Herzing Blog

Updated February 2024

Almost everyone is familiar with the idea of cybersecurity. Many of us have had our emails or social media accounts hacked or lost personal information in corporate data breaches. 

Over the last few years, we’ve seen some major companies fall prey to cyber attacks, including Twitter, T-Mobile, Genworth Financial, and 23andMe.   

How is it possible that even these organizations can't stay ahead of the hackers? It all comes down to talent.

We simply don’t have enough qualified people. There is a huge demand for cybersecurity specialists in Canada and across the globe.  

Interested in IT security? This is the ideal time to start a career in this field. Here’s what you should know about cybersecurity jobs, training, skills, and salaries.

It seems like every month brings a new high-profile cybersecurity breach. Many companies simply don’t have enough trained cybersecurity professionals to set up effective monitoring, prevention, and incident response protocols.

Sergio Gonzalez designed the 12-month cybersecurity program at Herzing College to produce grads who can meet those challenges. He has more than 20 years of IT experience and knows what it takes to thrive in today’s workforce.

We spoke to Sergio recently to learn more about the program, the online format, and what students can expect in his class. Here’s what he had to say.

Nothing in Ayodele Daini’s background had prepared him for a career in information technology. On the contrary, he’d spent years working in the fields of agronomy and property management. But he’d always been interested in tech, and when he moved to Canada he decided to make that his new career path.

That led him to enrol in the online cybersecurity program from Herzing College. After an intense year of study, he graduated in April 2023 and quickly landed an IT security job with a major Crown corporation.

We spoke to Ayodele to get his thoughts on the training and his overall career journey. Here are the highlights of that conversation.

Cybersecurity continues to be a top concern for companies all over the world. Tech research and consulting firm Gartner estimates that global spending on information security controls and risk management products and services will total more than $188 billion in 2023—an 11 per cent increase over 2022.

So, given the growth in this field, what can you expect in the year ahead?

Updated December 2023

Keeping information systems secure is a big challenge for many businesses, especially as the threats continue to grow.

In CyberEdge’s latest Cyberthreat Defense Report, close to 63 per cent of Canadian IT security pros surveyed reported their companies had suffered at least one successful ransomware attack in 2022.

So how can you keep your organization from becoming another unfortunate statistic? What can you do to prevent a security breach in your workplace?

This post will help you understand the nature of security breaches: what they are, how they happen, and what steps you can take to prevent them. Keep reading to learn more about common threats as well as IT security best practices for employees.

Updated December 2023

The need for skilled cybersecurity professionals is already huge. And it's getting bigger.

By some estimates, the global cybersecurity industry will be short 3.5 million workers by the end of 2025.

But is a university degree necessary to get started in cybersecurity?

The short answer is no. Many job postings do call for a degree, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can't land those roles without one.

In many cases, employers are more interested in what you can do rather than what credentials you hold. It's more about proving your skills on the job rather than in the classroom.

Exactly what skills do you need and what are employers looking for? Here's what you need to know.

Updated December 2023

Few fields are as hot as cybersecurity.

The massive shift to remote work and online services during the pandemic generated huge demand for IT security experts. The Government of Canada Job Bank forecasts good-to-very-good employment prospects for cybersecurity specialists in several areas of the country over the next few years.

And these are high-paying roles, with a median salary of more than $91K.

So you're smart to be thinking about getting into this field. But if you're completely new to IT, it can be challenging to choose the ideal training program (especially if you want to avoid a four-year university degree).  What course should you choose?

In this post, we outline the top traits of a quality cybersecurity diploma. A diploma is a good alternative for people seeking comprehensive training that is much shorter than a degree.

Here's what to look for in a good cybersecurity diploma for beginners.

Updated December 2023

Cybersecurity focuses on protecting information systems and electronic devices against malicious digital attacks.

If you’ve ever had your email or social media accounts hacked, you’ve seen what happens when cybersecurity measures fall short.

And attacks on major companies are constantly in the news. Facebook, LinkedIn, Yahoo, and Uber are just a few of the big names that have had their systems compromised in recent years.

So you’re probably aware that cybersecurity is a hot field. But before you make it the focus of your career, you need some more information.

In this post, we explain exactly what the cybersecurity field involves, what job options it offers, and how you can get started in the industry.

Here are the facts you need.

The demand for cybersecurity professionals has never been so high. Some experts say millions of IT security positions are going unfilled because there just aren't enough people with the right skills.

Herzing's accelerated Cybersecurity Specialist training program was specifically developed to turn out grads who can fill that shortage.

Derek Lewis is the Vice-President of Academics at Herzing College Toronto. He has extensive experience in both cybersecurity and education.

We spoke with Derek recently to learn about the latest trends in the IT security field, what employers are looking for, and what makes Herzing's program so unique.

Here's what we found out.

Image: Fortinet presentation on the risks of IoT devices at the RSA cybersecurity conference 

If you follow the world of cybersecurity, you've probably heard of Fortinet. In just over 20 years, they have become the largest cybersecurity company in the world.

Fortinet dominates the industry with over 800 patents, 50 hardware and software products, and billions in yearly revenue.

Fortinet provides integrated cyber solutions for all kinds of organizations, from hospitality and health care, to financial services companies and governments.

But did you know that Fortinet is also a cybersecurity training provider? They partner with educational institutions across the globe, helping schools deliver cutting-edge training.

Most importantly, they provide globally-recognized cybersecurity certifications that help newcomers prove their expertise, learn how to use Fortinet products, and advance their careers.

So, we're very pleased to announce that Herzing College is now a Fortinet Academy partner.

This week, we interviewed Al Nasturzio, Director of Training and Education Partners at Fortinet, to get all the details on how this partnership will benefit our IT and cybersecurity students.