In the past two decades, the Internet has reached the masses at an electrifying pace. With advancement in technology, the threats associated with it have also evolved simultaneously, making the knowledge how to prevent such threats crucial. This underscores the importance of cyber security awareness. It has become increasingly significant to know how to study cyber security course.
Students interested in launching their career in cyber security have a bright future as the need for cyber security experts are growing in this digital age. From private companies to government bodies, cyber security experts have become an integral part. They play an important role in ensuring the online security of an organization. They also contribute to future planning to deal with ever-changing threats.
In this blog, we’ll guide you on courses to make a successful career in cyber security. You’ll also find detailed information about skills, scope, and education related to cyber security. So, let’s get started!
Let’s Know About Cyber Security
Cyber security is an exercise of protecting computers, servers, networks, and online data from attacks. According to experts, cyber security can also be called as information technology or electronic information security.
Cyber security is a broad term and it includes network security, application security, operational security, and information and data security. The main role of cyber security to keep the online information or systems safe from any kind of threat. In other words, they stop intruders from entering the systems.
In case of data loss in an online attack, cyber security experts also ensure the recovery of the same.
Cyber Security Threats
The world has made significant strides as far as online security is concerned. However, we are still living in the world that is facing several cyber threats. Here are some common cyber threats:
Cybercrime is committed by an individual or a group to target online networks or systems for financial gain or disrupt operations.
Cyberattack is often launched to get politically motivated information.
Cyberterrorism has evolved in the past few years. State-sponsored or non-state actors launch attacks on public systems to cause panic or fear.
Now, let’s discuss the methods through which bad players get access to the systems. Here are some of these ways:
Malware: It is a software created to damage or disrupt a user’s computer. Hackers use unsolicited emails or links to spread malware. There are many types of malwares:
- Virus: It affects files with a malicious code and to prevent virus from entering the system, a good antivirus software is essential.
- Trojans: It looks legitimate software and users are tricked to download it, which can cause damage or steal information.
- Spyware: The objective of spyware, a software, is to secretly record the online activities of a user.
- Ransomware: With the help of this malware, the files or information can be locked. Hackers may demand ransom and if not, they may threaten to erase the data.
- Adware: It is an advertising software that can be used to insert malware in the system.
- Botnets: These are networks of malware that can infect computers.
SQL Injection
The full form of SQL Injection is structured language query and it is used to steal data from the system. Cyber thugs use SQL statements to insert malicious code into a database to steal vital information.
Phishing
It is one type of fraud committed by criminals to steal money or data by tricking users. Criminals pose genuine persons and use several techniques to execute their plan. Typically, phishing is executed by sending malicious email links or pretending to be as bank officers to obtain OTPs from users with an objective of duping people of money.
Besides, man-in-the-middle attack and denials-of-service attack are also cyber frauds committed by criminals.
Also Read: How to Earn Money as a Student in the U.S
New Cyber Threats
As awareness about other types of cyber frauds has increased, criminals have adopted new methods to steal data, or money. Here are some new cyber threats:
Digital Arrest: Recently, several reports related to digital arrest have been circulating in news. In this type of fraud, a person receives a call from criminals posing as law enforcement or government officers. The victim is convinced that he is involved in serious crime and must pay a large sum of money to avoid arrest. However, the police don’t make arrests in this manner.
Romance Scam: Law enforcement agencies in western countries such as the U.S. and Canada have warned people of cybercriminals using dating sites, chat rooms and apps to dupe people. They dupe victims, who seek new partners, by stealing their personal data.
What to DoBefore Studying Cyber Security Course?
Skills play an important role when it comes to learning something. The first step is to identify the skills you have, and the second one is to understand what kind of skills you need to develop. You get a head start if you have certain skills.
Identify Your Skills
In the 21st century, the professional and academic growth depend upon the skills you have. Therefore, it is crucial to identify your skills. Cyber security is certainly a complex concept, but if you have knowledge of certain topics, it becomes easy for you to study a cyber security course. Here are some examples of skills that can be useful in cyber security education:
- Coding or programming: Helps you understand malware, and develop security methods. Python, JavaScript, and SQL are some key cyber security languages.
- Data Analysis: Helps understand cyberattacks or security breaches. Knowledge of data analysis will come handy when to develop security covers to prevent cyberattacks.
- Network and System Administration: Cyber security can effectively be ensured if you understand the network and system very well. Therefore, knowledge of network and system administration is a plus point.
- Digital Forensics: To prevent cyberattacks in the future, it is crucial to learn from past incidents, and this can be achieved by investigating cybercrimes and breaches. Digital forensics helps to trace cybercriminals or get information about perpetrators.
Develop Skills To Pursue a Cyber Security Course
If you don’t have the above mentioned skills, there is no need to worry. You can develop necessary skills before learning complex topics. Soft skills can make a difference in your learning experience. Here some skills you can learn before diving deep into cyber security course:
- Software Skills: Develop a proper understanding of basic software related to cloud security, computer systems, and different operating systems.
- Data: Study properly about data, including its types, and classifications.
- Programming Language: Learn basics of programming language to make a good start to learn a cyber security course.
- Networks: Having basic knowledge of computer networks, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems work, and virtual private networks (VPNs) is a crucial asset.
- Cyber Security Laws: Read laws associated with cyber security to avoid any complexity and work under rules and regulations.
