No era in the digital age has required stronger cybersecurity protections than today. A WordPress website run by a sole proprietor can be subject to millions of attacks hourly, and the need for advanced global firewalls in larger companies is paramount. Measures like brute force protection, invalid login throttling, and real-time IP blocklists are essential to cybersecurity setup.

In a complex field like cybersecurity, you might wonder whether a bootcamp or certificate program is the best approach. Consider a few of the most common roles in cybersecurity, and what the best ways to prepare for them could be. Careers in this growing field include titles like:

  • Cybersecurity Analyst
  • Cybersecurity Manager
  • Systems Engineer
  • Security Engineer/Network Security Engineer
  • Chief Information (Security) Officer (CIO/CISO)
  • Cybersecurity Consultant
  • IT Security Specialist
  • Penetration Tester
  • Data Recovery Professional

Where Did All the Jobs Go?

In field after field, U.S. corporations have outsourced tech jobs overseas in recent years. Reasons include labor costs, a global pandemic, and an increase in skilled tech worker shortages. Many IT and customer services positions have gone to well-known outsourcing destinations like India and the Philippines.

But as the need for more tech workers has grown, the threat of increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks has grown along with it. The New York Times predicted there will be as many as 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs worldwide by 2025, while the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 31% growth rate for security positions in the next decade.

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With such a need worldwide, it only makes sense for companies to keep the most essential cybersecurity positions at home. The 2020 SolarWinds cyberattack also affected corporate giants like Nvidia and Marriott, as well as the federal government. The fallout continued into 2021, soon joined by attacks on Microsoft Exchange, Colonial Pipeline, and JBS Foods.

For these reasons alone, U.S. corporations are scrambling to hire more cybersecurity professionals, both new and experienced.

Cybersecurity Training Options

Unlike fields of study like coding or web design, specialized cybersecurity training alternatives are highly targeted to specific positions. This can make finding the right course challenging.

If you’re considering a college degree, the most common cybersecurity-related program is Computer Science. However, many students use this general training for other roles. The same can be said of degrees like Computer Engineering or Computer Programming.

Other degree programs for cybersecurity beginners can include:

  • Information Security & Assurance
  • Cloud Computing
  • Computer Forensics
  • Network Administration
  • Database Management

The Advantage of the Bootcamp Model

Just as you have to weigh certain factors if you’re considering college, you have to weigh factors when deciding whether to select a bootcamp instead. In cybersecurity, the bootcamp model has multiple advantages over degree programs. Consider a few of them:

  • Cybersecurity bootcamps offer training in specific skills related to the field. Unlike a lengthy degree program in Database Management or Computer Science, a course like the Cybersecurity Bootcamp from Noble Desktop is targeted to that topic. You won’t have to learn a large amount of material unrelated to the cybersecurity field. Subjects include:
  • The time frame is much more concise than college or university. With a degree, your investment is in years, not weeks or months. Noble’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp, for example, can be completed in two months on a full-time basis.
  • Your tuition is considerably less than that of a two- to four-year course. For a large number of students, colleges and universities are simply out of reach, many costing tens of thousands of dollars per year. A program like the 210-hour Cybersecurity Bootcamp is $7,995, and 12-month financing or installment plans may be available as well.

Additional Targeted Alternatives

While the Cybersecurity Bootcamp is best described as Noble’s primary offering in the field, some students will be interested in shorter targeted bootcamps or classes. Like the Cybersecurity Bootcamp, the following courses are also open to beginners.

  1. Intro to Cybersecurity & Networks—In this class, you’ll get a better understanding of network models and security protocols, as well as cybersecurity fundamentals. Students save by taking the course as part of the Cybersecurity Bootcamp.
  2. Digital Forensics—Also included in the Cybersecurity Bootcamp, the Digital Forensics module covers important aspects of a Security Operations Center (SOC), including incident response, security logging, and monitoring.
  3. Python Programming Bootcamp—Python figures largely in many cybersecurity roles, and this introductory immersive gives students hands-on training in Python fundamentals. Training covers Python program development, including two portfolio projects.

Courses with Prerequisites

If you have graduated from Noble Desktop’s Python Programming Bootcamp, you’ll have the knowledge and skills required for several other cybersecurity courses. Consider the following:

  1. Python for Network Security—This class provides fundamental training for those who need to use Python apps for network security. Check course description for prerequisite information.
  2. Cybersecurity with Python—Students who want to learn Python for security, administrative and IT solutions can benefit from this 30-hour class. You can also save by taking it as part of the Cybersecurity Bootcamp.
  3. Offensive Security with Python—Testing security with Python and Linux is an important goal for many organizations. For an immersive experience that covers topics like penetration testing, cyberattack prevention, and network anonymity, check out this course.

While no course or certificate can guarantee a specific employment outcome, the right cybersecurity program will provide a great start. You might need to gain additional certifications, like CISSP or CISM, to qualify for your dream job. But the in-depth training you get in a bootcamp can give you a jump-start on the competition in this fast-growing field.

For more information on cybersecurity training, check out cybersecurity courses from Noble Desktop.