In celebration of National Careers Week in the UK, running from 2 – 7 March, we decided to take a look at careers in the cybersecurity sector. With cybercrime continuing to rise in scale and severity, the demand for cybersecurity professionals increases every year, but what is it like to work in the sector and how does one go about finding a job? We spoke to Tony Anscombe, Chief Security Evangelist at ESET, to gain his insight on a career in cybersecurity.
Tony has over 20 years of security experience, but like many people, he didn’t fall straight into cybersecurity. After studying programming at college, he started his career as a programmer at a financial institution, moving from there into networking, where he held a series of positions. Degree level academic experience is not an essential starting point and it’s quite common to meet individuals that have worked their way up from an entry level role. Even without knowledge of computing, there are many transferable skills that can be applied to management and training within cybersecurity.
When Tony decided to focus his career on cybersecurity a try, his previous experience in the financial sector served him well. “Cybersecurity is a prerequisite when developing and deploying solutions in the financial environment,” he says. “And when transitioning from a corporate environment to a vendor, it was a natural migration to focus on security. The first vendor position I held was for a company that provided one-time challenge-response authentication tokens.”
So, what attracted Tony to the world of cybersecurity and why should you consider it as a career option? It’s a question of innovation and variety, he explains: “The cybersecurity industry continually morphs and adapts and is a constant in all of the technology sector, for both businesses and consumers alike. This drives innovation from both the good guys and the bad actors, which results in no two days ever being the same. It’s a privilege to evangelize the cybersecurity message knowing it helps educate and create awareness.”
“Technology is everywhere,” he continues, “and we are in the middle of the digital revolution, which is changing how we communicate and live. As IoT and 5G gain traction, this change will be compounded in ways that we are yet to even imagine. Doing this safely and securely is incredibly important; it’s this trust that builds and enables technology to be used without worry.”
When it comes to tips for people who are trying to find a job in the industry, for Tony there is no one-size-fits-all answer, as careers in cybersecurity are very varied. However, it is important to have the right outlook. “In general, you should view a career in cybersecurity as a vocational career that protects businesses and people’s digital well-being,” he continues. “Viewing it in this way will help ensure you make the right decisions and find a job you are passionate about.”
The cybersecurity industry is constantly evolving and is always in need of bright young minds to shape the technology of the future. This National Careers Week, why not consider a career in cybersecurity and all the people working behind the scenes to make technology safer for everyone.