As technologies come and go with the snap of a finger, it is imperative for a cybersecurity expert to keep pace with the latest from the world of cyberthreats. As the state of technology is evolving, so are the vulnerabilities and the number of cyberattacks.
This also means that cybersecurity experts can enjoy a lot of success in their careers, mainly because enterprises are ready to pay handsome salaries to those that bolster their digital security. Here are eight skills that cybersecurity experts need to make it big in their careers.
1. Intrusion detection
Powerful trojans and backdoor codes are looking to steal confidential information by bypassing the security wall of authentication.
A single data breach could cause a company to lose millions. Intrusion detection software must be stronger than the malware threatening to penetrate systems. Hence, there’s a need for cybersecurity experts to stay savvy on the technological front.
Two of the latest and most recognized certifications to accomplish this are Certified Information Security Manager and Certified Information Systems Security Professional.
Look for training in these courses and get certified. These certifications can help secure you high-paying jobs in terrific companies provided you conform to the other requirements of the job profile.
2. Malware analysis and reversing cybersecurity expert
Malware intrusion is a serious issue. Security pros are required to stay proactive in their approach and to develop their skills in digital threat management. Also, cybersecurity experts need to strengthen their skills in business continuity and disaster recovery planning.
It is absolutely essential for a company to make a speedy recovery almost immediately in the wake of an attack and resume business. Cybersecurity experts who offer this type of confidence and control to companies are in huge demand. Therefore, expertise in malware analysis holds a lot of promise for growth.
3. Programming know-how
A basic understanding of programming languages is critical for any cybersecurity expert. This helps them gauge the possibility of attacks on the system and to develop counter-measures accordingly. Not only does programming knowledge equip them to fight the threat, but also it is essential to develop more concrete contingency plans in the future.
So, this calls for a sound grasp of languages such as C, C++, PHP, Perl, Java, and Shell for them to better understand the backend of a system. Apart from this, cybersecurity experts need a sound knowledge of system architecture, administration, and management of operating systems, virtualization software, and networking.
4. Thinking like a black hat cybersecurity expert
People often say that if you want to make your house theft-proof, hire the best thief in town. Similarly, to be able to secure a system thoroughly, it is very important to think like a hacker or a black hat (there is even a stellar tech hacking movie called “Blackhat”). Offensive cybersecurity is gaining more and more traction, and for good reason.
It is often more useful to anticipate an attack and prepare for the contingency, instead of doing the damage control afterward.
Penetration testing is the right way to accomplish this objective. Having a proactive approach toward security is extremely important for a cybersecurity expert. Kali Linux is a great platform to master, for the purpose of penetration testing.
5. Building a well-rounded skillset
Distributed denial of service, ransomware, and many more advanced persistent threats are easily able to bypass the feeble security provided by outdated technologies.
So, it is essential for cybersecurity experts to equip their cybersecurity arsenal with all the new up-and-coming technologies.
Build a well-rounded skill set with skills ranging from penetration testing, IoT security, network security, identity, and access management, to other cyber-governance related soft-skills. This enables the security experts to build upon their foundation and branch out even further, into leadership roles.
6. Risk analysis and mitigation cybersecurity expert
Identifying risks before the onset of a threat is a very useful practice. A cybersecurity expert is therefore required to identify risks, track identified risks, and discover new risks throughout the progression of projects.
This requires a certain amount of foresight and attention to detail as one needs to foresee the kind of threats and attacks that can befall the system and think of possible solutions to effectively mitigate the problem.
As per a survey report by Intel Security, risk mitigation is one of the skills that most companies will consider outsourcing in the years to come. This means fat checks for those information security experts possessing this particular skill, across the globe.
7. Cloud security
According to a 2016 survey report by research firm ESG, demand for cloud security skills is very high. This can be attributed to the shortage of cloud security experts in one-third of the respondent companies.
It is a highly coveted skill as the number of cloud attacks is ever-increasing. The cloud is susceptible to a lot of dangerous attacks like data breaches, hijacked accounts, malicious insiders, and many more.
This itself testifies to the increasing need for security professionals to expand their horizons by mastering cloud security. So, cloud security is one skill to acquire for a promising and lucrative career in the field of cybersecurity.
8. Security analysis
Most security professionals start out by working as information security analysts. A security analyst is an important designation in almost every company. As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of information security analyst jobs is expected to increase by 28 percent between 2016 and 2026.
Their responsibilities are increasing with the exponential increase in cyberattacks on businesses over the past few years. And therefore, the demand for security analysts is high.
Cybersecurity experts should have a thorough knowledge of analyzing the security options available and building innovative solutions using them.
Becoming a cybersecurity expert
So, the aforementioned traits along with an understanding of cybersecurity threats are of paramount importance for any cybersecurity expert to have, in the view of dramatic and lightning-fast changes happening in the world of technology.
These skills, in addition to the mandatory skills required to be an expert in cybersecurity, set one apart from the rest. This naturally results in more opportunities in the security domain and a more lucrative career for you.
