Why now is the time to consider a career in cybersecurity

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While the outlook for some business sectors shows uncertainty in the current economic environment, the Canadian cybersecurity sector is a beacon of hope for future technology careers. There are many resources available to help you grow your professional career. According to (ISC) 2 2022 Cyber ​​Workforce Report, there is a global shortage of about 3.4 million cybersecurity professionals, up from 2.7 million last year. The rise in cyberattacks requires an expanded workforce to meet cyber risks, but there is a significant shortage of qualified candidates. As a result, cybersecurity skills gaps have real-world implications, affecting a company’s reputation and having severe economic consequences.

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For example, in a recent global research study that included Canadian respondents, 80% of surveyed organizations experienced at least one cybersecurity breach that could be attributed to a lack of cybersecurity skills or awareness. was shown.

When it comes to cybersecurity breaches, the price organizations have to pay is high and the risks will only increase in 2023. Cybersecurity affects all organizations across Canada, regardless of size. Attacks become more targeted and effective as threat actors proactively prepare with information gathering techniques. This knowledge includes the target’s security schema, key security personnel, number of servers, known vulnerabilities, and even compromised credentials for sale, required for highly targeted and effective attacks. may contain all

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A silver lining to the rising risk of cyberattacks is the continued high demand for cybersecurity professionals. Without access to talented people, businesses and even critical infrastructure and services are at risk. For these reasons, the focus has shifted to recruiting and retaining talent to address talent shortages.

Decision makers believe employees with technology-focused certifications have a positive impact. As such, most organizations are willing to pay for employee training and certification. Access to training has two advantages for him. Providing training to existing employees paves the way for promotion, and providing training to new hires expands the talent pool. This offers a variety of opportunities for job seekers looking to make a career change and for security professionals looking to upskill.

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Everyone has a role in cybersecurity, regardless of their technical background. His soft skills such as leadership, collaboration and interpersonal communication will be evaluated as well. Several training options are also available to kick-start your cybersecurity career, with a variety of career paths to acquire the technical skills needed to become a cybersecurity specialist.

While there are traditional ways to earn a degree in cybersecurity or computer science, cybersecurity training and certification are also available to help individuals improve and acquire new cyber skills.

With a strong presence in Canada, the Fortinet Training Institute offers industry-recognized cybersecurity courses, with varying levels of experience from beginner to advanced, with a focus on bridging skills gaps. I’m putting As part of its commitment to close the cybersecurity skills gap by training 1 million people by 2026, Fortinet is offering free, self-paced courses to anyone interested. available.

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In addition, there are great opportunities in cybersecurity for women and other underrepresented groups, especially as the sector strives to diversify its workforce. We are trying to close the skills gap by expanding our talent pool to include underrepresented groups.

Women make up almost half of the world’s population, but only a quarter of the cybersecurity workforce. The Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) goal helps organizations focus on actively recruiting women, recent graduates, and people of color in an open cybersecurity role.

For example, through the Fortinet Training Institute’s Educational Outreach Program, Fortinet has developed partnerships with nonprofits focused on attracting women, veterans, and other untapped talent pools to cyber workers. , giving them access to training. Students are also a big part of this effort, working to develop future cyber leaders.

For Canadian job seekers, the cybersecurity sector continues to offer exciting opportunities across a range of career options despite facing an economic slowdown.Organizations are responding to an ever-evolving threat landscape. We need to strengthen our cyber security team to do this.

The reality of the cybersecurity skills gap continues, but those looking for rewarding career opportunities in the new year will find cybersecurity an attractive option to explore.

This article was provided by Fortinet for commercial use.