As authorities investigate an increasing number of cyber threats and costly and crippling ransomware attacks, the demand for information security professionals increases. In 2019, there were 205,280 reported attacks on organizations, a 41 percent increase from 2018 according to the New York Times. Woz U is helping prepare organizations, safeguard IT infrastructures and prepare today’s workforce through their comprehensive cybersecurity curriculum.
Ransomware attacks can cripple small businesses, hospitals, and even large cities. Hackers lock down entire networks, and demand payment for their release. These kinds of attacks are on the rise, and the FBI warns that they are becoming more targeted, sophisticated and costly. In the last quarter of 2019 alone, the average payment demand from these attacks was $84,115. This explains why the demand for cybersecurity experts is growing 12 times faster than the current U.S. job market, according to the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies.
“As threats are ever-emerging, we train and mentor individuals to be cyber problem-solvers,” said Karissa Krause, Cybersecurity Program Chair at Woz U. “With cybersecurity best practices as the foundation, Woz U programs teach individuals to grow beyond the current standard and look for new and creative solutions to defend against attacks to benefit the company and their operations as a whole.”
Nationally, in 2018, the median pay for information security analysts was $98,350. In Arizona, the average salary is $93,960 for that job. Cybersecurity Ventures, a company that provides market data on the subject, predicts that there will be as many as 3.5 million unfilled positions in the industry by 2021. And, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for information security analysts will grow 32 percent by 2028.
“Cybersecurity reaches beyond a job title. It is a field built upon the concept of protecting individuals and institutions from data infiltration, financial assaults, and to provide peace of mind,” added Krause. “We are continuously updating our curriculum to prepare individuals to defend against the latest attacks and engage the workforce with passion to help others.”
Scottsdale-based Woz U’s Education-as-a-Service model is helping meet labor market demands through its Powered by Woz U cybersecurity program at partner higher education institutions, while its workforce resources offer seamless job placement. Additionally, the Woz U proprietary learning experience platform allows businesses to customize training for current and prospective employees to fill job vacancies. Woz U provides the training and manpower necessary to safeguard data and keep businesses up and running, protected from ransomware and other cyberattacks.
Here’s a look at other cybersecurity trends to know in 2020.
