Malware issues cost businesses in the United States an average of $8.9 million annually, according to a paper published by the Ponemon Institute. Viruses, malware and denial-of-service attacks disrupt business activity and result in costly problems for companies nationwide.
It turns out businesses are not the sole targets – the threat of a cyber attack against national interests is also very real. Dr. Phyllis Schneck, McAfee vice president and chief technology officer, addressed the Energy and Commerce Committee in May, citing an expanding threat to the national energy grid and pointing out that cyber espionage and extortion represent a tangible threat to national security.
In February, President Barack Obama issued an executive order urging private-public partnerships and improved information sharing to help fend off such threats.
Yet all of these scenarios have a positive slant: They are fostering new career opportunities for students interested in IT, as well as a growing and secure job market for college graduates.
With malware, viruses and information theft affecting nearly every aspect of computer use, the need for so-called “white-hat hackers” is on the rise. Because it is illegal to actively hack into a computer system, schools such as the Polytechnic Institute of New York University are setting up scenarios that allow computer science students to test their counter-espionage skills in cyberspace. Students gather over pizza each week to pit their skills against cyber security expert Dan Guido, learning from test scenarios how to counter attacks they may face in their future IT roles.
Indeed, the future is rosy for enthusiastically minded students of cyberspace. Market Research Media reports that the need for cyber security will continue to fuel the need for jobs in this specialized industry. Even the U.S. government, despite sequestration, plans to continue to hire cyber security experts.
As malware issues, viruses and cyber attacks continue to rise, an active defense system is crucial. With this rise in crime comes the need for skilled cyber security experts to safeguard every aspect of Internet use, from home computers to critical government systems.
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