Experts in cybersecurity are the "superheroes" of the internet. Despite not donning a cape, they possess a superpower that stops cybercriminals from destabilising organisations: expertise. They put in a lot of effort to keep on top of the ever-evolving nature of their business.
What is cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is the process of preventing the compromise of computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic frameworks, networks, connectivity, and everything else that technology has to offer. This covers everything from securing confidential data and ensuring consistent system access to stopping a digital pandemic.
Cybersecurity measures are required to safeguard enterprises from it change along with cybercrime. Cybercriminals are now using more cutting-edge tactics backed by AI and social engineering to get beyond traditional information security protections. To safeguard our data and corporate systems, cybersecurity experts spend their time looking for holes, identifying, investigating, dissecting, preparing for, and responding to these criminal techniques.
Cybersecurity impacts us all by keeping the status quo
The absence of security breaches acts as a measure of a cybersecurity professional's success. They are succeeding if everything keeps going the way it should. They defend against the attack before it happens, and when it does, it may have a big impact.
When a cyberattack compromises a business' security system, both its financial line and its customers' trust may suffer significantly. To provide some background, in 2021, cybercrime cost the global economy USD $6 trillion. Not a small sum, that. The damage frequently goes beyond minor operational annoyance to include serious legal and reputational ramifications.
Take the identity fraud perpetrated by the Equifax hack, which affected around 145.5 million American consumers. As a result, Equifax suffered significant brand damage and its shares fell 13% the day following the attack. Equifax paid fines and settlement fees totaling more than $500 million after reaching a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.
The importance of the job of a competent cybersecurity expert is demonstrated by this example, and as a result, the career path has a lot to offer smart people.
How do you become a cybersecurity professional?
The good news is that employers are aware of this requirement and are determined to track down applicants who possess the requisite technical skills and knowledge. Employers in the cybersecurity industry are aware that every professional has to start somewhere, which is a huge advantage.
You must become acquainted with the fundamentals before you can begin. If you gain a firm foundation in the essentials, you'll have a strong foundation upon which to expand your career.
The Foundations of Cybersecurity Program is a great place to start. Your knowledge of threat detection approaches, tools, and techniques will grow as a result of this training. You'll find out everything you need to know about red team vs. blue team exercises as well as how to design a security incident response.
You'll also get your hands dirty with PowerShell and learn how to safeguard SQL server and Microsoft Azure.
Once you have that information under your belt, you can choose the route in which you want to develop more specialized talents. You might be interested in conducting information security audits, for instance, or you might like to focus on a single platform and develop your skills with Microsoft software.
Are employers simply looking for strong technical knowledge and experience?
The quick response is no. Many top businesses have come to understand that gifted people may expand on their technical knowledge once they have the essentials. The application of technological knowledge from five years ago is becoming less and less applicable in an area as quickly evolving as cybersecurity. Because of this, when these businesses analyse the numerous resumes submitted in response to a job opening, they also search for evidence of good soft skills.
A recruitment specialist will only be interested in your resume if it satisfies specific requirements. Evidently, having solid technological capabilities demonstrated by certifications is essential. However, they will also be on the lookout for indications of leadership, teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and great communication.