ISCAP Proceedings: Abstract Presentation
Breaking Into Cybersecurity: A Practical Formula to a New Career in Cybersecurity
Tobi West
Coastline College
Abstract
According to CyberSeek, currently there are over 1.3 million people employed in cybersecurity jobs in the United States. Although the numbers have decreased over the past couple of years, the demand continues to outpace supply with over 500,000 job openings from September 2023 through August 2024. Year after year, students seek structured guidance from faculty and career advisers as to what the steps are to gaining employment in cybersecurity. It is evident that education alone is not generally enough to break into a cybersecurity career. Certification alone is also not enough. Students could benefit from a structured model which includes the right combination of skills, credentials, and experiences to help them take the steps necessary to prepare themselves for entry-level positions in cybersecurity.
Navigating and breaking into the cybersecurity job market remains a persistent. Many researchers have posited questions about preparations that will help individuals prepare for a job in cybersecurity. Generally, other papers have focused on one segment of the overall issue, such as curriculum, gaining practical experience through labs and competitions, developing people skills, passing industry certification exams, or other extra-curricular activities to measure competencies. Through a literature-based synthesis, this research develops a Cybersecurity Career Formula intended to provide a clear pathway for breaking into the cybersecurity profession.