Is Cybersecurity Hard to Learn?

Recently, we discussed what cybersecurity is, why it’s important, and why you might want to consider pursuing a career in this field. Here we will explore whether or not cybersecurity is a difficult field to study and succeed in.

Cybersecurity has a reputation for being hard to study, hard to become an expert in, and hard to pursue as a career. While it’s true that the field is fast-paced, highly technical, and constantly evolving, the right training can make it one of the most rewarding and future-proofed career paths available today.

This post will explain why people think cybersecurity is difficult, what you’ll need to do to secure a job in the industry, why you should consider this field, and why you should think about getting your degree from CSU Global.

After reviewing these details, if you are interested in taking the next step towards developing your cybersecurity career, fill out our information request form to receive additional details about our online bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity.

If you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.

Why Do People Think Cybersecurity is Difficult?

Some people may think of cybersecurity as difficult because it’s a multifaceted discipline that requires sophisticated coding and programming skills, and they view it as a high-stress job due to the responsibility of protecting an organization’s systems from external threats.

Here are a few common reasons why cybersecurity is seen as challenging:

• It involves complex technical skills, including coding, networking, and threat detection.
• It requires constant learning, as new threats and tools emerge regularly.
• The role carries high responsibility, especially when protecting sensitive systems and data.
• Attention to detail is critical, since even small errors can lead to serious vulnerabilities.

While the field is complex, that doesn’t mean it’s too difficult to learn. In fact, most professional fields come with their own challenges, and success in any discipline requires time, effort, and proper training.

Important considerations to keep in mind when pursuing a cybersecurity career:

• Developing your skills takes time. It would be impossible to become effective in virtually any discipline without first spending the needed time to develop your skills and knowledge about the industry, and that’s exactly what we suggest doing if you want to become a cybersecurity professional. Through guided study, practical exercises, and ongoing support, you can gradually build the knowledge and confidence needed to succeed in cybersecurity roles.
• The right education can speed up the process. The best way to get up to speed quickly is to enroll in an accredited bachelor’s program that will teach you everything you need to know about modern cybersecurity strategies. Such programs break down complex topics into structured, manageable lessons that build your skills step by step.

What Skills Do You Need to Learn to Become a Cybersecurity Professional?

To become a cybersecurity professional, you’ll need to be capable of completing some complex and critical job functions, including:

• Documenting security breaches and assessing the damage they cause.
• Working with various departments to perform system tests and uncover network vulnerabilities.
• Fixing detected vulnerabilities to maintain a high-security standard.
• Staying current on Information Technology (IT) security trends and best practices.
• Developing company-wide best practices for IT security.
• Performing penetration testing.
• Assisting colleagues in installing security software and understanding information security management.

These aren’t simple tasks, but you can develop these abilities, and enrolling in a degree program is the best way to start building these core competencies.

Through the course of your cybersecurity program, you’ll learn how to handle these tasks, and others, allowing you to eventually assume the full responsibilities of a working cybersecurity professional, including:

• Evaluating compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Installing, managing, and updating various security software, such as firewalls and encryptions to ensure that systems are up to date.
• Conducting internal and external security audits, as well as risk assessments to evaluate vulnerabilities and determine the readiness of security systems.
• Assessing attacks or unauthorized access to identify the cause and origin of security breaches.
• Performing vulnerability testing and risk analysis functions to evaluate current security threats and identify where improvements could be made.
• Designing, implementing, and evaluating computing-based solutions to meet a given set of requirements.

While you should expect there to be a bit of a learning curve for developing these skills and abilities, it’s nothing that can’t be overcome with dedicated study and serious coursework.

Once you’ve developed your capacity for handling these duties, you’ll become a valuable asset at nearly any organization.

Who Should Consider a Cybersecurity Career?

Though cybersecurity may seem more complex than some of the easier or more intuitive disciplines, the field offers an excellent potential career path for anyone looking to establish long-term success in a challenging, complex, but rewarding industry.

Not everyone is suited to become a cybersecurity professional, and certain personality characteristics make someone uniquely suited to become successful in this space, and to enjoy the work that they do.

If you possess any of the following traits, then cybersecurity may be a good fit for you:

• Computer Skills – Cybersecurity professionals are called on to do a variety of technical computer-related tasks, including building a cloud system, creating access software, coding, or installing firewalls. Having strong computer skills will be essential for success in this role.
• Communication Skills – This is critical for successful cybersecurity professionals since you’ll be coordinating resources and monitoring systems across multiple departments. If you’re a great communicator, it will be extremely helpful to your cybersecurity career.
• Detailed-Oriented – You’ll need to track, monitor, and respond to numerous data points during your cybersecurity work, and paying close attention to details is a skill that comes in handy throughout the entire process.
• Critical Thinking Skills – Many cybersecurity tasks will require you to analyze large sets of complicated data, and you will be expected to use this data to determine what could go wrong and how to properly mitigate cybersecurity threats, so practice with critical thinking is going to be incredibly important to your career.

