Ransomware attacks are trending in 2021, and it’s not a good kind of trend.
Ransomware attacks are cybersecurity attacks where a cyber criminal breaks into a network system, locks down access to anyone else, and steals files, demanding money to restore access. Cyber criminals use several methods to break into a system, from phishing emails to drive-by downloads, remote desktop access, or through software vulnerabilities. From natural gas to meat, no industry is completely safe. In fact, there were 65,000 ransomware attacks in 2020 in the U.S. alone, not considering attacks around the world.
What’s causing these attacks? As more industries rely on their networks to operate, businesses become hard pressed to not give in to the ransom demands. Plus, there are more ways to transfer money online – cash apps, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, etc. These increased technologies make our lives easier, but have become a virtual playground for cyber criminals.
If this news leaves you scrolling, clicking, and reading everything you can to understand the attacks, you might have a future in cybersecurity. What if you could do something about these attacks and prevent them from ever happening and make the world a safer place?
That’s where a cybersecurity engineer comes in. Cybersecurity engineers, also called security engineers, are responsible for developing and maintaining secure systems and networks. Cybersecurity engineers monitor and test for vulnerabilities and threats, then use their technical skills to design and implement solutions that prevent cybercrime.
Cybersecurity is one of the most in-demand skill sets in the U.S., but there are not enough trained professionals to keep up with the need. In fact, it’s predicted that 3.5 million cyber roles will go unfilled in 2021.
Ready to switch careers but still need to keep your day job while you learn cybersecurity? No problem. Flatiron School has made it easier than ever for you to be part of this in-demand career field, with its new Cybersecurity Engineering Flex program. This new flex program allows you to complete the program at the pace of your own life — choose 20, 40, or 60 weeks.
The Cybersecurity Engineering Flex program is available as a bootcamp that works around your schedule, but with the same rigorous curriculum and instructors — via recorded lectures — as our full-time, live program.
In a cybersecurity bootcamp, you’ll learn the hands-on skills needed to start your career in cyber, including these topics:
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Technical understanding of network and security systems
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Threat intelligence
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Risk management
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Cryptography
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Gray hat hacking and penetration testing
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Application and cloud security
If you’re interested in starting your journey toward a new career in cybersecurity, check out the curriculum at Flatiron School. Book a 10-minute chat with admissions to learn more about the program and how you can take the next step to a rewarding career as a cybersecurity engineer.
