Cybersecurity Careers: engineers, analysts, penetration testers among most highly sought

It’s no secret – if you want a career path with an almost certain guarantee of being hired at a good salary with ample room for growth, cybersecurity is that field.

Incidents like the recent breach at Equifax demonstrate just how costly and destructive cybercrime can be, and just how important it is to have cybersecurity expertise in place.

Forbes magazine recently claimed cybersecurity as the “fastest growing job with a huge skills gap.”

“Every year in the U.S., 40,000 jobs for information security analysts go unfilled, and employers are struggling to fill 200,000 other cyber-security related roles,” the magazine reported, citing data from CyberSeek.

Within the cybersecurity field, the most sought-out positions include penetration tester, cybersecurity engineer, and CISO, according to TechRepublic.

The outlook for all three, and for similar or related job paths, is robust. In the future, “we may see a heavier focus on engineering and analysts, and a lot of companies are probably going to be looking for designated leadership with cybersecurity," the article quoted Stephen Zafarino, senior director of recruiting at Mondo, as saying.

With organizations looking for specific skills and professional expertise, it’s important for cybersecurity bachelor’s programs to keep abreast of the evolving needs of industry, says Dr. William Butler, chair of Capitol Technology University’s cyber and information security program and director of its Cyber Infrastructures and Cyber Protection Center.

“We’ve made that a cornerstone of our program,” Butler said. “Our cybersecurity faculty consists of working professionals in the field – people who deal head-on every day with the fast-changing threat horizon. We also consult regularly with business and industry to find out what their most pressing needs are so we can tailor programs to meet those needs.”

“Our approach is practical and hands-on,” he said. “It’s about teaching the skills you’ll actually need on the job.”

Capitol graduates have gone on to work for firms such as General Dynamics and Leidos, as well as for the DoD and other agencies. Some, like James C. Foster of ZeroFOX, have launched their own companies.

“Our track record and access to industry sets us apart even from larger competitors here in Maryland,” he said. “Whether you want to work for a contractor, the federal government or the private sector, Capitol can help you get there,” Butler said.