Whether you’re already working in cybersecurity or just starting out, you have a lot to look forward to. The Identity Theft Research Center (ITRC) reported a 17% increase in data breaches in 2021, while the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NST) reported 18,000+ security vulnerabilities. So, by any measure, the challenges for businesses are growing and those enrolling in popular cybersecurity courses are making a great investment in their future.
Add to that the fact that the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects cybersecurity jobs to 
grow by 31% through to 2029; seven times faster than the national job growth of 4%, and you’ll see that professionals with the right skills and aspirations are in a good position. Organizations are hindered by a skills gap and the average salary for an entry-level position as a cybersecurity specialist is now set at an attractive $77,000.
What Type Cybersecurity Job Should you Aim For?
Cybersecurity is a broad and flexible field that offers both lateral and upward career options. Here are a few examples.
Entry Level
Good starting points include cybersecurity specialist, cyber-crime analyst, incident and intrusion analyst, or IT auditor.
Mid-Level
Depending on how you want to take your career forward, you have the option of becoming a cybersecurity consultant, cybersecurity analyst, or penetration and vulnerability tester.
Senior-Level
You can then, over time, aspire to roles such as cybersecurity manager, cybersecurity engineer, or cybersecurity architect.
The beauty is, as the world of cybercrime evolves so does the world of cybersecurity. Which makes cybersecurity one of the most mobile career pathways within the IT industry.
Build the Most Relevant Cybersecurity Skills with the Right Courses
A degree in computer science is certainly useful to work in the domain, but it’s not essential. Some of today’s most senior cybersecurity roles are being filled by self-taught professionals who’ve demonstrated a passion for continuous learning and investment in their own knowledge base.
So, if you’re just starting out, a foundation level course can provide the base skills you need to get going. The most popular cybersecurity courses will not only help you learn new cybersecurity skills, they’ll help shape where in this rapidly growing field you’d like to invest help your time. Here are a couple of cybersecurity courses we recommend:
Foundations of cybersecurity
This program provides a great all-round introduction to the subject. By the end, you’ll have a good grasp of the fundamentals of cybersecurity and will have mastered the basics of hands-on security skills using key technologies.
It’s also of note that this program is aligned with industry-approved occupational standards. Such occupational standards are, in turn, aligned to specific job roles. So, when you complete Foundations of Cybersecurity, you will have a certificate that can open the door to an entry-level role as a security analyst, identity and access management analyst, compliance audit analyst, or security operations center analyst.
Security Incident Response
Responding to a security incident in an effective way requires specific competencies. If you want to be part of the team that resolves the problems once an attack occurs, this course will help you build critical skills employers are looking for. You’ll learn how to prioritize actions to a security incident and how to build a CSIRT (Computer Security Incident Response Team).
This course is also aligned with occupational standards. However, as the name of the course suggests, it focuses on a particular area of cybersecurity. If you’re looking to work as a security analyst, therefore, this course will give you some important and specific skills.
Microsoft Cybersecurity Courses in the Lead
Microsoft is taking the lead in popular cybersecurity courses and certifications with a new role-focused approach that will likely soon be the standard. That means that courses have been regrouped by their career outcomes. Preparing for the certification exams isn’t easy, though, and an instructor-led course covering the exam material is a great way to ensure you nail the exam on the day. With respect to cybersecurity, these two courses, and their respective certifications, are excellent all-rounders for working in the field.
SC-900: Microsoft Security, Compliance & Identify Fundamentals
SC-900 certification is targeted at professionals who want to grasp the fundamentals of Microsoft’s security, compliance, and identity services. It’s of value to both business stakeholders and IT
professionals who have an interest in Microsoft security. Plus, it helps build a good understanding of how Microsoft’s security offering can provide an end-to-end solution.
If you want to gain SC-900 certification, you’ll want to take this course as preparation for the exam. . Note, people looking to gain certification do need to have a level of familiarity with Azure and Microsoft 365 before enrolling in the course.
AZ-500: Microsoft Azure Technologies
The AZ-500 certification is tailored to professionals aspiring to formalize their skills as Azure security engineers. You’ll be working with Azure Active Directory and using many of Microsoft’s cybersecurity tools to prevent, investigate, and respond to cybersecurity incidents. Additionally, you’ll work with Azure Identity Protection, Azure AD Privileged Identity Management, and Hybrid Identity. You’ll also look at Azure Key Vault, SQL database security, and Azure Security Center amongst other things.
Once you have this exam under your belt, you are paving the way to gaining additional Azure certifications and building a successful cybersecurity career in Azure. Plus, you’ll be able to play a key role as part of a larger team to plan and implement cloud-based management security.
Popular Cybersecurity Course: A Final Word
Cybersecurity is one of the most demanding IT skillsets. Professionals in the space need to engage in continuous learning in and outside the “classroom” to be effective. If you’re interested in developing a rewarding career in an rapidly-evolving field, now is the time to begin exploring popular cybersecurity courses. You won’t be disappointed.
If you need help or guidance and want to pick our brains on which course is right for you, please contact us. Our Learner Support Team will be happy to help.
