At various points in the past, the Canvas InfoTech blog has sought to emphasize the prevalence of opportunities in the area of cybersecurity. We have also pointed out, as recently as our last post, that a solid background in information technology training can set you up with opportunities to build a career upon helping other people develop those same skills, even if they are not employed in the IT sector.

There is great potential for these two topics to go hand-in-hand. And in fact, there is every reason to believe that you’ll see this correlation in the labor market more and more frequently. That is to say, the demand for improvements in cybersecurity brings with it a corresponding demand for information technology training and the associated skills of a training and development specialist.

The essential reason for this is that security vulnerabilities are being exposed all the time. As a result, pressure is mounting for companies and government entities across many industries to shore up their cybersecurity infrastructure and to make sure that their employees have adequate cybersecurity training.

As an example of this, Reuters reported last week that the internal watchdog for the Securities and Exchange Commission received warnings about vulnerabilities only two months before the department discovered that it had been hacked. This is a black eye for a federal government institution, but it should also serve as a wakeup call for people in unrelated professions. Without question, the SEC is not the only entity that has recently been guilty of trying to cut corners on hardware, software, and information technology training.

Unfortunately, others may have to fall victim to cyberattacks before widespread change takes place. And with the growing prevalence of organized cyber espionage and cyberterrorism, there is no doubt that unresolved vulnerabilities will be exploited. But as these stories continue to accrue, the affected companies and their lucky competitors will very quickly come aware of the fact that the effects of an attack far outweigh the cost of appropriate investments in system upgrades and information technology training.

Current vulnerabilities and forthcoming resolutions are both things that you should be aware of, especially if you are planning on a career as a training and development specialist, or if you are pursuing information technology training with an emphasis on cybersecurity.

If you are already employed in one of these capacities, you have an opportunity to make a name for yourself by pitching the solutions to problems that are not yet widely known. If your past information technology training isn’t enough to help you recognize these vulnerabilities, business systems analyst training will familiarize you with the analytical skills you may need in the cybersecurity industry.

If you have not yet started on your professional path but are still pursuing information technology training, let the existing trends serve as a source of motivation and direction. It is easier to stay ahead of industry demand if you have a solid, preexisting understanding of the nature and extent of demands that are still developing.