Cybersecurity is a fast-growing industry with a huge skills gap. Cybersecurity roles are high-paying and in-demand, so it’s best to start with the Security+ certification and choose a secondary certification based on your career path. Many other technical fields have skills that can easily transfer to cyber, such as programming, IT support, software engineering,

Cybersecurity is a wide, comprehensive field consisting of different disciplines and best practices to preserve the safety, integrity, and reliability of networks and digital systems. In simple terms, cybersecurity is the practice of securing networks, resources, and systems from digital/cyberattacks. Any measures to protect a system or network from cyberattacks, you are practicing cyber security.

 

So how can you break into cybersecurity if you’re not from a technical background?

Many of the skills required in other technical domains can be used for cyber security. Some of those talents, such as security ops or information systems, may need to be learned or polished. Enrolling in a cybersecurity boot camp is a terrific method to quickly gain the skills you’ll need to get started in your new job.

Many technological jobs can be used as a stepping stone into the world of cyber security. People with backgrounds in financial and risk analysis, security intelligence, and other related fields are well positioned to move into cyber security.

Furthermore, just approximately 20% of companies consider a bachelor’s degree in cyber security or a related discipline to be the most important qualification for landing a job. The majority of them place a higher value on skills and professional qualifications than on a degree. Knowledge of basic and advanced cyber security principles, as well as excellent non-technical/soft skills, are some of the most important capabilities.

Here’s a detailed list of the technical skills you’ll most likely need for a promising cyber security job.

Risk management

This is, without a doubt, the most essential skill a cyber security specialist can possess. It comprises identifying potential dangers as well as analyzing and interpreting the organization’s risks. It guarantees that the organization’s security procedures are appropriate for the risks it faces. Organizations will also expect you to assess prospective systems and offer them a score depending on their vulnerability to exploitation.

Authentication

This is the procedure for verifying a user’s identity in order to grant them access to digital resources. One of the most critical talents in a cyber security career is the ability to communicate effectively. Professionals in cyber security build new authentication techniques and audit old ones for data leaks or breaches. Furthermore, the cyber security expert should be familiar with firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS).

Linux

Because of its flexibility and openness, this open-source operating system is a favourite of cyber security professionals. As a result, the majority of cyber security tools (such as penetration testing, vulnerability research, and ethical hacking) are created for Linux. It will be beneficial for you to learn it before beginning your cyber security job.

Information systems

This refers to how data is collected, processed, stored, and disseminated both within and outside of a company. As a cyber security specialist, you should have a high level understanding of the data’s journey and the operations that are done on it. This will aid in the detection of data breaches and the development of more effective data security solutions.

Digital forensics

This refers to the procedures used to investigate network anomalies and malicious behavior. This is a crucial ability to possess.

Coding

Many cyber security occupations necessitate fluency in, or at the very least knowledge with, a variety of cyber security coding languages.

Aside from technical knowledge, having the requisite soft skills to survive in any job setting, especially in the cyber security area, is critical. Here are a handful of the soft skills you’ll need in the field of cyber security.

(1) Teamwork: Many people imagine cyber security professionals as lone rangers, crouched over a keyboard somewhere, hammering commands into the shell at breakneck speed. This could hardly be more untrue.

Most businesses necessitate the collaboration of a group of capable specialists. The size of the team is determined by the organization’s size and data requirements. Any kind of conflict among team members can lead to the team’s overall poor performance, which can be dangerous.

(2) Presentation Skills: Cyber security experts are frequently called upon to explain highly technical matters to non-technical individuals. It is critical to be able to summarise difficult concepts and explain them in a straightforward and/or pictorial manner.

(3) Problem-solving skills: The ability to look at a problem, comprehend it, and come up with a plausible solution is valuable in a variety of situations. Attending a cyber security bootcamp will be your best choice for gaining these much-needed skills if you come from a technical background. Bootcamps are a rapid and relatively inexpensive approach to learn cyber security skills.

Hackathons and hacking marathons allow cyber security enthusiasts to demonstrate their abilities in a time-limited, competitive setting. This is a terrific chance to meet other fans and potentially pick up some insider knowledge. Attending local security meetups and events is another option.