How upskilling can usher in the next wave of cybersecurity professionals

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We live in a digital world that increasingly involves huge quantities of data. Every online click, sensor and wearable device generates data, which begs the question: how do we protect it? In the fourth quarter of 2023 alone, 8 million data records were leaked in breaches around the world. People are, understandably, concerned, with 83 per cent of respondents to a global survey stating that they would like more action taken to safeguard their digital privacy. 

But protecting data isn’t easy – especially given the complex landscape of threats that exists today. The need for talented cybersecurity professionals is more pressing than ever, with businesses and universities having roles to play in developing them.

Your cybersecurity career opportunity

Many cybersecurity career paths allow individuals to play an important role in data protection, with university courses increasingly at the centre of developments. Many institutions now offer courses with cybersecurity as the focus, from the London School of Economics and Political Science’s Data: Law, Policy and Regulation training programme to Harvard University’s Data Privacy and Technology course.

The topics covered in these cybersecurity courses include an examination of the trade-offs and threats presented by today’s data-driven world, the legal and ethical implications of data collection, and the technologies that can strengthen cybersecurity.

Globally, there is an estimated cybersecurity skills gap of 4 million professionals, with almost 90 per cent of organisations experiencing a breach in the last year that they partially attribute to a lack of cyber skills. Although statistics like these are alarming, they represent a huge opportunity for individuals considering a career in cybersecurity.

Staying up-to-date

Although higher education can set students up for a successful career in cybersecurity, the only way to ensure data continues to be protected is if graduates constantly refresh their skill sets. Lifelong learning, so frequently discussed by institutions, is particularly needed in today’s fast-moving digital world. 

Cyberattackers are continuously inventing new threats to data privacy, meaning cybersecurity professionals must refresh their knowledge of the digital landscape regularly. New tools, such as AI-driven cybersecurity solutions can mitigate modern and future threats, but only if individuals have the skills to use them effectively.

It’s also important that any cybersecurity career takes a broad view of the global threat landscape. Privacy affects us all. For instance, the Reserve Bank of India has stated that the average cost of a data breach in the country totalled $2.18 million (£1.69 million) in 2023. Similarly, in the first half of 2023, Brazil experienced 328,326 denial-of-service attacks. Demonstrating an international awareness of cybersecurity, data and privacy issues shows employers that individuals are aware of the global nature of our digital ecosystem and the threats contained within it.

Protecting data in the modern world may not be easy, but there is hope that talented cybersecurity professionals can shore up defences sufficiently for privacy to be protected even as digital solutions proliferate. For individuals interested in the field, adopting an international view and embracing upskilling is key.

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