Author: Jeslyn Guo
One of the most essential reasons for cybersecurity education at a young age is the safety of our world in the present and in the future. Decades after the internet and smart appliances have been created, many people still lack basic knowledge about safety when it comes to the internet and technology. This stems from a generational lack of cybersecurity education, yet we can change this problem now by promoting the education of children in cybersecurity. Cyberattacks are among the fastest-growing crimes in the United States, yet when we introduce basic online safety at a young age, these crimes can be prevented. Young people tend to be the most vulnerable to such attacks, and it is just as important that we teach them the basics about internet safety just as we teach them not to talk to strangers and to look both ways before crossing the street. Children can be the best teachers as well; educating children can also be a way of educating many others. Just imagine a young person learning new and exciting information about cybersecurity and then telling their parents or siblings about it at the dinner table or in the car – information and knowledge can spread exponentially in this manner.
Another important reason behind cybersecurity education is simply how promising and essential the cybersecurity industry is. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts that cybersecurity jobs will grow by 31% by 2029, which is almost four times faster than the growth rate of most other industries. Just think about COVID-19 and its impact alone on technology usage: millions of people across the globe had to adapt to work and learn online as a result of the pandemic. This goes to show how much the internet is becoming a necessity in our daily lives and how vital it is to expand our knowledge about staying safe when using technology.
We can’t discuss the cybersecurity field without discussing the role of women in this field. The technology industry and computer science industry tend to be known as male-dominated industries, and this is especially true in cybersecurity right now. Women make up only about 20% of the global cybersecurity industry, which is far, far, too little. This can be changed with education and by introducing cybersecurity to young girls and showing them that they have true power in the cybersecurity world. It needs to be the norm for women to be in the cybersecurity field, not something out of the ordinary. This starts with education and exposing young children and girls in particular to a topic that could end up being their passion.
Change begins by learning what needs to be changed. Cybersecurity presents endless opportunities to contribute to our global safety and security. The truth is that almost everyone in today’s world is turning to those who can provide assistance with online safety. Starting to learn about cybersecurity at a young age opens the doors for many opportunities in the future. You may think that a future in cybersecurity looks like someone sitting in a dark room and hacking away at lines of code on a huge computer screen, but it is much more than that. Since almost every business requires some form of cybersecurity, knowledge about it can be combined with sales, law, and various other industries. Jobs in cybersecurity can take the form of risk management, analyzing security threats, education, working with clients, and much more. Most importantly, learning about cybersecurity at a young age will bring in a new generation of safe and knowledgeable technology users. If you are interested in learning more about cybersecurity, feel free to check out the videos or other resources on our website to get started!