Want to build a career in cybersecurity? Cybersecurity is a fast-paced field that is growing and is becoming one of the most advanced sectors with a need for qualified experts who can fit into the ever-changing working environment. If you are interested in the cybersecurity niche and the prospect of digital assets and intelligence but are not sure if it’s the right career for you, it’s good to get all the facts checked and do your research.
Those who are pursuing a career in cybersecurity will have a better understanding of the changing dynamics and latest trends in the industry. Your first task should be to see the latest trends in the cybersecurity industry to see where you fit in. You can also check online platforms like VPNRanks to keep yourself updated with the latest information in the cybersecurity world.
On that note, we have compiled a list of top skills that are required for building a successful career in cybersecurity to help you see if it’s the right field for you or not.
1. Problem solving
As a professional in cybersecurity, you must have top-of-the-line problem-solving skills as you would need them in your daily work routine. If you are part of this field, then you need to confront and address complex information security risks across a variety of platforms and find ways to fix them. Even a slight delay can result in huge consequences for the entire organization as the security and protection of the online system lies on you.
2. Technical Skills
Cybersecurity is closely related to technology; thus technical skills are a must for cybersecurity professionals. For starters, cybersecurity professionals must understand the administration and management of various operating systems, software, and networks. Similarly, you should be familiar with firewalls, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), and more security tools. Only then can you stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.
Some of the important certifications that you can get for boosting your technical skills are:
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
- CISA (Certified Information Security Auditor)
- CertifiedInformation Systems Security Management Professional (CISSP-ISSMP) Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- GCIH (GIAC Certified Incident Handler)
3. Updated knowledge about security trends
As discussed above, you need to stay updated with the latest security trends and tools. It is necessary because cybersecurity is not limited to computers only. You will need to work on various platforms and networks for which you need to be updated on everything to minimize the risk of data breaches.
4. Digital Forensics and Auditing
Cybersecurity and digital forensics are separate fields, but they are more close to one another than we thought. If you have a clear understanding of digital forensics, you can perform your best as a cybersecurity professional. Only by forensics and auditing can you understand what really happens when a system is breached and how compromised data can be recovered. This is the reason why most Cybersecurity programs have digital forensics and auditing as a part of the curriculum.
5. App security and malware protection
As a cybersecurity expert, you must know about possible threats and how to improve the security of your applications by finding vulnerabilities in systems and fixing them. It’s not a single-stage process, as it needs to be part of the software development life cycle so you can fix the issues during the process. Similarly, you must be able to use advanced privacy tools to identify and protect against malware and external threats.
6. Management Skills
As a cybersecurity professional, you must have the best management skills so you can create a culture of cybersecurity at your company with best practices. Similarly, professionals in this niche must organize and coordinate technical assessments and address certain vulnerabilities in the network to implement a secure infrastructure.
In case of an attack, they need to manage teams and explain to them how to counterattack and restore stolen data and information. At the same time, you need to explain to the top management layer about the incident and how it took place.
7. An understanding of Network Security and Hacking
As a cybersecurity professional, the security of the entire organization will be in your hands. Therefore, to effectively safeguard and protect it, you need to have an understanding of hacking and network security. That is why cybersecurity experts need to learn “ethical hacking.” As the saying goes, in this online world that is infested with hackers, we need hackers to counterattack! Only by understanding the dynamics can you fully understand how systems are breached and what solutions we need to prevent such attacks.
The Big Picture
Cybersecurity professionals need to be on their toes and know all the up-to-date data privacy regulations and news. Most of the skills listed above are common if you are thinking about pursuing a career in cybersecurity, and the others can be learned through proper training and research. It’s best to start with a degree in cybersecurity and then move to advanced learning for a better understanding of what you are dealing with. Given the increase in popularity and demand of this field, it’s a great career option for you.
