Summary
- Certificates play a critical role in the field of cybersecurity, and those who want cybersecurity jobs in B.C. need to keep this in mind.
- Employers say soft skills are more important to them than they were five years ago.
- Cybersecurity professionals earn from $30 per hour to $72 per hour, according to the Canadian Job Bank.
Cybersecurity Jobs in B.C.: Work Experience Plays Critical Role
Cyber security is one of those fields where work experience is critical. This means you can’t just rely on your degree or diploma to excel. Employers want to see if you can apply theoretical knowledge that you learned in the classroom.
What matters for companies are solutions to problems. The reason is because sometimes companies face problems abruptly and they need experts who can provide solutions immediately.
Let’s imagine you are the CEO of a company, and your company has faced a critical data security breach. Your first response would be to consult with the cybersecurity team. In this scenario, no company can afford to take chances. So they need a reliable staff that can navigate this crisis and protect the company in every way possible.
This is why companies want to hire those cybersecurity professionals who truly know the business. So it is critical for every cybersecurity professional to have hands-on experience of some kind to convince the employers in interviews.
If you are interested in cybersecurity, check out Edison College’s Cybersecurity Diploma Program. This program takes 71 weeks, and it is also available online. Its curriculum consists of
Advanced Network Defense, Ethical Hacking and Penetration, Cryptographic Data Protection, Incident Response Mastery, Infrastructure and Cloud Security, etc.
Get Relevant Certificates Whenever Possible
Certificates play a critical role in cybersecurity. No matter whether you are a beginner or an expert, you have to go take certain certifications that are highly respected by employers.
Some of the basic certificates are mentioned below:
- CompTIA Security+: This is a globally recognized benchmark for foundational, vendor-neutral security skills.
- ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC): This is an entry-level certification, and it covers basic security principles and network security.
- CompTIA Network+: This certificate validates foundational networking knowledge that is vital before learning security.
- Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900): This certificate is best for demonstrating entry-level understanding of Microsoft cloud security.
Those who already know these basic certifications switch to other intermediate or advanced certifications. Some of the intermediate or defensive certificates that employers really respect for threat detection and continuous monitoring include:
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+): This certificate focuses on behavioral analytics, threat intelligence, etc.
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): This is a highly sought-after certificate,as it is helpful in practical routing and switching knowledge.
- BTL1 (Blue Team Level 1): This is respected in the cybersecurity field as it focuses on solid defensive tools.
Cybersecurity professionals also work on offensive security. This means go one step forward and do vulnerability testing of the systems. They also do ethical hacking to protect the systems before any malicious person detects those flaws and tries to hurt the company.
Some of these certifications include:
- eLearnSecurity Certified Digital Forensics Examiner (eCDFP): This certificate is basic to intermediate level, and it helps in practical ethical hacking.
- Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP): This certification is considered a gold standard for penetration testing. It is demanding and used for a 24-hour practical exam.
- CompTIA PenTest+: This certification covers vulnerability management and penetration testing scoping.
A large number of companies these days are switching to cloud security. This has increased the demand for those professionals who can handle challenges related to cloud security.
Some of the most respected certifications in this arena are:
- AWS Certified Security – Specialty: This certificate validates advanced security controls and automation on Amazon Web Services.
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500): This certification shows that the person has implementation skills for security controls on Microsoft Azure.
Soft Skills are Still King
One thing that never gets old is soft skills. No matter how sharp and expert you are in technical skills, if you lack soft skills, you will face troubles in your professional life.
In other words, soft skills separate a good cybersecurity professional from an exceptional one.
Companies are increasingly giving more importance to communication skills. According to a recent survey in the US, 60% of employers said that soft skills matter way more than they used to five years ago.
About 62% of survey respondents said that hard skills and soft skills are equally important; 24% said soft skills are more valuable, while 12% said that hard skills are vital.
This survey shows that soft skills are equally valuable, if not more.
Let’s see which kinds of soft skills employers are looking for in most cases.
- Problem solving.
- Critical thinking.
- Teamwork.
- Being calm under pressure.
- Adaptability.
- Ability to explain technical problems in simple words.
What is the Entry-level Cybersecurity Salary in Canada?
Cybersecurity specialists usually draw higher entry-level salaries than many professionals.
According to the Canadian Job Bank, cybersecurity professionals earn from $30 per hour to $72 per hour.
The entry-level salary of cybersecurity professionals also depends on their location in Canada. Some provinces and territories have higher salaries compared to other regions.
There will be 820 cybersecurity jobs in B.C. from 2025 to 2035, while the current median annual income is in the range of $101,254, according to Workbc.ca.
The demand for cybersecurity jobs in BC is not just growing in IT; it is growing in finance, health care, and government sectors as well.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity is a dynamic field. It is changing fast, but there are some vital aspects about it that haven’t changed for a long time. If you are someone who is looking to join this field, keep in mind that having some work experience, certificates, and soft skills are still critical to your success in this field.
Contact us today for more information on this program.
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Pictures by Magnific
