What does it take to work in cyber security?
By Fay Capstick
One of our top predictions of IT skills required for 2022 was working in cyber security. This week we will be looking in more detail at what it takes to work in this ever growing IT field.
What is cyber security?
Cyber security is the protection of electronic assets and data from unauthorised access or use. This is a growing problem and one which has been made worse by Covid. Covid has resulted in criminals trying to access data that could be less protected as people work from home, rather than behind a potentially more secure office IT system.
Why is demand growing?
Demand is growing as each year more and more devices are on the internet. This means more data is stored electronically and there are more ways cause harm to individuals and organisations by compromising the security of these devices.
Cyber security is essential to protecting our data and electronic assets, and therefore essential to how our lives and economy function now. This demand is only set to increase.
What are the different types of cyber security?
There are five main types of cyber security. These are:
- Critical infrastructure security
- Application security
- Network security
- Cloud security
- Internet of Things (IoT) security
An organisation should have a plan to cover all these 5 areas. As a cyber security specialist you will also be considering the risks posed by people using the systems (training is important here to ensure people know how to use IT securely) and technology (computers, tablets, phones etc).
What types of jobs are available?
There are many career routes available within cyber security. Roles include cyber security engineer and cyber security analyst, cybersecurity consultant, systems engineer, penetration tester, software developer and cybersecurity specialist.
What formal skills will I need?
One of the main routes into the profession is via an undergraduate or Masters degree in cyber security. This will give you a solid foundation in the principles of the discipline. Another useful degree would be in Computer Science or Network Engineering. Certificates are available in fields such as ethical hacking which can supplement your knowledge.
You should have knowledge of some of the the common programming languages, such as Java and C/C++, as well as scripting languages such has Perl and Python.
Knowledge of networking and networks is needed, along with firewalls and network load balancers. This is all because you need to have a thorough understanding of how the hardware works to understand how it might be compromised.
What other types of skills will I need?
Problem solving: problem solving is an essential element of cyber security work. You will need to find creative ways to tackle and resolve existing and emergent problems.
Technological technical: You will need to be technologically technical in your understanding and outlook to fully appreciate the challenges of the role and know how to resolve them.
Wide IT knowledge: Cyber security goes beyond computers, so you’ll need to have an understanding of, and be happy working with, various operating systems, devices, cloud networks and wireless networks.
Details orientated: You will need exceptional attention to detail to spot and deal with risks and vulnerabilities.
Soft skills: You will need to be able to clearly communicate what the risks are and how you are tackling them. This can be to individuals or a team, so excellent written and verbal communication is essential.
Hacking: To understand the risk to systems you will need to understand how hacking works. Hacking refers to the methods used to obtain unauthorised access to systems and devices. You must be able to think like a hacker so that you can prevent the hacks. This is ethical hacking and is a way to test the security of the systems that you are there to protect.
Research Skills: The threats to systems and data is constantly evolving. You will need excellent research skills to find and understand where the threats are coming from next.
Final thoughts
At Parker Shaw we have over 30 years experience in our industry. So whether you are looking for advice on how to move into a job in cyber security, are looking for your next job in cyber security, or are a client looking for the best cyber security specialists for your needs, we can help you, so do contact us.