might need in this career include:

Gaining hands-on experience by practising cyber security techniques at home and via a course can help you develop key skills and gain experience which will stand out to employers. The more experience and skills you are able to demonstrate, the more employable you will be, so get started on developing your skillset.

There are no formal qualifications needed to become a cyber security analyst or engineer. However, it is likely that an employer will want relevant qualifications or experience to demonstrate your skill in cyber security. 

This might include a bachelor’s degree in IT or computer software, a master’s degree or certificate in computer science or a diploma in cyber security. If you do have IT-related qualifications, then this is a great head start, and gaining additional experience or qualifications in cyber security specifically can really help to elevate your resume. 

Investigating cyber security courses can be the best way to start a career in this field, whether you have background experience in the fundamentals of malware, have formal qualifications in network security or are starting entirely from scratch. Cyber security courses in Ireland are conducted by experts in the field and are created to teach you everything you need to know about cyber security, from the foundations to high-level cyber security skills. 

If you are a beginner with no current qualifications or experience in cyber security, then you can complete a cyber security certification through an online course and practise your cyber security skills at home. Following this, you can apply for entry-level cyber security positions. Having experience or qualifications in areas such as data analytics, risk management, and operating systems can be incredibly useful too.

There are several opportunities for professionals in the cyber security sector in Ireland. Every company and individual has cyber security needs, whether it is to protect their personal information, shield their customers from security breaches or help their business keep their essential digital data private. Because of this, there are plenty of cybersecurity jobs, such as: 

There are also many opportunities to move into other areas of IT throughout your cyber security career path, such as software development, ethical hacking or programming. This is especially true in Ireland due to the large technology sector, which has a diverse and growing range of job opportunities within it. 

If you gain qualifications and experience in cyber security, you can progress into cyber security or IT management, work for international clients in cyber security or go into freelance work and act as a cyber security consultant to a variety of clients. 

Cyber security opens up a huge variety of job opportunities for those who are IT savvy and want to explore this exciting area of tech. In Ireland, you can take advantage of the large Irish technology industry, as well as the growing area of digital security, and secure yourself a lucrative career in cyber security.