Is specializing in cybersecurity worth the investment?

If you’ve noticed a growing amount of cybersecurity degrees or training programs, there should be no surprise: the number of jobs in the industry is growing exponentially and the industry’s pool of applicants is running dry.

Cybersecurity is the protection of personal and business data, systems, and networks from infiltration and cyberattacks. These cyber crimes are predicted to cost the world $10.5 trillion annually by 2025 and are expected to leave nearly 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity job openings, according to the data reported in the Cybersecurity Jobs Report in 2021.

The report strongly emphasized how jobs have been unable to keep pace with the dramatic rise in cybercrime. The founder and CEO of the Herjavec Group recommended professionals to pursue an education in information technology or computer science, stating there is “zero percent unemployment rate in cybersecurity.”

The shortage of workers puts our digital privacy and infrastructure at risk. This deficit doesn’t just affect us in the U.S., but in India, Israel, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the U.K., Mexico, and many others. With such demands, it’s hard to imagine an IT position that doesn’t require knowledge of protecting and defending apps, data, devices, infrastructure, and people.

ISACA predicts that 100% of large U.S. companies will have a chief information security officer (CISO) by 2021. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) have themselves reported the average growth rate of jobs between 2018 and 2028 for Information security analysts as 32%, much faster than the average. The State of Cybersecurity in Florida reported that in Florida alone they expect more than 17% of additional growth by 2024 across all cybersecurity-related positions.

Recently, U.S. News & World Report ranked information security analyst jobs #4 in Best Technology Jobs, #18 in Best STEM jobs, and #40 Best 100 jobs.

Investing in an education in cybersecurity not only increases your employment opportunities and job security, but their high demand means they come with an excellent salary. Entry-level positions have salaries around $95,000, according to BLS and U.S. News & World Report. CISOs make an average ranging from $150,000 to $250,000, a high return on investment for a specialized degree in the field.

If you are considering a career in cybersecurity, join us for an information session to learn more.