Like it or not, data breaches are a part of our digital world. They are happening every day due to a number of factors. More than half (52%) of data breaches are caused by a malicious attack, according to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach 2020 report, and on average it takes 280 days to identify a Cyber Attack. With statistics like these, it’s no surprise that the average cost of a data breach is an astounding $3.86 million.

With Cyber Crime on the rise and vulnerabilities constantly being exposed, it is imperative that organisations take a proactive stance to protecting assets and employing skilled Cyber Security Professionals. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics predicts that the number of information security jobs will increase 31% from 2019 to 2029, making it one of the fastest-growing fields.

Jobs requiring Cyber Security skills continue to grow rapidly, with more than 464,420 Cyber Security job openings in the US alone. Employers, from Government to FTSE 100 companies, value CompTIA as an authority in Cyber Security Certifications.

How to Get into Cybersecurity

The CompTIA Cyber Security Career Pathway helps you achieve Cyber Security mastery, from beginning to end. When you earn Cyber Security Certifications, you’re proving to employers that you are the best candidate for the job and have the skills needed to protect the organisation from Cyber Attacks and threats.

Entry-Level Cybersecurity Certification

The centre piece is the CompTIA Security+ Certification. It establishes the foundational knowledge required of any Cyber Security role and provides a springboard to intermediate-level Cyber Security jobs. With performance-based questions, it emphasizes the hands-on practical skills used by junior IT auditors, systems administrators, network administrators and security administrators.

Here are just a few of the skills that CompTIA Security+ validates:

• Monitor and secure hybrid environments, including cloud,mobile and IoT
• Operate with an awareness of applicable laws and policies, including principles of governance, risk and compliance
• Identify, analyse and respond to security events and incidents
• Help assess the Cyber Security posture of an enterprise environment and recommend and implement appropriate security solutions

Intermediate-Level Cyber Security Certifications

After earning CompTIA Security+, Nuyew Tech Academy Students can take the next step by pursuing an intermediate-level Cyber Security Certification, such as CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) or CompTIA PenTest+.

The CompTIA Cyber Security Analyst (CySA+) Certification assesses the skills needed to apply behavioural analytics to networks to improve the overall state of IT security. The certification covers tools such as packet sniffers, intrusion detection systems (IDS) and security information and event management (SIEM) systems.

As new methods in threat intelligence emerge, the Security Analyst job role has gained more importance, making these skills essential for most organizations.

CompTIA CySA+ covers the skills needed by Cyber Security Analysts, Application Security Analysts, Threat Intelligence Analysts and more, including the following:

• Leverage intelligence and threat detection techniques
• Analyse and interpret data
• Identify and address vulnerabilities
• Suggest preventative measures
• Effectively respond to and recover from incidents

While CompTIA CySA+ focuses on defence through incident detection and response, CompTIA PenTest+ focuses on offense through penetration testing and vulnerability assessment. It involves launching attacks on systems, discovering the vulnerabilities and managing them.

Here are just a few of the skills that CompTIA PenTest+ validates:

• Plan and scope a penetration testing engagement
• Understand legal and compliance requirements
• Perform vulnerability scanning and penetration testing using appropriate tools and techniques, and then analyse the results
• Produce a written report containing proposed remediation techniques, effectively communicate results to the management team and provide practical recommendations

The Building Blocks of Cyber Security

But how do you get into Cyber Security with no experience? If you have limited experience in IT and aren't quite ready to start with CompTIA Security+, then you’ll want to start earlier on the pathway.

CompTIA A+ validates the skills employers look for in new and aspiring IT support professionals. In addition to covering today's core technologies in operating systems, cloud, data management and more, the CompTIA A+ Core Series covers baseline security skills at the end point device level, including malware detection and removal, privacy concerns, physical security and device hardening.

Where CompTIA A+ considers connectivity from the perspective of the user and their device, CompTIA Network+ focuses on the connections from (and between) the core systems to the endpoint devices. It validates the essential knowledge and skills needed to design, configure, manage and troubleshoot wired and wireless networks. To best support and ultimately secure the systems that exchange information on your network, you must first understand how the network functions.

The Nuyew Tech Academy can help you launch a new and exciting career in Tech through our Fully Accredited Training and Career Support Packages.