In September 2020, the personal data of close to 5.9 million customers of hotel booking site RedDoorz was found to be leaked. This was Singapore’s largest data breach. The firm operating the website was fined S$74,000 and RedDoorz had to deal with the repercussions of losing customers’ trust and confidence. Cyber security attacks such as this can severely compromise a business, resulting in data loss, breach of confidential information and a dilution of a brand’s image.
In the Singapore Cyber Landscape 2020 publication, the cyber landscape in Singapore saw an increase in ransomware incidents and online scams brought about by the increased digitalisation. As companies focus on digitalisation, cyber security attacks present a constant threat, and companies need to ensure their cyber environment is kept secure. This then triggers a demand for cyber security products, services and talent.
In this blog, we list the reasons why one should take a cybersecurity postgraduate diploma.
1. Demand for cyber security professionals has grown sharply
Singapore ranked second in the list of best places to live for a cyber security job, according to research by Techshielder. Companies here understand that the threat of cyber attacks is real and that taking steps to hire skilled, knowledgeable professionals trained in cyber security is necessary. They ensure a company’s online architecture is secure and that any attempted attacks on the system are thwarted.
In the span of three years, from 2018 to 2021, the number of job postings for cyber security professionals has multiplied more than six times. This means cyber security professionals in the city state are currently in strong demand. As the government and enterprises in Singapore move towards a cloud-first approach, IT professionals trained in cyber security will continue to be in high demand in the market.
2. Allows professionals of any level to move into cyber security
PSB Academy’s cybersecurity postgraduate diploma allows individuals with no prior experience in the field or individuals without a relevant bachelor’s degree to learn the fundamentals of the industry, along with IT and computer science knowledge. While you are not required to have specific technical skills to apply for this postgraduate diploma, having the essential soft skills such as attention to detail, imagination, and persistence is key to doing well.
Ideal for fresh graduates as well as mid-career professionals looking to upskill and work in the cyber security industry in Singapore, the 100% online course makes it convenient for busy professionals to participate. Students enrolled in the course can expect to develop an understanding of key cyber security areas such as computer networking, ethical hacking, Linux shell programming and IoT.
3. Chance to work in a variety of industries
As Singapore’s cyber security ecosystem is developed by both the government, its agencies and the private sectors, the industry will continue to grow and mature. This means the demand for cyber security professionals will continue to rise.
Singapore is gearing towards safeguarding and protecting its cyberspace through the Safer Cyberspace masterplan 2020. Headed by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), it aims to work with the cyber security industry to ensure a safe and secure cyberspace in Singapore, addressing the needs of users, communities, enterprises and organisations. As companies are encouraged to keep their digital defences robust, IT and cyber security professionals are becoming more in demand across all industries now than ever before.
4. Choice of different specialisations with multiple career paths
There are several job roles available within cyber security. These fit into three broad functions: engineering defenses, testing security and responding to cyberattacks. Depending on an individual’s strengths, one can choose a role within cyber security that fits them best. All roles, however, require that the individual have a foundational understanding of the core areas of cyber security including, common cyber attacks, how to perform a risk analysis and how to manage such risks using controls.
Some common roles include:
- Cyber security engineer: This role requires one to have in-depth understanding of an organisation’s technology and knowing how specific technical controls function.
- Cyber security tester: This role involves carrying out cyber attacks on the organisation’s online defences to find vulnerabilities, a process known as ethical hacking.
- Cyber security responders: This role requires one to deal with and minimise cyber attacks, such as attacks that shut down the network of the entire organisation.
Learn more about PSB Academy’s Cyber Security Postgraduate Diploma Course
PSB Academy is an educational institution that prepares its students to become well-trained cyber professionals. Its cyber security courses let students in Singapore build fundamentals in network security and vulnerability assessment, information security, digital forensics, wireless device security and database security.
Should graduates decide to further their master’s education with PSB Academy after completing the Postgraduate Diploma in Cyber Security (E-Learning), one can consider a Master of Science in Cyber Security with Coventry University or a Master of Science in Cybersecurity by Webster University. Upon completion of the postgraduate diploma programme, graduates may be able to enjoy module exemptions.
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