Alaska is doing much more of this now than ever before in order to be proactive about cybersecurity. All of these risks to Alaska’s security are reasons that more and more people are looking into working within the cybersecurity field in Alaska. The first necessary goal to achieve if you want to work in cybersecurity in Alaska is to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Please read on to discover how you can get a bachelor’s degree and begin working in the exciting field of cybersecurity in Alaska. Information security shares some overlap with cybersecurity—in fact, cybersecurity is a subset of information security. However, cybersecurity focuses exclusively on protecting digital assets, while information security covers digital and physical information across all mediums.
Key resources are public or privately controlled resources that are essential to minimal operation of the U.S. economy and government. In 2018, a Massachusetts cybersecurity firm reported that Chinese hackers had infiltrated computers within Alaska’s chief industries and government. The hackers probed networks used by Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources, as well as internet service providers such as Alaska Communications Systems and Alaska Power and Telephone Company. Additionally, a cyberattack in 2018 on the national Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) affected over 100,000 Alaska households, in which their data was breached. Following these incidents, Alaska began to tighten up its statewide cybersecurity measures.
Ethics in Cybersecurity
This education needs to cover key programming languages, such as C++ or PHP, along with the most commonly employed IT security frameworks. Please review our State Restriction page to view what restrictions there may be in your state/region or residence of employment and ensure you are eligible for enrollment. The cost includes all of your materials and registration fees for your examination.
UC Irvine Continuing Education
Two of the best cybersecurity certifications you can get are CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+). The need for cybersecurity talent is growing as organizations struggle to find balance in the post-COVID business landscape. Many organizations lost their equilibrium as they rapidly adopted new technologies during the height of the pandemic. Cybersecurity specialists can help organizations manage and improve information security. In terms of skills, experience, and general mindset, a cybersecurity specialist needs to be like a Swiss Army knife of the digital world.
An IT Security Specialist is responsible for implementing and monitoring security on networks, applications and operating systems. They identify potential threats, conduct risk mitigation, implement security best practices and develop disaster recovery procedures. Many IT professionals use Security+ as the foundation for advanced security certifications or career roles. To learn more about these career opportunities, check out our blog post, Top CompTIA Security+ Jobs and Salary Ranges. In our security certification online course, you’ll learn to implement and monitor security on networks, applications and operating systems, and how to respond quickly and effectively to security breaches.
- A person in this role needs to be multi-disciplinary and adaptable to a wide variety of situations.
- Network security professionals use firewalls, physical hardware and education efforts to safeguard against intrusions and retain lost data.
- One of the primary responsibilities of a cybersecurity specialist is to keep tabs on the systems employed by their organization and report any issues to management.
- They create and implement security plans for businesses and remain up to date on the latest trends in the field.
- All of these risks to Alaska’s security are reasons that more and more people are looking into working within the cybersecurity field in Alaska.
- Other companies may stipulate that they seek cybersecurity specialists with a specific amount of professional experience.
Soft Skills for Information Security Professionals
The enrollment requirements include a high school diploma or GED, internet access, course registration and payment. CompTIA Network+ certification or two years of experience in IT administration with become an it security specialist learning a security focus is recommended. Further your career in IT by acquiring a knowledge of security topics through our IT Security Specialist program.
Outlook for cybersecurity specialists
Some companies may accept as little as 1-to-2 years of experience while some may require over five years of IT security experience. In all professions, networking offers a reliable pathway to finding job opportunities. In addition to connecting with your co-workers, consider joining a professional organization.
Job Outlook for an IT Security Specialist
The career outlook for IT Security Specialists is positive, with available jobs expected to grow by 32% over the next ten years. Please review our State Restriction page to view what restrictions there may be in your state/region or residence of employment and ensure you are eligible for enrollment. According to Indeed.com, the average annual salary for this occupation is $50,380 in the United States.
How Long Does It Take To Become a Cybersecurity Specialist?
They may also implement appropriate access control mechanisms and ensure compliance with security policies across distributed infrastructures. The cybersecurity field offers numerous specialization paths that may align with your interests as you work to develop your expertise. Focusing on a specific domain may help you build deeper knowledge of particular security challenges, which could help you become a valuable asset to potential employers.
”Security is the only area of certified IT skills that has never had a negative quarter throughout this recession,” says David Foote, CEO and Chief Research Officer of leading research firm Foote Partners. ”We’ve never had three months with a loss or decline in premiums for IT security specialists.” Cybersecurity has recently become a legislative priority in Alaska, more so since the new governor, Mike Dunleavy, took office in 2018.
It makes sense to start thinking about what kinds of certifications are required by an employer, or what kinds of certifications make job applicants competitive within the field. Some certifications require the completion of clinical components in order to achieve “fully certified” status. While each certification has different requirements, these clinicals are typically composed of hands-on working hours completed in a healthcare setting.
- Additionally, cybersecurity specialists are often called on in times of crisis or emergency — or when there are issues with networks or data systems.
- CompTIA Security+ is a foundational cybersecurity certification that can help an IT professional begin a cybersecurity career.
- Working closely with IT professionals, world-class trainers, and hiring managers since 2005 has given him unique insight into the information technology job market and the skills and credentials IT pros need to succeed.
- Third, the global shortage of cybersecurity workers is expected to continue, which will drive up wages and salaries for cybersecurity specialists.
- These are just a few examples of the dozens of cybersecurity certifications available.
- Information security shares some overlap with cybersecurity—in fact, cybersecurity is a subset of information security.
In just 6 weeks, you’ll learn the foundational skills for a Security+ certification through the course, Security+. Developmental Education courses do not count toward total program credits and are not calculated in GPA. The University will reimburse students to sit for up to three recommended certification exams. Understanding the different degree options can help you select the right program as you prepare for a possible career in cybersecurity. Research and compare top-rated information security degree programs online and in your area. This is just one of the reasons that cybersecurity is becoming more important in Alaska.
Specialists protecting power grids, water systems, and transportation networks focus on industrial control system security. These cybersecurity specialists defend operational technology (OT) environments and connect traditional IT security with industrial engineering knowledge. Cybersecurity specialists in government agencies and defense organizations safeguard national security information and critical infrastructure8.