Over the last few years, there has been an increase in the number of cybersecurity headlines. Cybercriminals steal customer social security numbers, steal company secrets from the cloud, and grab personal information and passwords from social media sites. Keeping information safe has become a great concern for both big and small businesses.

What is Cybersecurity?

According to Cisco, cybersecurity refers to all techniques used to defend computer systems, networks, data, and programs from unauthorized access, attack, or damage. Forbes projects that the global cybersecurity market will reach over 170 billion by the year 2020.

The sudden growth in this market has been fueled by different technology trends, including initiatives that have evolving security requirements such as BYOD (bring your own device) and IoT (Internet of Things), stern data protection policies, and adoption of the cloud.

Also Read: A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO CYBERSECURITY TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, AND JOBS

What is Cyber Security Specialist ? How to Became Cyber Security Specialist?

As the world continues to become digitally connected, cybersecurity cases will only increase. The reliance on digital technology has led to a high demand for cybersecurity experts. Therefore, if you want to join a career where you will enjoy job security and work in different industries, cybersecurity is the place where you should be.

Important Hard and Soft Cybersecurity Skills

Technology is dynamic and it is evolving every now and then. Like computer systems, networks, and software become more complex, businesses are always looking out for skilled cybersecurity experts. Some of the skills employers are looking for include:

Intrusion detection

Powerful backdoor codes and Trojans are always looking to steal important information by penetrating through the security perimeter. A single data breach can cause businesses millions of dollars in the form of compensation and fines. Therefore, businesses need trained professionals who can use the latest intrusion detection software.

Programming skills

As a cybersecurity professional, you will need to understand basic programming languages to help you gauge the possibility of an attack on an organization’s systems and develop counter-measures. Programming knowledge won’t only help you to fight threats but also help you develop stronger contingency plans.

Some of the programming languages you should have a grasp of include C, C++, Perl, PHP, and Java to help you understand the backend of a system. Additionally, you should have sound knowledge of virtualization software, management of operating systems, administration, system architecture, and networking.

Ability to think like a hacker

The best way to make your house theft-proof is to hire the best thief in your area. Similarly, for you to be able to secure a company’s systems, you should be able to think like a black hat. Ethical hacking is becoming more popular because it’s more important to anticipate a cyberattack instead of doing damage control after an attack.

Collaboration

According to a recent study conducted by CompTIA, 49 percent of IT and business executives in the U.S. alone ranked teamwork as the main soft skill that IT professionals should possess. Knowing how to navigate difficult conversations and complex projects with others from the CIO to end-users is an important soft skill that every cybersecurity worker should possess.

Strong research and writing skills

Policy creation and enforcement are some of the major tasks that cybersecurity employees take on. In recent research, CompTIA discovered that approximately 45 percent of HR managers have a policy development and implementation skills gap. A company of any size needs some form of a security plan that includes all incident response protocols, end-user guidelines, and governance structures.

For you to be able to establish sound policies, you must be well-equipped to conduct research into the best practices and learn how end-users use technology and combine this information into a thoughtful policy.

Signs that you will find a Home in the Cybersecurity Field

Recent headlines describe the need for skilled cybersecurity professionals and the shortfall of qualified experts. In fact, CSO projects that by the end of 2019, there will be 6 million cybersecurity job openings, but there will be only 4.5 million qualified cybersecurity experts to fill those roles. If you’re thinking about joining this field, here’s how to determine whether cybersecurity is the right career choice for you:

1. You’re a digital native: If you spend most of your time using computers and you have basic knowledge on how computers and networks work, then you will fare well in this field.
2. You’re curious: If you enjoy taking things apart to understand how they work, your natural curiosity will come in handy in a cybersecurity career.
3. You like tackling new challenges: New challenges are always popping up and this means you need to be ready to learn how to tackle new problems regularly.

Are you interested in a career in cybersecurity? If you want to earn a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Diploma in cybersecurity and Post Graduate Diploma in cybersecurity, consider ICSS for the education you need to make a difference. For more information, connect with a helpful admissions counselor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!