- Ethical Hacking: To combat cyber issues, many agencies rely on ethical hackers for several tasks, including network traffic sniffing and password cracking. You should know some basics of cyber security tools, such as Nmap, Wireshark, and Kali Linux.
- Mobile Security: In this digital landscape, remote working has been gaining popularity and with this, emphasis on mobile security has significantly increased. To protect mobile devices from hackers, understanding of mobile device management becomes crucial.
Choose Cyber Security Course
When you decide to learn cyber security, it is important to do proper research to choose a course. There are many online platforms that offer basic cyber security courses.
The benefit of pursuing an online course or a bootcamp is the flexibility to complete the program at your own pace. You can pursue it as per your schedule and a bootcamp mainly ranges from one week to three months, offering an extensive program.
Here are some online platforms that offer cyber security courses:
- Springboard: The 6-month cyber security course offered by Springboard connects you with mentors and experts that gives detailed insight into the cyber security course.
- edX: It offers several cyber security courses from renowned institutions, such as MIT and Harvard. For instance, courses such as Introduction to Cybersecurity teaches key terms and concepts. The platform also offers other cyber security courses, including Cybersecurity Fundamentals program from NYU.
- Coursera: It is one of the popular online platforms that offers more than 80 courses, including Introduction to Cybersecurity from NYU to Cybersecurity for Business.
- Udemy: It is another popular online platform that offers several courses such as cybersecurity online courses delivered by industry experts. You can also search for courses designed for beginners.
Find Out Specialization in Cyber Security
The field of cybersecurity, along with its specializations, has gained significant importance over the years. It is crucial to do your research related to pursuing specialization. You can choose specialization according to your career goal, interest and passion. Here are some common specializations in cyber security:
- Application Security: This specialization involves understanding of software development life cycle (SDLC) and writing secure code. They gain proficiency in secure coding practices.
- Network Security: The security of the network is very crucial in this digital age. Therefore, the demand for professionals skilled in network security is going up, making this specialization popular. It involves the study of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other network security appliances. Their job involves protecting the computer networks.
- Penetration Testing: It is a technique useful for detecting security issues in websites, systems, and applications before anyone else can. Professionals who carry out penetration testing work closely with developers, auditors, and management to fix issues quickly.
- Research: In this specialization, researchers work on those techniques used by cyber criminals against their targets. They also carry out research work to identify new threats and security enhancements.
How Will a Cyber Security Course Help You in Your career?
The field of cyber security is growing at a rapid pace and it is evident from a report of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which expects the number of available cyber security positions is expected to grow by 35% between 2021 and 2031.
The need for cyber security is increasing and you can start your career as a help desk tech, network administrator, or software developer. With some experience, you can join as a junior security analyst in the cyber security area. It is advisable to have some experience in programming, network and system administration, and cloud computing before sending your application for your first cyber security position.
Top Cyber Security Colleges in India
Once you choose your course, it is crucial to identify the right college or institute to pursue it. This is an important decision an individual has to make. Here are some top cyber security colleges in India:
- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur
- National Institute of Technology (NIT), Tiruchirappalli
- Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore
- Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi
- Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal
- Birla Institute of Technology And Science (BITS), Pilani
- Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- National Forensic Science University (NFSU)
Eligibility Criteria for UG Cyber Security Courses in India
The eligibility criteria for getting admission to a cyber security undergraduate course depend upon the institution. But, most of the colleges have similar eligibility criteria:
- An applicant must pass Class 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics from a recognized board or institution.
- An applicant must score at least 50% marks in Class 10+2 to become eligible for admission to a UG cyber security course.
- Must score well in entrance tests conducted at national and state level. Common entrance tests include JEE Mains and CUET UG.
Eligibility Criteria for PG Cyber Security Courses in India
Entrance exam score plays an important role in ensuring your admission to the postgraduate cyber securities courses in India. Postgraduate courses offer specialized skills required for big roles such as security architects and chief security officers. Here are some common eligibility criteria for PG cyber securities courses:
- An applicant must finish their graduation in IT or relevant field from a recognized institution.
- An applicant needs to score at least 50% marks in their graduation from a recognized institution. ‘
- Performance in entrance tests such as CAT, CUET PG, and GATE holds utmost importance to secure admission to a PG cyber security course.
Job Profiles After Pursuing Cyber Security Course
A course in the cyber security field opens doors to several career options. Here are some common job profiles:
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Security Software developer
- Security Architect
- Security Engineer
These are highly paying job profiles that offer career growth and high rewards. Cyber security has been evolving with the dependance on the Internet is on the rise. It is a great career you can pursue in your life.
Top Cyber Security Colleges in the World
| Rank | University Name |
| 1 | University of California – Berkeley |
| 2 | Stanford University |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 4 | Carnegie Mellon University |
| 5 | University of Cambridge |
| 6 | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| 7 | University of Maryland – College Park |
| 8 | University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign |
| 9 | University of Michigan – Ann Arbor |
Conclusion
In conclusion, studying a cybersecurity course requires a blend of curiosity, discipline, and a structured approach to mastering its diverse concepts. By choosing the right course, dedicating time to hands-on practice, and staying updated on the latest threats and technologies, you can build a strong foundation in this ever-evolving field. Remember, cybersecurity is not just about protecting systems but also about developing a proactive mindset to anticipate and counter threats. With determination and the right resources, your journey into cybersecurity can lead to a rewarding career, empowering you to safeguard the digital world.