Want to make a career in cyber security? Skills one should know

According to data from layoffs.fyi, a crowdsourced database of tech layoffs, around 1400 tech companies have sacked over 2 lakh employees since the onset of COVID-19. In another report from International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2), around 3.4 million skilled cybersecurity professionals are required globally.   Moreover, the skills gap in cybersecurity has reportedly doubled since 2019.  

Cyber security needs more people to fill the vacancy 

As per the report by cyber security firm, Fortinet, due to the above-said  gap in cyber security, almost 92 percent of Indian organisations have witnessed cyber breaches. 

The rise in cyberattacks and the lack of cybersecurity professionals are co-related to each other. As a result, the already understaffed teams are stressed and overwhelmed by the volume of attacks when a cyberattack occurs.

Almost 69 percent of Indian organisations anticipate an increase in cyberattacks over the next 12 months, further compounding the need to fill critical cyber security positions to support organisations' security postures, states Fortinet.

Despite over 4,00,000 workers entering into this field last year, the gap in the cyber security workforce still remains high and has increased by 26.2 percent currently, mentions the report. 

A mix of skills is needed

Moving into the field of cybersecurity can seem intimidating, especially if you haven't previously held a role requiring a lot of technical knowledge. Despite the urgency for technical forces to fill the talent shortage, there are ways for those without computer science or programming-related background to reskill through training. 

Additionally, a wide range of skills are required within cybersecurity, including what is frequently referred to as soft skills like problem-solving and communications, for those looking for non-technical roles in cyber security. 

As a cyber security professional, problem-solving will play a major role in day-to-day work. Those in the field need to find creative ways to  address complex information security challenges across a variety of digital environments as well as existing and emerging technologies. In Fact, the current adoption of generative AI on scale in different fields including, law, economics, psychology, sociology, communications, media and so on, is one of the reasons to opt for a cyber security job. 

Top technical skills required to excel in cyber security

• Networking  - In order to start your career in cyber security, an understanding of networking is crucial. Understanding networking can help you comprehend the technical components of data transmission, which will help you secure your data.

• Knowledge of operating system - When it comes to the skill set expectations of the cyber security professional, then it's required for them to have enough knowledge of operating environments such as Mac OS, Linux, and Windows. 

• Understanding of network security control - The term 'Network security control' refers to the various techniques used to increase a network's security. The person must understand how the network functions as well as how routers, firewalls, and other devices operate. A firewall is a piece of hardware or software that prevents your computer from receiving or sending traffic from the internet. You must use a firewall as a cyber security professional to filter and stop unauthorised traffic from entering the network. The enthusiast should have an understanding of remote access, virtual private networks (VPN), intrusion detection systems, and intrusion prevention systems. 

• Coding - Having a basic coding idea can be great to excel in the field of cyber security. Some of the top-used languages are Python, Java, C++, PHP, HTML, Go, Lang, SQL, and Assembly Language.  

• Cloud security - This sector welcomes individuals with knowledge of Cloud Security, and people managing big platforms like Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web services, and Google Cloud Platform, as these big giants are quite high in demand. 

• Blockchain security - The adoption of blockchain is increasing in a variety of sectors, majorly because of its security offering. Therefore, cyber security experts should familiarise themselves with blockchain and how it addresses security challenges. Experts believe that blockchain is projected to make security inroads into industries like mobile computing, supply chain integration, network control, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

• Artificial intelligence (AI) - Just like blockchain or IoT, AI can be one of the promising fields pertaining to cyber security.The constant innovation indeed directs to thefts and threats. In such a case, AI can be trained to evolve and be used to handle emerging threats and hacking techniques.