There are many other traits that would indicate someone is a great candidate for becoming a cybersecurity professional, but these are some of the most important.

The next step is understanding where this path can lead. Cybersecurity offers a clear and rewarding progression. Here’s a typical career path:

• Entry-Level Roles
  • Examples: IT Support Specialist, Security Analyst, SOC Analyst
  • These roles build foundational skills in threat detection, incident response, and basic network security.
• Mid-Level Roles
  • Examples: Cybersecurity Engineer, Security Consultant, Penetration Tester
  • Focus on securing systems, performing in-depth testing, and advising on risk mitigation strategies.
• Advanced/Senior Roles
  • Examples: Security Architect, Incident Response Manager, Compliance Analyst
  • Take on leadership, strategy, and policy development responsibilities within the organization.
• Executive Roles
  • Examples: Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), VP of Security
  • Oversee enterprise-level security strategies, budgets, and compliance on a global scale.

Every step on this path builds on the last, and with the right education, you’ll be prepared to enter and grow confidently in this high-demand field.

Do You Need a Cybersecurity Degree to Break Into the Field?

It’s possible to get into cybersecurity without a degree, but that’s become more and more difficult as the industry has matured and new technology and processes have become standardized.

Cybersecurity work is more technical, more specific, and more critical to organizational success than ever before, and if you want to become a successful cybersecurity professional, then we suggest that you consider developing your skills by enrolling in a cybersecurity degree program.

Getting your degree in the field is the best way to ensure that you’ll develop the unique skills and abilities required to be successful from day one, and it’s also the easiest way to signal to potential hiring managers that you’ve got what it takes to fill their open positions.

CSU Global’s Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity is an excellent option for anyone who is interested in cybersecurity and still needs to get their undergraduate degree. This program is also perfect for those who may already have a bachelor’s degree, but who are looking to gain more relevant cybersecurity-focused experience.

Is Cybersecurity a Good Career?

Cybersecurity professionals tend to be well-respected employees since they’re often viewed as being critical to organizational success, especially thanks to the enormous role they play in protecting critical data and information.

Successful organizations rely on cybersecurity professionals to protect against the many cyber threats and breaches that exist in the world today. As a cybersecurity expert, you will be on the front lines of protecting critical digital infrastructure and data that moves the modern economy.

It’s the cybersecurity experts who identify, analyze, and protect an organization’s critical information and data assets, which are used by some of the most important business units, like:

• Business development
• Marketing
• Human resources
• Accounting
• Operations
• Finance

Accordingly, if you want to play a pivotal role in securing an organization’s data and protecting them from cyber attacks, then specializing in cybersecurity would be the perfect choice for your ideal career. To get a deeper look at the responsibilities, explore what cybersecurity professionals actually do.

Should You Get Your Degree in Cybersecurity Online?

We suggest getting your degree online, especially if you have an existing job or family responsibilities that will need to be balanced with your studies.

Choosing to study online will allow you to study in your own time and on your own schedule, making it much easier to balance other obligations. If you’re wondering how long it takes to earn a cybersecurity degree, online programs like CSU Global’s offer flexible pacing to fit your lifestyle.

CSU Global’s degree in cybersecurity is 100% online and offers much better flexibility than traditional in-person programs, thanks to having:

• No set class times or physical locations.
• Monthly class starts.
• Accelerated eight-week courses.

If you’ve already got a relatively busy schedule, but you’re serious about developing the skills needed to become a cybersecurity professional, then your best bet will be to study online with us.

Why Choose CSU Global’s Cybersecurity Program?

Whether you’re starting from scratch or building on existing knowledge, our structured, flexible curriculum breaks down complex topics into manageable learning paths. Our 100% online bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity was designed to make cybersecurity more accessible and your goals more achievable by providing you with everything you need to launch a successful career as a cybersecurity professional.

This program is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which ensures that your degree will be recognized and respected by companies looking to hire competent cybersecurity professionals.

Our program is also widely recognized as one of the best programs in the industry, as it currently holds several excellent rankings, including:

• A #3 ranking on Top 10 Online Cyber Security Undergraduate Certificate Programs for 2021 from Security Degree Hub.
• A #10 ranking on Best Online Cyber Security Degree Programs of 2022 from Intelligent.

This program’s curriculum will allow you to study and gain competence in the areas associated with the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam, as well as prepare you for other highly regarded certifications in the field.

CSU Global itself is also widely accepted as an industry leader in higher education, having recently received several impressive rankings, including:

• A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges & Schools in Colorado from Best Accredited Colleges.
• A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges in Colorado from Best Colleges.
• A #10 ranking for Best Online Colleges for ROI from OnlineU.

Finally, we offer affordable tuition rates, and a Tuition Guarantee that confirms your tuition rate won’t increase as long as you remain enrolled with us.

To get additional details about our fully-accredited 100% online bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, please give us a call at (800) 462-7845, or fill out our Information Request Form.

Ready to get started today? Apply now