In the past decade, worldwide internet penetration has grown to 56% and to a staggering 81% in the developed world. The cyberspace has grown faster than anyone could have predicted. This has brought with its grave threats which are also beyond what anyone could have foreseen. Cybercriminals are evolving faster than most major cyberspace users. This phenomenon was highlighted by the waves of ransomware attacks that took place last year.
Why do you need a cybersecurity program in the first place?
Cybersecurity has become the biggest need of the hour. Although the threat is growing at an exponential pace, our educational institutes are not producing graduates and professionals fast enough. It is expected that by 2021, 3.5 million new jobs will become available around the world. What’s more troubling is the fact that currently there is a massive shortfall of individuals with the required qualifications to fill these respective positions.
According to a report by Cybersecurity ventures, in 2014, the industry was lacking as many as one million professionals to fill some of these positions. This space was forecasted to swell to $2 million by 2019. This indicates that despite the zero percent unemployment rate in this industry, there are not enough appropriately qualified people to fill the positions which are becoming available.
The growth of cybersecurity threats in recent years
The extent of damages being caused by cybercriminals is spiraling out of control. Experts believe that by 2021, the industry will be losing as much as $6 trillion dollars to various malicious activities. These threats include ransomware, malware, man-in-the-middle attacks, false impersonation, and several other elaborate techniques. Every time a certain trend and method is busted, these elements quickly switch to a new and more advanced mode of cybercrime. These individuals are evolving faster than the people tasked to protect organizations and individuals against them.
A huge chunk of companies still says that they are unprepared to handle a sophisticated attack that might affect their systems. This is mainly because there is a shortage of professionals to guide them accurately in relevant matters.
Top Cybersecurity bootcamps
Gauging the demand for fast and effective training of professionals, there are several educational institutions around the world that have begun offering relevant courses for those looking to pursue a career in cybersecurity. While these programs can last for six months and more, they allow professionals to completely associate themselves with the complexity of the current situation and some of the most effective methods required to deal with them. These courses prepare students for certifications including ethical hacking, CompTIA A+, Security+ and CySA+, etc.
A bootcamp is designed to do the work which certificate courses do, in a much shorter period. Also, it has the added benefit of being flexible for working professionals to attend at their own convenience. It allows people to acquire a much needed and extensive skillset without having to compromise on their current career and employment.
Why choose a bootcamp over other programs?
Many people believe boot camps are for those who are unable to secure an admission in a proper course for the same subject. This is even though many leading universities are now offering bootcamps, especially for cybersecurity. This effort has been motivated by the growing demand and skill gap in the market now. It is important to research properly before joining a bootcamp but if you place your trust in some of the highly ranked options, there is no reason that you’ll regret your choices in the future.
Bootcamps, in fact, have several advantages for professionals particularly those who are already working in the information technology or security industry. These people are now looking for an added experience so that they can make a job switch or help their own organization create a new and better infrastructure for protection against cybersecurity. Bootcamps provide an online platform with professional instructors, flexible timings and real-world tools to help individuals expand their existing expertise. The only requirement to reap all these benefits is that a person finds the best bootcamp available.
The components of a strong cybersecurity program
Whether you choose to opt for a certificate course, complete program or cybersecurity bootcamp is up to you. Whatever your choice may be, there are a few components that must be found in an effective course. These elements indicate that the training will be able to achieve the results it promises. These items apply quite precisely if you are looking to join a bootcamp to rapidly climb the professional ladder or make a lucrative job switch.
Bootcamps are now being offered by universities around the world so that qualified professionals can be produced, and the shortfall can be curbed. It is important that this exercise is undertaken because of the prevalent situation but it is more important for enough people to take a profound interest in the field. When these people begin to search for programs like bootcamps, for instance, they must know what to look for.
Here are ten components of a strong cybersecurity program:
Experiential learning
Cybersecurity is something that can’t be taught while relying excessively on books and written materials. Therefore, one of the first things which you must look for while selecting a top cybersecurity bootcamp. A certification that has little to do with real-world experiential teaching will never be effective in imparting the operational knowledge required to deal with practical threats today.
A strong boot camp curriculum completely relies on model-based learnings which include simulations, virtual labs, case studies and projects which expose students to on-ground scenarios and examples so that when they walk out into the professional fields, they won’t require further training to get accustomed to threats lurking around. This means that companies and professionals save valuable time and resources at the same time.
Highly Qualified Instructors
Since bootcamps are online modules, they can bring on board some of the leading experts in the industry. This marks another powerful force of an effective program. Obviously, a highly qualified professional already working in the industry has hands-on experience. He or she is witnessing the evolution as it happens. They have a front-row seat and their knowledge and experience not only allows them to understand the process of transformation the threats are following, but also predict future outcomes and then impart this knowledge to their students.
It is important that before you choose a program or cybersecurity bootcamp, you go through the portfolios of instructors which are part of it. The learnings and knowledge which these mentors bring are unparalleled and allows prospective students to get in tune with the latest innovations and techniques in the field of cybersecurity.
Careful combination of essential courses
Another component of an effective and on-point cybersecurity program is the courses that they teach. Some certificate courses or programs stretch for excessively long periods and in this time, they focus on courses that are not even related to cybersecurity and the threats which the industry is facing.
