Data Science vs. Cybersecurity: Which Tech Field Offers Better Career Prospects?
Data Science and Cybersecurity have become two of the most proficient fields in the fast-changing landscape of technology. Both have lucrative career options, but you need to choose which is precisely right for your ambitions. In this regard, let me outline the scope, job market, and future prospects of these two dynamic and competitive fields, which will help you make a comparison and reach a decision.
What is Data Science? Understanding the Scope and Future Prospects
Data science is, in essence, a meaningful insight drawn from a heap of data. The field is a combination of statistical analysis, machine learning, and data mining into a decision-making process. The explosion of big data has driven companies in all sectors to embrace the use of data science as a way of always outcompeting others.
Scope of Data Science:
- Demand:Â The demand for data science professionals is rather huge. According to a report on NASSCOM, the Indian Data Analytics market, which was $2.71 billion in 2020, would grow to $5.2 billion by 2025. This is at a CAGR of 14.9% growth.
- Career Opportunities:Â Data scientists can be employed in the financial sector, healthcare sector, retail, and technology. It encompasses sub-jobs of Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Data Engineer, and Machine Learning Engineer.
- Salary Expectations: The average salary for data science professionals in India can range from ₹6,00,000 to ₹20,00,000 per annum. The salary range depends on the experience and expertise among the aspirants.
Average salary for data science professionals in India
How Does Cybersecurity Compare? Exploring the Field and Its Prospects
It ranges from cybersecurity focusing on data protection, systems, and networks from cyber threats. As hackers continue to become more prevalent, along with data breaches, the world needs cybersecurity professionals now more than ever.
Scope of Cybersecurity:
- Market demand:Â The job market also looks good in cybersecurity. According to the estimates by Cybersecurity Ventures, there will be a global deficit of 3.5 million in the cybersecurity workforce by 2025. The cybersecurity professionals market in India is very likely to grow at a CAGR of 24% from 2021 to 2026.
- Career Opportunities:Â The various cybersecurity roles range from Security Analyst, Security Engineer, and Penetration Tester to the highest level of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). These jobs are in demand in literally all sectors.
- Salary Expectations: The salary expectation for cybersecurity professionals in India ranges between ₹7,00,000 and ₹25,00,000 per annum depending upon the role and years of experience.
Average salaries of cybersecurity professionals in India
Why Data Science? Key Reasons and Advantages
Data science offers several compelling reasons to pursue a career in this field:
- Diverse Applications:Â Data science has wide applicability spanning multiple industries, hence making career paths quite flexible.
- Innovation-Driven:Â The field is at the forefront of technological innovation, with opportunities to work on cutting-edge projects.
- High Demand:Â As more decisions are based on data, skilled people are always in demand.
Valuable Skills for Data Science
When Should You Consider Cybersecurity? Reasons to Opt for This Field
Any person who has a passion for security information and systems can opt for cybersecurity, which is quite an outstanding option due to the following reasons:
- Professionals in High Demand:Â Increasing rates of cyber threats make cybersecurity professionals in higher demand in every other sector.
- Critical Role:Â This is because cybersecurity personnel work in safeguarding sensitive data, and thus, their work mostly remains indispensable in almost any organization.
- Growth Opportunities:Â The sector provides various growth opportunities in specializations, including ethical hacking and security management.
Important Skills to be a Cybersecurity
How to Choose Between Cybersecurity and Data Science
A decision between data science and cybersecurity will have to be based on a number of factors: interests, career goals, and the skillsets that you bring along. To begin with, consider the following:
- Interest:Â Are you more fascinated by the use of data for business insight, or do you have a passion for protecting systems against cyber threats?
- Career Goals:Â Long-term career goals. Data science has analytics and machine learning as its fields of practice, while cybersecurity entails security management and ethical hacking.
- Skills:Â Assess your current skill set and figure out with which field it will fit better.
Conclusion
The career prospects in India for both data science and cybersecurity are great, with an ever-increasing demand, and they pay well. Data Science is oriented toward people who like to work with data, drawing insightful summaries and analytics from them, whereas cybersecurity best fits the bill for those who enjoy the activity of protecting information and systems. In either case, one would make a better choice based on personal interest, where he or she stands in terms of her/his skills, and his/her career aspirations. Consideration of these factors and the understanding of the scope and prospects each one of them has will allow making a very informed decision on the choice of appropriate tech career.
