One of the fantastic careers in tech with untapped potential is Cybersecurity, also known as Computer security, or Information Technology Security (IT security). Cybersecurity is the art of protecting data, devices, and organizations from theft or damage. It is also the practice of ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.

Beyond a career path, Cybersecurity has become an essential aspect of our lives, especially as the world is rapidly moving towards a digital age. This is because, as the world advances in digitalization, so do cybercrimes.

Cybercrimes, also known as yahoo-yahoo, are crimes committed online, especially with the aid of the Internet and a device. Examples of cybercrimes are Phishing, Identity theft, Fraud, Corporate Data Breach, and Hacking.

1. Phishing: Phishing is a type of cybercrime where a fraudulent party sends a message with the intent to penetrate a security system or deceive innocent parties into revealing sensitive information like login credentials, credit card numbers etc.


2. Identity theft: Identity theft, also known as identity fraud, is a cybercrime in which one party impersonates another party to carry out fraudulent activities in the person's name. A person's identity is stolen by obtaining critical pieces of personally identifiable information (PII), such as Social Security or driver's license numbers.
   
   According to the 2020 FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book, statistics show that identity fraud accounted for the largest share of fraud reports to the FTC, accounting for 29.39% of all reported scams. Seeing how alarmingly high the statistics are, Cybersecurity has become a necessary skill.


3. Fraud: Internet fraud is using Internet services or software with Internet access to steal from innocent and unsuspecting individuals.


4. Corporate Data Breach: is the use of software or the Internet to penetrate the security system of an organization to access confidential and sensitive information


5. Hacking: This is an act of exploring methods for breaching defenses and exploiting weaknesses in a computer system or network to gain unauthorized access to data in a device.

Career Opportunities in Cybersecurity

There are many available career opportunities in Cybersecurity because it's applicable in various sectors, including the government, military, and medical and corporate industries

1. Systems Integration Engineer: These are resource people who help develop and test control systems for devices. They also document, troubleshoot, and debug systems to ensure they are free from viruses and run correctly
2. IT Systems Engineer: An IT Systems Engineer manages the various systems in an organization. They install software and test that they are compatible with the operating systems. They also perform routine tests on software to check for system malfunction that may arise.
3. Security Consultant: A Security Consultant provides security services by identifying and creating security solutions for respective clients of an organization. Sometimes, their job description also includes ensuring data security internally.
4. Information Security Analyst: An Information Security Analyst keeps an eye on security breaches and other cybersecurity-related issues and incidents in the organization. They also ensure that various security measures are put in place to protect its systems and information infrastructure.
5. Penetration Testers: Penetration Testers conduct security tests on web applications, networks, and various computer systems to check for a data breach or cyber-attack.

The steps to take to start a career in Cybersecurity are pretty much the exact steps to take while considering other careers in tech. You can read up how to get into the tech space here.

In conclusion, here are some certifications to bag as you grow in your cybersecurity career journey; Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Security Fundamentals, ISACA CSX Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate, CompTIA Security+, GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF), and The International Information System Security Certification (ISC), amongst others