While it might be justified to teach several courses in lieu that they are building a foundation before moving on to the real subject at hand, it is not necessary to fit in the whole course for certain concepts. A program that is most productive is one where carefully handpicked subject are taught in a way that the extra beef is stripped and only the essentials are fed to the students. This not only keeps the students attentive but also influences greater retention because the teachings come to the point of interest rapidly.
Career counseling sessions
Although cybersecurity is a field offering high salaries to the right professionals, there are appropriate fields for every individual. A career in cybersecurity might feel easy but it is not necessarily for everyone. Most professionals also need help in deciding whether they should switch fields or not. There are many reasons why people may be confused about whether a career switch is worth the effort or not and a counseling session can help put their reservations to rest. Therefore, most renown training programs and bootcamps also offer career counseling and one-on-one sessions that facilitate the decision-making process for students before they join and the job hunt after they complete the program.
Much like the need for these sessions in college, at this point in life, they are also crucial because making a jump to a different career when you have a stable future is obviously very tricky for most of us.
Schedules which cater to professional routines
The only reason why students look for certificate courses or training programs is that they don’t want to quit their job to pursue a new skill set. Therefore, another characteristic of a program that stands out from the rest is its ability to provide flexible timings for attending the respective classes.
With online modules and bootcamps this is not a big deal, but it is important these pieces of training be provided effectively and by some amazing instructors. They should also integrate experiential learning to a large extent because without that the desired results are hard to come by. A strong bootcamp is capable to provide the benefits of which professionals are looking for. They should be able to because the whole concept of this program is to allow individuals to learn the tricks of the cybersecurity trade without having to give up an already set future.
Flexible payment options and scholarships
While some people might be working, others may not. Even if the majority is employed there still must be the option of scholarships and a multitude of payment channels. This is important because different people have their own feasibilities. Some might be able to pay the entire fees upfront, but others might be in search of easy installments. A few may opt for payments through credit cards, others account transfer and some cash deposits. Some students might deserve scholarships for one reason or another. These are all worthy alternatives and for a course to be in reach for all professionals, it must have these options.
The capabilities of students are not measured by the financial resources that they have but by their mental strength. Therefore, the hallmark of a good program is the fact that it allows people to make payments at their own convenience and that no student is denied the opportunity to become an expert in the cybersecurity industry only because they don’t have the monetary resources. When prospective individuals are aware that there are equal opportunities for all without any discrimination, they are more enthusiastic to hop on the bandwagon.
Comprehensive certification
The next component is the provision of proper certificates. Without a duly attested document that recognizes that you have obtained the qualifications from a known institute, the efforts that you put in might be rendered useless. Make sure that you search or inquire whether a program gives out a certificate or letter of recognition to graduating students. It might just be a piece of paper, but it holds a lot of value in the professional sphere. Yes, it is true that at the end of the day your skills and expertise matter more, but to be able to begin the journey, you need to have a certificate.
This certificate is the key to entry towards a cybersecurity job. Without it, you can’t unlock the entrance and progress to the point where you can demonstrate your skills. It is an acknowledgment of the time and effort that you have put into learning the necessary concepts and real-world formulas.
Job placement assistance
When all is said and done, the real reason most people want to join a bootcamp or cybersecurity training program is that they want to progress in their careers. Finding a relevant job is one of the biggest incentives which comes from spending the required time in one of these courses. The knowledge, skills, and experiences which come from it are a huge benefit on their own but without having a field to apply them, they might become redundant after some time.
The cybersecurity has a zero percent unemployment rate and indeed there is a gap that exists. The demand for professionals is greater than the supply. However, not every individual is suited for a certain post. Different people develop expertise in different areas. Some might be good at ethical hacking, others at product testing and someone else at programming hardware and software effectively. The goal of job placement assistance is not only to find a job but to find the appropriate one. A strong bootcamp or training program looks after its students until they are placed in their dream jobs. For added security, there is some type of guarantee provided in case they don’t deliver.
Credible accreditation
Universities around the world are trying to take their courses and teachings online so that they can be accessible to more people. In this regard, universities are resorting to different practices. The one thing which is common among every good boot camp on cybersecurity is that it is backed by a reliable and recognized university.
This backing by a known source gives students the trust that the curriculum is scrutinized and designed by highly trained professionals, are taught by qualified educators and are of exceptional quality. A cybersecurity bootcamp must be supported by some credible institution because organizations are looking for solid professionals considering the growing threats. The seriousness of the situation is such that it warrants the requirement of having high ranking authorities look after the process of a training program. This makes it acceptable to the companies and ensures that the course is worth the effort of students.
Measurable results
There must be one way or the other in which the results of a program can be monitored. The exact avenue may vary. Student reviews, employer ratings and feedback, the level of expertise which graduating students demonstrate and how quickly employers absorb them into the system are all indications of performance.
For a strong bootcamp, all these and several factors besides must be beyond excellent. Cybersecurity is not a field that can be taken lightly. It is wreaking havoc on cyberspaces around the world and organizations are frantically searching for appropriate talent in the field. A strong training program must effectively address this need and potential students can find different avenues to verify results like talking to previous students or getting the opinion of employers directly.
Conclusion
Cybercrimes are growing. They are evolving at a pace faster than we can deal with them. On the other hand, cybersecurity industries are still not able to churn out the professionals at the rate that they should. Modern training programs especially bootcamps are changing this but it is crucial that students know where to place their trust. With the right bootcamp, they can make a world of difference to the cybersecurity industry.
