{"id":209322,"date":"2024-03-01T15:26:12","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T15:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/01\/cybersecurity-requirements-to-land-a-job-in-the-field\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:21:24","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:21:24","slug":"cybersecurity-requirements-to-land-a-job-in-the-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/01\/cybersecurity-requirements-to-land-a-job-in-the-field\/","title":{"rendered":"Cybersecurity requirements to land a job in the field"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The internet is a crowded and dangerous place. Cybercrimes and data breaches are increasing in frequency and cost, posing a serious threat to businesses and everyday people.<\/p>\n

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A report from Cybersecurity Ventures says that the global annual cost of cybercrime is predicted to reach $9.5 trillion<\/a> in 2024. Meanwhile, the average price tag of a single data breach will rise to $4.45 million<\/a>, up 15% from 2023, according to IBM.<\/p>\n

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UNC Kenan-Flagler’s #1-ranked online MBA is a top choice for experienced professionals with strong undergraduate performance. You can earn your degree at your own pace\u2014in 18 to 36 months\u2014without sacrificing academic quality and rigor. Access lifelong career benefits and join a global community of over 42,000 alumni with an AACSB-accredited online MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill. GMAT waivers available. Learn more today.<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In parallel, the demand for highly skilled cybersecurity professionals, or white hats, is multiplying, too. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that information security analysts\u2014an entry-level cyber defense job earning an average salary of $112,000\u2014will see a 32% increase in employment<\/a> by 2032, outpacing the growth of most other occupations.<\/p>\n

But, a high rate of growth along with a shortage of workers means one thing:<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a huge gap,\u201d says M.K. Palmore, Director of the Office of CISO at Google Cloud<\/a>. \u201cEvery organization, no matter what they do, is a technology organization. Today, we depend so much on technology\u2014that\u2019s why companies need to build out a cybersecurity framework.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Dana Simberkoff, the Chief Risk, Privacy, and Information Security Officer at AvePoint Inc.<\/a>, it\u2019s not just a lack of skilled senior employees. There\u2019s a gap in new entry-level hires. \u201cThat\u2019s because of the rise of artificial intelligence and the rise of the profitability of cybercrime. They\u2019re just far more criminals out here than there are good guys,\u201d says Simberkoff.<\/p>\n

With nearly 600,000 unfilled cyber positions<\/a> in the U.S. alone, the competition is fierce, and the expectations are high. But, to get your foot in the door, you need to know what hiring managers are looking for in entry-level candidates.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What is cybersecurity?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Cybersecurity is the practice of safeguarding and defending information stored on phones, computers, and within networks from criminals and unauthorized access. This information can range from texts, emails, and social media posts to credit card information and medical records.<\/p>\n

Simberkoff adds that cyberattacks are only getting scarier, targeting not only businesses but also individuals and their families.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy parents have received phone calls from AI-generated robots, pretending to be their grandchildren, asking for help,\u201d she says. \u201cAs cyberattacks become more personal and sophisticated, the need for cybersecurity professionals ramps up. I think there\u2019s never been a more relevant or important career.\u201d<\/p>\n

What are entry-level cybersecurity job requirements?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s no single route to getting into the industry\u2014whether it\u2019s getting a degree or certified. But, there is a short checklist of items employers want to see in your application, no matter your background.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe delta between how comfortable an organization feels in bringing on new talent and then subsequently training that talent up is not always the same from one organization to the next,\u201d Palmore says. <\/em>Both he and Simberkoff want people to do three things before applying:\u00a0<\/p>\n