Topics In Demand
Notification
New

No notification found.

7 Essential Cybersecurity Skills and Strategies
7 Essential Cybersecurity Skills and Strategies

281

0

In today's digital era, where technology is seamlessly integrated into our personal and professional lives, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated. The ever-evolving threat landscape necessitates a proactive approach to safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring the integrity of digital systems. To effectively combat cyber threats, individuals and organizations must possess the necessary skills and strategies to navigate this complex domain. One valuable avenue for acquiring these competencies is through obtaining a cyber-security certification.

The first and foremost thing you need is a passion for the field. Candidates seeking cybersecurity roles should have a profound thirst for knowledge and a strong sense of curiosity. The cyber threat landscape is continuously evolving, so if you are transitioning into this field, you need to be prepared to continually learn, and perform the task earnestly. Following are the hard and soft cybersecurity skills for beginners to kickstart a successful career in cybersecurity:

  1. Network security-  Network security skills are basic skills that everyone in the security field should have. Some of the best security people come from a network security background, precisely because the basics of security stem from understanding how networks work: You can't defend networks if you don't understand how routers work, know what the firewall logs mean or haven't mastered the fundamentals of intrusion detection and prevention. Many would argue that the best career track for security professionals is to start in computer support and then work as a network administrator and build security skills over time from there.
  2. Creativity-  While the least technical skill, creativity is the one intangible that can catapult people to the top of their cybersecurity careers. Creative security people are able to "think like a hacker," entertaining many what-if scenarios and staying one step ahead of the cybercriminals. Sometimes, the work is like an elaborate chess game. Sometimes, it's like a police stakeout, where hackers infiltrate the company's network for months and the security team just waits for them to make their move. Other times, it's understood that some hackers are lazy and just go for the low-hanging fruit. Whatever the criminal motivation is, great security people are able to suss it out. They feed their creativity by reading the latest cyber novels, keeping up on current affairs and social media trends, playing musical instruments, designing a video game, learning some of the basics of computer animation or getting involved in the community by coaching a sports team or working with kids.
  3. Secure Network Architecture - Secure network architecture goes hand in hand with attack surface management. If attack surface management is about closing vulnerabilities across the enterprise network, secure network architecture is about building those networks so that minimal vulnerabilities are present in the first place. Learning secure network architecture skills enables your cybersecurity team to use approaches like zero trust architecture to design, implement, and protect today's distributed, interconnected networks.
  4. Programming - Programming and scripting languages like JavaScript are core competencies for cybersecurity experts to understand. They can use these languages to write internal systems, and it's important to understand them to prevent hackers from using them to access the organization and its data.
  5. Data Management Protection - You should have the ability to handle, analyze, and securely store all types of data. Data Management Protection is the most important cybersecurity skill in demand as of 2021! It is necessary to understand forensic tools and methods used to find data and malicious activity on the network.
  6. Problem-solving -  Problem-solving ranks high on any employer’s list of must-have cybersecurity skills. At its root, cybersecurity is about identifying security issues and finding ways to solve or defend against them. Understanding how to effectively approach a problem and work toward discovering its solution will make you well-prepared for a career as a cybersecurity professional. Whether you want to work on creating strong defenses to protect sensitive data, or you’re interested in digital forensics and post-hack work, there are a number of career paths available in the fast-growing cybersecurity field. As you start your journey into the profession, consider what educational path might work best for you; a cybersecurity boot camp can be an excellent way to build up your skill set, as they often take less time than a degree program and are hyper-focused on necessary skills. Only you can decide how you want to build the skills you’ll need to thrive in the cybersecurity sector!
  7. IDENTITY AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT (IAM) - Identity system defense came in at number two in Gartner’s list of the top seven cybersecurity trends for 2022. That’s because most data breaches — as many as 67% by some estimates — are caused by credential theft, social engineering, and other means of compromising employees’ accounts.

    The best way to defend against these common attacks is with a robust identity and access management (IAM) strategy. Organizations are safer when their cybersecurity teams can implement and maintain secure IAM technologies and tactics like multifactor authentication, passwordless authentication, privileged access management, single sign-on, and more.

Conclusion

In conclusion, developing and mastering essential cybersecurity skills and strategies is crucial in today's digital landscape. With the ever-growing threats and vulnerabilities, individuals and organizations must prioritize cybersecurity to protect sensitive information and maintain trust. The seven key skills and strategies discussed provide a strong foundation for effective cybersecurity practices. By continually staying updated, fostering a proactive mindset, implementing robust security measures, and fostering a culture of awareness, professionals can mitigate risks, respond to incidents, and safeguard against potential cyberattacks. Embracing these skills and strategies will empower individuals and organizations to navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape with confidence and resilience.


That the contents of third-party articles/blogs published here on the website, and the interpretation of all information in the article/blogs such as data, maps, numbers, opinions etc. displayed in the article/blogs and views or the opinions expressed within the content are solely of the author's; and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of NASSCOM or its affiliates in any manner. NASSCOM does not take any liability w.r.t. content in any manner and will not be liable in any manner whatsoever for any kind of liability arising out of any act, error or omission. The contents of third-party article/blogs published, are provided solely as convenience; and the presence of these articles/blogs should not, under any circumstances, be considered as an endorsement of the contents by NASSCOM in any manner; and if you chose to access these articles/blogs , you do so at your own risk.


images
Eden Wheeler
Software Engineer

I am a developer and work in MNC. I have 6+ years of experience as a developer and I have in-depth knowledge of programming languages. In addition, I love to read and write about technologies.

© Copyright nasscom. All Rights Reserved.