With rapidly increasing access to smartphones and reliable internet connectivity, there has been an exponential growth in the number of internet users in India. This number is projected to reach 1.5 billion by 2040. Although the democratisation of internet access is good news in many ways, it also poses severe challenges for the safety and integrity of the users’ personal data. In addition to this, the pandemic has caused businesses and educational institutions to shift their operations to virtual platforms in a short duration. Shifting to virtual platforms also means that they are at risk of their valuable data being leaked or mishandled. In the internet age, organisations hold the responsibility to protect the personal information of their consumers and prevent any data breach.
The sheer volume of data being generated daily in today’s world requires cloud-based technologies for its storage. While cloud computing offers a convenient solution for storage needs, it opens data up to an increased number of cyber threats. It has been recorded that, every 39 seconds, a cyberattack occurs somewhere in the world and each attack costs organisations an average of $13 million. These facts make it clear why cybersecurity is such a booming sector today.
Demand for Cybersecurity Talent
The market for cybersecurity is currently valued at $156.24 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $352.25 billion by 2026, registering a compound annual growth rate of 14.5%. The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing market for cybersecurity. This rapid expansion has opened 3.5 million new vacancies globally for cybersecurity professionals in 2021. There is surging demand for IT professionals across the world who are trained in securing networks and databases, handling access management systems, and performing periodic audits to ensure data security. Coinciding with this demand is an acute shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals, creating a huge skills gap. This skills gap is estimated to induce a total of 1.8 million unfulfilled cybersecurity positions by 2022.
Organisations across sectors including IT, consulting, banking, education, healthcare, and manufacturing have reported facing problems recruiting talent for cybersecurity positions. 62% of the respondents interviewed by CSO have said that this shortage of cybersecurity skills has led to a higher workload on existing employees, causing burnout. These statistics put into perspective the dire need for trained cybersecurity employees in the market. Traditional IT and computer science courses do not adequately equip students with the industry-relevant skills and techniques involved in cybersecurity, making them underqualified to hold most of the available positions in this field. An appropriate solution to this is upskilling through cybersecurity certification courses that are tailored to suit contemporary industry requirements.
Improve your knowledge on Cybersecurity with IIT Delhi
IIT Delhi is offering a Certificate Programme in Cybersecurity: Foundations and Pragmaticsv designed to equip learners with the necessary skills to transform an organisation’s cybersecurity strategy. This cybersecurity certification course aims to train learners in the latest methods and developments in cybersecurity and an in-depth understanding of designing and hardening systems with security as the key focus. This course covers the essential aspects of cybersecurity, including systems and network security, cyber forensics, and incident management. In addition to these fundamentals, it equips one to apply these techniques within the domain of contemporary technologies, which include machine learning, blockchains, the internet of things, embedded systems, and wireless and virtual networks. With the objective to provide a holistic overview of cybersecurity to its participants, this course follows an interactive pedagogical approach. In addition to the skills and knowledge one would gain, this course gives the opportunity to receive formal certification from IIT Delhi, which stands among the top five engineering institutes of India, according to the latest NIRF rankings.
Figure: Salary Prospects for Cybersecurity Professionals
Professionals trained in cybersecurity have a wide range of job opportunities awaiting them. Considering the high demand for skilled talent in this field, cybersecurity professionals enjoy lucrative salary prospects and rapid job growth. The figure above provides a comprehensive overview of the range of positions cybersecurity professionals can occupy and the corresponding salary prospects. The availability of cybersecurity training courses online should be a call for all IT professionals looking to boost their careers and ride the digital wave. The field of cybersecurity has seen a zero-unemployment rate since 2011 and this is projected to continue for a very long time. Hence, pursuing IITD’s certificate course in cybersecurity is a long-term investment in one’s future.
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