Security is one of the most important needs of human beings. As human beings are entering into a world where technology defines most of our lives, security in the digital world has also become highly important. Do you know that the world has seen almost 800,000 major data breaches and digital attacks, with 2200 occurring each day in the past year? The people who combat such attacks are cyber security professionals.

What is Cyber Security?

Cyber security is a practice of digital protection of data and systems across the world. Cyber security combats malicious data breaches and attacks against computer networks, mobile devices, servers, electronic systems, and other digital platforms used by individuals, firms, and governmental organizations.

In the 21st century, cyber security has become one of the leading and most demanded professions in computer science. Do you want to become a cyber security professional? We have the complete guide for you!

Nature of Work of Cyber Security Professionals

Cyber security professionals can work in different kind of environments. In this field, you may choose to be self-employed, start their own business, or work for companies and government organizations. However, one thing will remain common. Your job will require a lot of focus, dedication, and commitment.

This means that your official working hours maybe 9 am to 5 pm. But, the nature of your work will require you to constantly monitor information and data systems. Sometimes, when a cyber threat comes in or there is a data breach, you will have to be present despite any of your personal commitments. This is because your company will be relying on you to protect their digital systems. A single data breach or cyber attack can cause companies to face a large financial loss. You are the person they rely on to prevent this.

Your job nature will not only require your commitment and responsibility. It will also demand you to upgrade and advance your expertise according to the latest kind of threats. If you are someone passionate about learning new things and can constantly increase your computer and cyber security related technical skills, you can have a very good future in rhis field.

Scope of Cyber Security in Pakistan

Cyber security has a huge scope in Pakistan. Every fourth individual in Pakistan became a victim of small- or large-scale cyber security attacks in the past year. Similarly, Pakistan has observed an increase of 59% in financial security breaches in the last one year in Pakistan. This shows the demand of highly skilled cyber security professionals in Pakistan. This shows that cyber security professionals can explore a huge job market in Pakistan.

Cyber Security Job Market

Some of the major areas of work for cyber security professionals include,

1. Government Organizations

2. Financial Institutions

3. Digital Platforms

4. Forces

5. Software Houses

6. IT Sector

7. Telecom Companies

8. Education Sector

9. Transport and Logistics

10. Energy Companies

11. Media Sectoe

12. Health Sector

13. Multinational Organizations

And many more

From small businesses to big organizations, you can find highly paid job opportunities in Pakistan as a cyber security professional. In fact, you can find very good opportunities for career growth in this field because Pakistan’s technology sector is also growing and will see a boom in the next 10 to 15 years.

Salary of Cyber Security in Pakistan

Numerous highly paying cyber security jobs are available in Pakistan. In major cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi cyber security professionals are highly demanded. Medium level organizations pay about 125,000 to 150,000 to cyber security graduates at the beginning of their career. This amount can increase 3 to 4 times as they progress in their career. For larger firms, the starting salary can also be above 200,000 rupees depending upon the company and your position.

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Skills and Qualities of a Good Cyber Security Professional

To become a highly skilled cyber security expert you should focus on the following skills as you study and go into your workplace,

1. Attention to Detail

2. Analytical Thinking

3. Protection

4. Pattern Understanding

5. Adaptability

6. Time Management

7. Security Design

8. Monitoring

9. Research

10. Disaster Recovery

11. Critical Thinking

12. Identification of Weaknesses

13. Record Maintenance

14. Technical Report Writing

You should focus on all these soft and hard skills so you can prepare for the challenges you will come across during your professional life.

Best Certifications for Cyber Security

In addition to skills, you should also consider taking certifications to boost your resume. The top 5 certifications of cyber security are,

1. Certified Information Systems Security Professional

2. Certified Ethical Hacker Certification

3. Certified Information Systems Auditor

4. Offensive Security Certified Professional

5. Information Security Systems Associations

Best Universities for Cyber Security in Pakistan

Some of the top universities to study cyber security in Pakistan include,

1. FAST

2. National University of Science and Technology NUST

3. Lahore University of Management Sciences LUMS

4. University of Punjab

5. University of Lahore

6. Air University

7. Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology

8. Click here to find a detailed list of all the institutions offering Cyber Security in Pakistan.

Do you want to know of all the steps you need to take to build a successful career counselor in Pakistan? If so, do not forget to watch our YouTube video which has all the tips you need to grow in a cyber security career. You can find the video here.

We wish you all the best for your future!

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