Pursuing a Certification in Cybersecurity – Step-by-Step Guide

Cybersecurity helps organizations and businesses in defending machines, services, and devices from electronic attacks by hackers and other nefarious actors. While there are offensive components to cybersecurity, a majority of today’s professionals direct their focus towards determining the best ways to defend everything – from smartphones and computers to databases and networks from attackers.

While the bits and bytes underlying these efforts may be hard to visualize, it is much easier to mitigate the effects. Moreover, without proper cybersecurity measures in place, many website owners would not be able to enjoy uninterrupted functioning of the website because of the ever-present attempts of denial-of-service attacks. And this is why the importance and the need of cybersecurity professionals have risen more than ever. Irrespective of whether you have already started your journey in cybersecurity or are planning to do so, it would be wise to include pursuing a Master of Science in Cybersecurity in your career plan.

Reasons to Pursue Cybersecurity Certification Online

Protecting the data from unauthorized access is a fundamental requirement of cybersecurity and is a crucial part of an organization’s IT strategy.
Here are the five reasons to undertake a cybersecurity certification online today:

1. With the digital revolution, the requirement for a higher number of cybersecurity experts will eventually become imminent
2. The cybersecurity field is constantly evolving with new challenges and threats every day, taking care of the interest of experts.
3. Currently, cybersecurity professionals are among the highest earning professionals
4. There are many exciting opportunities and tremendous scope in this field.

There are no defined prerequisites for pursuing Masters’s in Cybersecurity. Professionals who are interested in cybersecurity and are looking forward to building a sustainable career in the same can enrol for the course.

The curriculum for Masters in Cyber Security

The curriculum of Masters in Cybersecurity course would depend on the type of cybersecurity course and the university you choose. If you undertake Post Graduate Certification in Cybersecurity from Emeritus, the curriculum would be largely divided into three sections:

Introduction to Cybersecurity

In the initial months of the program, you would get to learn about cybersecurity with a focus on IAM (identity and access management) and the fundamental concepts.

Defensive Cybersecurity

The next phase of the program would majorly focus on defensive cybersecurity. During this phase, you’ll dive deeper into the concepts like SOC (security operations centre), cryptography, IR (incident response), cloud security, secure systems, and network administration.

Offensive Cybersecurity

This phase will address the importance of offensive cybersecurity via topics such as privacy, penetration testing, regulation and data governance, social engineering, IoT (Internet of Things) and OT (Operational Technology) risk, and artificial intelligence.

Whether you are expanding your career in cybersecurity or beginning the same, this program will equip you with the relevant skills needed to excel in cybersecurity. A few of the many topics that’ll be covered during the MSc. in Cybersecurity course would be:

• Introduction to Cybersecurity Risk Management
• Federal Government Role: Law, Standards, and Operations
• Threats and Vulnerabilities
• Cybersecurity for Critical Urban Infrastructure
• IAM Layers and Technology
• Preparing for Cybersecurity Risk Management Job
• Cryptography
• Secure Systems Administration
• Cloud Security
• Preparing for Cybersecurity Operations Job
• Policy and Privacy, Data Governance, and Regulation
• Preparing for Offensive Cybersecurity Operations Job

Eligibility for MSc. in Cybersecurity

The eligibility for MSc. in Cybersecurity would vary across the universities. However, generally, this course is for mid and senior-level professionals who have begun their careers in information technology and are searching for ways to improve the responsiveness and preparedness of the organization against cyberattacks and grow their careers as leaders in cybersecurity.
Also, early career professionals and graduates without or with prior experience in the IT field who want to gain expertise and specialize in cybersecurity and open doors to in-demand job opportunities will benefit from this cybersecurity program.
Note: Even if you do not have any prior experience in the IT Field, you can pursue MSc. in Cyber security.

Top Cybersecurity Jobs in India

With India moving towards digitization at a tremendous pace, there is a wide scope for cybersecurity professionals in India. Most companies have a huge amount of data which needs safeguarding and protection from outside influence.
In India, multiple new job roles have emerged in the top organizations with Cybersecurity Analyst, Network Security Engineer, Chief Information Security Officer, Security Architect, and Cybersecurity Manager being the top profiles. Furthermore, several positions have sprung up in small and medium businesses for managing security challenges such as security analysts, risk auditors, cryptologists, vulnerability assessors and detection specialists.

Average Salary after Pursuing Master of Science in Cyber Security

Post pursuing MSc. in Cybersecurity, your salary would depend on the profile you choose and excel in. You can skim through the average annual salary earned by different cybersecurity professionals:
Network Security Engineer – Rs. 4-8 L.P.A
Cybersecurity Analyst – Rs. 5-6 L.P.A
Cybersecurity Manager – Rs. 12 L.P.A
Security Architect – Rs. 17-22 L.P.A
Chief Information Security Officer – Rs. 23 L.P.A

Factors Affecting a Cyber Security Engineer’s Salary in India

A cybersecurity engineer’s salary in India can be affected by various factors. Let’s walk through a

• Location
• Skills
• Experience
• Company

Boost Your Career with the Best Online Cybersecurity Certification

The opportunities for cybersecurity professionals are currently at their prime in India. In order to protect their data against security breaches and cyberattacks, organizations are willing to pay a reasonably high salary to cybersecurity experts, leading to an increase in cybersecurity professionals’ salaries in India.

Undertaking cybersecurity certification online makes for a great option for individuals who want to enhance their skillset but cannot afford to leave their job. Moreover, you’ll be able to learn at your own pace. Emeritus India offers various courses in cybersecurity in collaboration with globally renowned universities, pursuing which you can become an expert cybersecurity professional and land your dream job.