In 2023, 10 million jobs will be needed in cybersecurity

In cyberspace, battles are fought that sometimes go unnoticed, capable of affecting the air conditioning systems of thousands of people, eliminating sensitive government data or blocking companies' IT systems. Therein lies the importance of professionals trained in the sector to prevent and stop the spread of different cybercrimes.

“Cyber attacks are a very powerful weapon. They can block a country's infrastructure, affecting critical services such as water, gas, electricity and telecommunications, among many others. In the last century, wars, armed conflicts, pandemics and religious clashes have left such an impact that humanity has exercised and learned the meaning of resilience,” explain specialists at the Argentina-based University of the North Saint Thomas Aquinas (UNSTA).

A hyperconnected society, with a large increase in the use of social networks and false - or misleading - news, generates a more challenging control of information. In that sense, technologies such as IoT and the development of artificial intelligence allow cyberspace to become more vulnerable to data breaches and advanced threats.

Against this background, Analytics Insight predicts that 10 million jobs will be needed in cybersecurity by 2023, compared to the 3 million that were required in 2019. One of the main reasons for this increase could be the growing demand for cybersecurity between industries and companies.

However, there is a large skills gap in the cybersecurity market. As Analytics Insight describes in its report, the global cybersecurity skills gap was 64% in 2020. Given this shortfall and the growing demand for cybersecurity experts, the organization recommends that companies focus on the professional training of their employees.

Training in cybersecurity

Understanding the demand for trained professionals, with a record of more than 400 registered in previous editions, UNSTA relaunches in 2022 - for the third consecutive year - the Diploma in Cybersecurity Strategy and Intelligence in Cybercrime. A certificate of international validity, issued jointly by Argentina and Colombia.

This diploma was created by UNSTA, in conjunction with the Faculty of Engineering, the Universidad Santo Tomás based in Colombia (USTA) and the Deanship of the Division of Open and Distance Education (DUAD).

“The effort of the university, coupled with the participation of the private sector and the professional sphere, has resulted in an interesting opportunity to incorporate new knowledge adapted to the requirements of labor markets and the needs of an increasingly turbulent cyberspace,” explain the specialists of the institution.

Once again, the university funded the training program in order to provide students with an opportunity for professional development in line with the content that the labor market requires.

In this regard, engineer Esteban Vargas, dean of the UNSTA Faculty of Engineering, described: “We are very pleased to be able to offer our educational community and society for the third time, top-level tools that allow them to compete for leadership positions in the technology market. He noted the importance of the strategic partnership between UNSTA-USTA, expanding the international reach of the program with top-level teachers.”

For his part, engineer Pablo Romanos, director of the diploma, commented: “As in previous years, we already have numerous pre-registrations from several countries in Latin America and Europe. UNSTA is already internationally positioned as a leading university in cybersecurity education and cybercriminal investigations.”

The program aims to provide participants with different conceptual tools and sound knowledge management that facilitate the practice of cybersecurity and the use of intelligence techniques in cybercrime.

“It is an approach with a global vision from start to finish, with top level exhibitors. Cyberspace is infinite and has given rise to new forms of crime. This program undoubtedly provides the necessary skills to safeguard and test the cybersecurity of our infrastructure, services and applications, in accordance with international standards in cybersecurity,” said Andrés García Castillo, former student of the diploma and Corporate Manager of Cybersecurity of the Falabella Chile Group.

The academic grid of the diploma is divided into two distinct segments. The first, called Cybersecurity Strategy, includes principles of cybersecurity, protection of critical infrastructures, security in the life cycle of software development, security in radio frequency identification systems, artificial intelligence applied to cybersecurity, international laws and regulations of privacy and data protection, and master classes by cybersecurity officers from various industry sectors.

And the second, Cybercrime Intelligence, covers: cybercrime investigation process, open source intelligence, basic digital forensics, advanced digital forensics, digital cybercriminal analysis, complex investigations, remote access to data, master classes by judges, prosecutors and investigative experts criminals on social networks.

The teaching staff - national and international - is made up of cybersecurity and privacy specialists, magistrates, investigators and forensic experts, cybercrime experts from the telecommunications, energy, digital entertainment, food and government sectors.

Finally, UNSTA provides benefits through special discounts for interested companies and institutions, teachers and graduates.

Those who wish to know more information about the diploma, can enter the following link or contact the following email.