Cybersecurity & Beyond: Five Must Have Skill-sets for a Successful Future

CultureFitData Security

According to the Department of Defense, cybersecurity has become a critical priority for the government and homeland security.  The same can be said for any business that depends on data to contribute or run a company in order to survive a very precarious and possibly hostile business environment in the future. The enormous proliferation of cyber-attacks correlates with the combination in the increase in computing power and an increase in the use of computer systems and the internet.

The cyber attacker’s ability to steal, harm and create chaos is ever growing (and at a fast rate), and so are the number of targets that they can prey on. For this reason, people with cyber security skills are in very high demand, and there is a growing skills gap. This lack of experienced cybersecurity practitioners is leaving businesses across the world increasingly more vulnerable to digital threats.

The increased threat of cyber attacks is leading to a skills gap in cybersecurity positions.

According to Indeed.com over 30% of US jobs posted went unanswered. The lack of qualified manpower in the cybersecurity industry is likely to cause problems for companies, governments, and consumers alike. The demand for the specialized skill sets creates an opportunity for IT Professionals to increase their value,  compensation, and employment options by improving their knowledge and skillsets to gain a competitive advantage.

Here are 5 critical cybersecurity skills businesses across all industries are actively seeking:

#1. Security analysts

The skill set most in demand is the security analyst, who conducts the integration and testing, operation and maintenance of systems security. Security analyst possess significant, higher-order skills and have a deep understanding of all business systems, knowing what information an organization cannot afford to lose, and how to protect it. They are very proficient in cyber threat analysis and in identifying and assessing the capabilities and activities of cyber criminals or foreign intelligence entities.

#2. Intrusion detection

Intrusion detection allows organizations to locate potential hazardous activities that can undermine the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information. Without it, companies would be exposed to the growing digital threats that are prevalent throughout the world. As hackers become more dangerous, technology experts need to counter the risks by mastering all the different types of intrusion detection skills which include:

  • Physical detection: This category involves tracking any threats affecting physical systems.
  • Host-based detection: If there is any kind of illicit activity happening on a particular device, host-based detection is the best way to find out.
  • Host-based detection: If there is any kind of illicit activity happening on a particular device, host-based detection is the best way to find out.

#3. Risk Mitigation

This skill involves monitoring risks that have already been identified, discovering new ones, and assessing the risks in a project. To develop a proper risk mitigation plan, a tech expert should first create a process of actions that will effectively decrease threats to a project. They should then focus on developing their understanding of why data must be protected. Businesses also need to identify their priority assets and figure out which threats put them at risk. Once they realize how the information gets stored, and who gains access, they’ll be able to implement optimal data security measures in place.

#4. Security architects and investigators

Security architects define how security strategies, solutions and practices need to evolve to keep up with both the changing threat landscape as well the changing business environment, which is especially important in the new and emerging areas in mobility, cloud, big data, and other evolving areas. Security investigators are also becoming critical for companies looking to detect and respond to attacks in an ultra-quick fashion. Since attacks can come from multiple directions both inside and outside the enterprise, it takes highly skilled engineers to design comprehensive detection mechanisms, and analysts/investigators to sort through multiple sources of information to find the proverbial “needle in the haystack”.

Cyber security will remain a priority for years to come, it’s an opportunity for IT Professionals to gain a competitive edge.  And because these skills are in high demand, you can be rest assured there will be attractive pay to go along with the position! For more information about this field, or if you are a currently an expert in Cyber Security and looking for a new place to call home, talk to one of our IT Staffing Professionals here at CultureFit.