The field of cybersecurity is growing exponentially and for good reason. Data breaches are at an all-time high. This rapid growth and expansion have created the need for skilled professionals to undertake various roles in cybersecurity to protect against malicious actors.
If you’re looking for a new career or want to hone your existing cybersecurity skills, taking an online cybersecurity program is a great way to achieve your goals. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the top skills required for a successful career in cybersecurity.
Top Skills Required for Cybersecurity Jobs
Business leaders are constantly looking for qualified cybersecurity professionals to join the fight. Although the list below is not exhaustive, it’s a good start to give you an idea of what cybersecurity skills they are looking for.
Creativity
The world of cybersecurity is constantly changing to meet new demands as technology evolves. At the same time, new security threats are emerging at breakneck speed, creating new challenges for cybersecurity professionals. As a result, individuals with high levels of creativity are needed to meet these demands. Creative minds will be able to create different scenarios that can be readily addressed once presented. As a cybersecurity professional, you can create mock situations that could threaten security and provide creative solutions to protect an organization from equally clever hackers proactively.
Mobile-Remote Computing
Due to the changing landscape of technology, partly due to the COVID-19 crisis, organizations have moved their operations to a remote setup. As a result, cybersecurity professionals also had to adapt their methods to secure these new environments. A VPN or virtual private network is critical to secure sensitive information and systems. VPNs add a crucial layer of security and anonymity as when workers connect to websites and services. As a result, implementing secure remote computing environments must be part of a cybersecurity professional’s skill set. Cybersecurity professionals that understand the ins and outs of VPN networks and secure remote setups will have an advantage in today’s marketplace.
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Risk and Compliance Auditing
Agencies and organizations utilizing technology are often audited to ensure compliance with security requirements and government regulations. Cybersecurity audits are regularly performed to ensure compliance. Individuals seeking to gain entrance into cybersecurity must fully understand compliance and risk auditing and how to align security with business needs and objectives. Risk and compliance requirements also vary depending on what industry you work in. For example, those who work in healthcare cybersecurity have stricter risk and compliance guidelines. Gaining knowledge and experience in industry-specific regulations and related cybersecurity skills can set you apart from the competition.
Network Security
Understanding network security is paramount for cybersecurity professionals. This level of security provides the protection layer for connected systems through protocols and procedures that protect the information that moves across networks. Network security consists of ensuring that systems and software are updated and patched, configuring and maintaining firewalls, implementing intrusion detection and prevention methods, maintaining strong access and identity management policies, and more.
Threat Intelligence Analysis
Threat intelligence analysis is a critical skill for all cybersecurity individuals to possess. To protect against threats, cybersecurity professionals must understand what threats exist and how to mitigate against them. Threat analysis intelligence equips cybersecurity teams with contextual-based information that provides a window into an enemy’s tactics, techniques, and motives. Once this information is obtained, cybersecurity professionals can make informed decisions to prevent and eliminate them.
Application Security
Application security development is another vital cybersecurity skill. This type of security protects software application code and the associated data from being hacked. Application security in development must be in place for the entire lifecycle—from design and development to testing and deployment—covering hardware systems and software. Now that the cloud is ubiquitous for any organization, the threat vector against applications has increased exponentially, so cybersecurity professionals must also factor that into their application security processes and best practices.
Cloud Security
Of all the skills one needs to succeed in cybersecurity, understanding cloud security is a top priority. As mentioned above, nearly everything organizations do today touches the cloud. Luckily, cloud service providers make it relatively easy to configure secure infrastructure and the applications that run on it. Understanding your options with whatever cloud provider(s) you work with is essential. Yet, many larger enterprises operate on-premises or hybrid clouds, so cybersecurity professionals must understand how to secure every aspect of security (network, application, identity and access management, threat analysis, etc.) in a cloud-based environment.
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How Do You Build Cybersecurity Skills?
You can build cybersecurity skills in several different ways. Many individuals take the traditional route of enrolling in traditional university programs and obtaining bachelor’s and master’s degrees in cybersecurity. However, there is another route one can take to obtain those skills—through an online cybersecurity bootcamp. A comprehensive online bootcamp can help you build the necessary cybersecurity engineer skills you need in a shorter time than traditional programs and for a lower cost.
The skills you will learn in this bootcamp include asset and inventory management, data management, data privacy and security, identity management, network security, risk management, digital forensics, threat analysis, and more.
How to Implement Those Skills
One of the key ways to implement cybersecurity skills is through practice and professional development. For each skill, training with real-world projects, like the ones offered in the abovementioned bootcamp. You can share the results of your work with potential employers to showcase your knowledge and abilities. Regarding professional development, you should always seek relevant certificates on the most up-to-date technologies and processes.
Interested in a Cybersecurity Career?
Cybersecurity is a growing, robust field where highly skilled individuals can consistently grow and learn. We recommend taking online cybersecurity courses necessary to ensure you are equipped with the latest skills, tools, and best practices to succeed in a rewarding field in super high demand.
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