Skills Required for a Career in Cybersecurity

Lack of education isn’t the only thing hindering talent acquisition in cybersecurity. The scarcity of important skills is also one reason that leads to numerous unfilled cybersecurity positions worldwide. It is believed that there are about 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions in the world. Additionally, the skill gap is one of the top reasons underlying the lack of interest in recruiting the present talent.
This article will come in handy for aspiring cybersecurity specialists who want to succeed in the field. We will enlist the key skills required for cybersecurity jobs. Ahead, you’ll get to know about the integration of cybersecurity into business enterprises and the growing need for skilled cybersecurity professionals.

Introduction to Cybersecurity

Businesses of every size – small, medium, and huge, have integrated modern technological advancements into their processes, providing easy access to the companies’ important information. It is believed that the number of cyberattacks has significantly increased over the last decade. Therefore, to mitigate the risks of cyberattacks, businesses have integrated several cybersecurity systems into their organization.

The introduction to cybersecurity has led to a decrease in constant cyberattacks on businesses. Cybersecurity is a set of processes that offers security to an organization’s important data, applications, systems, etc. Businesses are looking out for skilled cybersecurity specialists to reduce the adversities caused due to constant cyberattacks. However, the skill gap in the cybersecurity domain is increasing with each passing day. That’s why there are millions of unfilled cybersecurity positions worldwide. Suppose you want to get recruited into a firm that provides the scope of growth and great career prospects, then continue reading to know about the top skills employers are looking out for cybersecurity specialists in the current business milieu.

Top 7 Skills Required for Cyber security

Analytics

The growing use of modern systems in business processes has also increased the need for cybersecurity specialists to be equipped with analytics skills to perform specific tasks. Being familiar with analytics makes it easy to perform cybersecurity analytics and foresee cyber threats. However, cybersecurity specialists should be good at statistics and mathematics to become good at analytics. Moreover, they should be well-versed in data science and data analysis fundamentals.

Forensics

Digital forensics is one the skills required for cyber security. It is a process that identifies, examines, and analyses digital evidence to find answers to questions regarding an online crime or attack. Being aware of different digital forensics tools helps find trails of hackers in the aftermath of a digital breach. This process ensures the safety and proper actionable plan to prevent businesses from cyberattacks.

Programming skills

Being well-versed with different programming languages like Python, R, Java, and others commonly used in businesses increases your chances of reducing potential errors while coding. Also, a cybersecurity specialist performs data science and analysis on different business applications. To comprehend them, candidates should be aware of different programming skills. It helps them in doing the work quickly and efficiently.

Computer systems

A business faces numerous cyber threats. Herein, comprehensive knowledge about different operating systems helps fix data breaches at a nascent stage. That’s why enterprises seek specialists equipped with different technical cybersecurity skills and knowledge about various operating systems to protect them from getting corrupt.

Networking

A network allows different operating systems to integrate and collaborate on completing a specific task without physical intervention. There is a humungous amount of confidential data that gets transferred through different network systems in an organization. Networking, therefore, becomes a vital skill required by cybersecurity specialists for performing their tasks without peril.
Proper knowledge about different network systems, their working, and the threats associated with them provides aspiring candidates with an edge over the rest.

Intrusion detection system

The advancement in technology has led to the emergence of various methods to detect intrusion into a company’s systems. An intrusion detection system (IDS) is a technique that helps cybersecurity specialists to analyze alien intrusion into a company’s software and systems. There are multiple types of IDS, out of which, the three most widely used systems are: perimeter intrusion detection system, network intrusion detection system and host-based intrusion detection system.

Security development

Complete knowledge about different application security developments is one of the key technical skills required by cybersecurity specialists—companies lookout for specialists capable of testing different applications and fixing potential risks associated with them.
The dictionary defines skills as “the ability to do something well.” And these 7 cybersecurity skills will help you perform complex tasks in a jiffy while increasing your credibility and expertise in the field. Therefore, if you wish to make a career in cybersecurity, it is highly recommended to develop a penchant for these skills for cybersecurity specialists. If you already have these skills, here’s how you can advance your career in cybersecurity.

How to Make a Career in Cybersecurity?

Many cybersecurity professionals start their careers with a certification course. A cyber security certification course equips you with the required skills and knowledge to excel in the field. Emeritus India offers the best cybersecurity certification courses for working professionals. We have partnered with some of the prestigious Indian and international institutes for the same.

This certification course will help you understand that besides technical skills, you should also possess some soft skills to have a successful career in cybersecurity. Here are some soft skills cybersecurity professionals require:

• Problem-solving
• Enthusiasm
• Optimism
• Quick learner
• Good communicator
• Technically sound and aware of new trends

Resilience and consistency are two qualities every cybersecurity professional must have because the industry is highly competitive and challenging. Similarly, the job responsibilities and duties may seem challenging and make newbies doubt their skills and knowledge. However, with relevant skills and knowledge-base which you can attain by undertaking a certification course can help you become a successful cybersecurity professional.