SECURE IT - March 2024

A monthly Information Security publication for the WPI community. 

This month's focus is on CAREERS IN CYBERSECURITY. Our thanks to Sue Levine at the Heebner Career Development Center for providing several career resources.

In this issue:

• Careers in Cybersecurity
• Self-Paced Training
• Heebner Career Development Center Resources
  
• Learning with Laughter
• Information Security Journey - Webinar
• Featured Videos
• By the Numbers
• WPI Resources
• Diversity in Cybersecurity
• Coming Next Month...

Careers in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity isn't the monolith that movies and TV shows depict it as! There are a wide variety of careers ranging from roles that require strong communication to those that depend upon highly technical skills.

Non-Technical Cybersecurity Jobs

These are samples of cybersecurity jobs that do not require extensive technical skills.

• Security Awareness and Training
• Cybersecurity Policy Writer
  
• Governance, Risks, and Compliance Analyst
  
• Project Manager
• Security Sales Engineer
  
• Technical Writer/Content Creator

Key non-technical skills for working in cyber crisis response include communication, leadership, teamwork, situational awareness, problem-solving, and stress management. Delve into job descriptions and needed skills in these articles:

Technical Cybersecurity Jobs

If you prefer analyzing the intricacies of machines and systems, you may be interested in these more technical jobs.

• Information Security Engineer
• Network Security Administrator
  
• Internet of Things Security Specialist
  
• Artificial Intelligence Security Specialist
• Ethical Hacker

Outlook for Cybersecurity Careers

These excerpts describe the current state and anticipated growth for cybersecurity careers:

• "Cybersecurity remains a near-zero unemployment marketplace for those with extensive backgrounds." (Cybersecurity Ventures)
  
• "Employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 32 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations." (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
  

Self-Paced Training

The resources linked below can guide you to find online self-paced training.

LinkedIn Learning

WPI employees have access to free courses in LinkedIn Learning. One way to see their offerings is go to myapps.microsoft.com and click LinkedIn Learning. You can search for cybersecurity, roles mentioned above, or get started with the links below.

Resources from Heebner Career Development Center 

A map showing where in the US cybersecurity skills are most in demand is just one of the resources offered by the  National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS).

The MassCyberCenter strives to enhance opportunities for the Massachusetts cybersecurity ecosystem and to strengthen the resiliency of the Commonwealth’s public and private communities.

The National Cyber League (NCL) Competition is a way for students to gain experience through real-world cybersecurity challenges.

To meet other people on campus who are interested in cybersecurity, check out these student clubs.

There are also scholarships from the federal government to help fund your cybersecurity education.

Students can search Handshake to see what internship and job opportunities are available. 

Learning with Laughter