Cybersecurity is a rapidly growing field that continuously requires more and more experts. While there are already thousands of experienced cybersecurity professionals out there, a major gap remains, and thousands of jobs need to be filled. At first glance, cybersecurity appears to be full of hackers and computer nerds. While the industry certainly has its fair share of these people, there are plenty of other positions that have nothing to do with hacking and don't even require technical skills. In this article, we will be discussing several ways that people break into the field and how there is a job for people from all types of backgrounds.

Many professionals come from a business background with very little technical experience. Some might be in finance, accounting, marketing, etc. Regardless of what they got their degree in or their previous job experience, they can work in the field of cybersecurity if they are determined. For example, many cybersecurity auditors come from an accounting background. These auditors must then learn various topics and standards within cybersecurity and demonstrate that they have the knowledge to conduct security audits. Often, these professionals can demonstrate their skills by obtaining a certification such as the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). Other business professionals might come from a background in policy and compliance. Fortunately, these individuals can transfer their skills into the field of cybersecurity by familiarizing themselves with popular security frameworks and best practices.

There are hundreds of cybersecurity professionals that also come from a law enforcement background. These people have an eye for criminal activity and have decided to transfer their skills from the physical world to the digital one. Most of them do this by attending a cybersecurity boot camp course or by earning certifications. Government agencies love cybersecurity professionals with previous law enforcement experience because they already understand how to conduct criminal investigations and be persistent when hunting for threats.

You might be thinking, “I don’t come from a business background or law enforcement background, so how am I supposed to get a job in cybersecurity?" The answer is quite simple: have a strong desire to learn. There are hundreds of courses out there on cybersecurity from multiple different sources. While getting a degree in cybersecurity would be beneficial, many people have made their way into the industry by watching videos, taking courses on Udemy or Pluralsight, and obtaining relevant certifications. One of the best certifications I can recommend for getting started in cybersecurity is the CompTIA Security+. This certification is well-respected, and it shows employers that you've got your fundamentals down. Moreover, obtaining advanced certifications will greatly increase your chances of being hired.

The most important thing to remember is that anyone can work in cybersecurity. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what prior experience you have. If you have a passion for technology and a strong desire to learn, you can absolutely have a successful and fulfilling career in cybersecurity.