Is Cyber Security Hard to Learn? Study Tips to Keep it Simple

There are plenty of reasons why you might be interested in a career in cyber security. Maybe you want to help in the fight against cybercrime. Cyber criminals are constantly changing their methods of attack, making the already daunting challenge of preventing attacks even more difficult. Additionally, there is a huge shortage qualified cyber security workers; there has never been a greater need for people with excellent cyber security credentials.

It's also a career with excellent prospects. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cyber security jobs in the US are expected to grow by 28 percent through 2026, a rate much faster than average, and pay a median salary of $95,510.

You might also just be interested in computers. Whether you make a living with computers or just enjoy tinkering with them as a hobby, cyber security presents a fascinating challenge, one you can potentially make a living.

No matter why you might interested in a career in cyber security, you probably want to know if building the skills needed to succeed in the field is difficult. Are there any ways to give yourself an edge in your studies, and make the most of your time studying? With that in mind, here are four tips to help you better get a grasp of cyber security while you're at school.

Practice Coding

While your cyber security degree program will teach you how to code, there is no such thing as too much practice. Sites like Code Academy are fun resources for practicing your coding skills and keeping sharp even as you are focusing more intently on other areas. If your coding skills are always sharp, it will make your studies much easier.

Read

It might seem counterintuitive to learn about computing through reading, but any academic subject is going to have a lot of interesting written material. Cyber security is no exception. No matter what you're looking for, you will likely find a good book about it. There are plenty of practical guides to understanding cyber security (Tobias Klein's A Bug Hunter's Diary; Adam Shostack's Threat Modeling: Designing for Security).

Also, non-fiction research books about the worlds that cyber criminals and the people who try to stop them inhabit (Kim Zetter's Countdown to Day Zero; Joseph Menn's Fatal System Error). It can also be fun to blow off steam by reading a fun sci-fi novel about computers, like Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash or William Gibson's Neuromancer. Reading is a great way to keep your mind fresh and engaged and have fun while doing it.

Get a dry-erase board

While planners are useful, it's easy to forget that you have one when finals roll around and you're swamped in things to do. To supplement any other planners you might have, consider investing in a small dry erase board and keep it in your workspace where you can see it at all times.

Use it to write out a list of everything you need to accomplish that week, or to jot down spur of the moment ideas that you don't want to forget. Being able to quickly write something down where you can't miss it can be tremendously valuable when your schedule is packed. Notebooks and planners are great, but a dry erase board can go a long way to keeping your mind from getting overwhelmed with your workload.

Get sleep

No matter how tempting it can be to pull an all-nighter when exams approach, it's better for your grades to make sure you have enough rest. Getting sleep is always a better choice than pulling an all-nighter, even if it means getting less total study time. Simply put, you don't retain much information when you study while exhausted; all those hours staying up are pretty much wasted. Additionally, you then end up taking exams while barely able to keep your eyes open.

Are you interested in studying cyber security? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Cyber and Network Security, ECPI University offers this course of study. For more information about our exciting cyber security programs, connect with a helpful admissions counselor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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