The continuous and rapid growth in technology has placed cybersecurity as a critical skill for jobs in 2021.
In fact, it’s been reported by cybersecurity company PurpleSec that cybercrime is up by 600% since the beginning of the pandemic.
Never before has it been more important to introduce cybersecurity skills to the workforce.
In this post, we talked to Information Security Analyst and Udacity Instructor Richard Phung about the future of digital security, using education to drive talent into cybersecurity, and his advice to students who want to break into the field.
The Acceleration of the Cybersecurity Industry
Phung says that the fast growth in the cybersecurity industry is both scary and exciting. It’s scary because the faster that technology advances, the more new types of attacks are developed by hackers. It’s exciting because there are always new opportunities to grow and learn.
While cybersecurity has grown continuously over the last 10 years, COVID-19 — and with it, the emergence of fully remote workforces — has pushed the growth into hyperdrive. “Between fraudulent unemployment benefits claims, elaborate phishing campaigns, and Zoom bombing attacks,” says Phung, “the cybersecurity business is booming.”
Using Education to Drive Cybersecurity Talent
Working in education can be an extremely rewarding career. Phung says, “My role as an educator should be an inspiration for aspiring technical and security professionals.” His main driver is to help students achieve their dreams in cybersecurity careers. One of the main ways he has done this is by creating a course that gives enrollees real-world experience.
For example, Phung’s Fundamentals of Defending Systems course has a project that requires students to evaluate a security system of a fictional company. “We went through great lengths to make the experience seem authentic,” he says, “pulling from past workplaces and building a narrative that students…would be able to empathize with.” Taking a cybersecurity course from Phung is more than just watching some lectures and reading a book. It’s about getting the whole security experience.
Phung sums it best: “The idea here is that you leave Udacity with some common knowledge that would be expected by most organizations looking for talent to get started right away.”
Phung’s Advice: Security is a Way of Life
Phung views cybersecurity as more than just a job or interest. He says that security is a way of life, and “a life-long venture.” He likes to think of it like a philosophy more than something he does for money. This viewpoint helps him strive to do his best work on a daily basis, and to remain kind with himself as he continues to grow and learn.
“The healthiest way to do it is to consider security a practice in mindfulness. People and organizations make mistakes all the time and there is no such thing as perfect security. Do your best and continue learning.”
Working in Cybersecurity
If joining in the rapidly accelerating field of cybersecurity sounds interesting to you, there are a lot of options for getting involved. The Intro to Cybersecurity Nanodegree program from Udacity is a great place to start, or you can check out the Security Analyst Nanodegree program.
Another alternative is to become a cybersecurity instructor. Since the field is growing so fast, there is a huge demand for people with skills in the workforce. The only way to upskill workers is to have amazing teachers working tirelessly to spread knowledge of their fields.
Interested in completing a Nanodegree or becoming a teacher? Learn more about becoming a Udacity instructor today!
