In a world that continues to become more digitized by the minute, cyber security skills are a key component of many jobs in the field of technology. In fact, many companies are in need of up and coming cyber security specialists to help protect their data and customers as cybersecurity threats become more and more common. Companies have a hard time keeping up with IT needs which means they are constantly in search of new technology specialists.
Whether you are studying to become a cyber security specialist or simply going to work in the IT world, there are specific skills that you need to break into the digital career world. It is important to work towards a specialized degree in cybersecurity as well as learn the skills needed to be a specialist.
1: Broad Technical Skills
Gone are the days where you needed to know minimal coding skills to succeed in the tech world. The more technology develops, the more specialized your skill set needs to become. It is still important to have a thorough understanding of the different coding languages such as Java and Python. However, you also need to have a detailed understanding of operating systems for both Windows and Mac and the updates they make as well as they make updates often.
Each company is unique in the skills they will be looking for you to use once you are hired, but there is a general expectation to know not only the basics but detailed technical skills as well. Even though there are a variety of cybersecurity jobs and responsibilities, there is still an expectation of background knowledge needed to become a cybersecurity specialist. Analyzing data and coding are some of the most common technical skills that you will use in your career and it is important to stay up to date on programming languages.
2: Obtaining Certifications and Degrees
Even if you are a tech whiz, you need the degree and certifications to back up your natural skills. Technology is developing at such a rapid rate, it is imperative to have the certifications and degree to keep up with new trends and programs. Gaining a degree in cyber security means you are gaining priceless knowledge to help you as a future cyber security specialist. When working to obtain a degree for cyber security skills, you will work to learn both the technical skills as well as the soft skills needed to be successful in your future career.
After obtaining your degree and job, it is important to have ongoing education and training so that you can stay up to date on current programs being used and be aware of active cybersecurity threats that are constantly changing. Attending conferences and workshops is not only beneficial to you personally, but it is also impressive professionally to potential future employers.
3: Developing Soft Skills
As important as the specific technological skills are to become an expert cybersecurity specialist, your interpersonal skills are just as important and are something potential employers are constantly observing. Even if you know as much as possible about firewalls and coding and data breaches, if you cannot communicate your knowledge to colleagues you won’t be of much help in your job.
In fact, many degrees for cybersecurity now include classes on communication skills which shows just how very important that skillset is when working in this field. As you work on improving your communication skills, remember to be open to constructive criticism so that you can make improvements. Communication skills take time to develop, and especially in a field like cybersecurity where ideas can be challenging and complex to explain.
Another skill that is important in the field of cybersecurity is leadership and encouraging teamwork and collaboration. Because networks can be vast and complex, there is usually a large team working together to maintain network security and it is important to collaborate amongst the team and have strong lines of communication. If you are in a leadership role on that team, it is important to learn best practices for leadership so that you can lead your team well.
4: Offensive and Defensive Incident Handling
As a future cyber security specialist, not only do you need to be able to handle any unfortunate data leaks but it is also imperative to be able to try and catch them before they start. Staying up to date on current security systems that are being used allows you to understand not only how the data is being protected, but also helps you predict any loopholes that might occur.
When cyber security incidents do occur, it is important to act quickly and work as a team. Your workplace will likely have an incident response team in place already and it is best to brief everyone as quickly and efficiently as possible. This is where the communication and leadership skills come into play. Once roles are assigned, containing the incident will be part of your role as well as preventing future incidents. These experiences can be stressful, but remember that you were trained to handle them.
Learning different cybersecurity skills needed for your job or future career can be challenging but also exciting. With technology constantly changing, there is always something new to learn and figure out. Whether it is a new programming language or updates that make your job as a cyber security specialist even more important, there will always be new knowledge to gain.
Staying open to lifelong learning is important and working to obtain a degree in cybersecurity is a great option for improving your knowledge base. Skills that are needed in the field are constantly changing and it is important to be willing to learn and adapt. Careers in cybersecurity are thriving and gaining the skills needed for the job will help you as you enter the world of cybersecurity.
