If you’re interested in working as a cyber security professional, you’ll need to learn technical skills. To give you an idea of what’s ahead of you in terms of education and training, here is a cyber security technical skills list.
Most, if not all, these nine skills can be learned by studying for a cyber security master’s degree, either online or with a university or college in your region. As well, you can pick up many of the skills through specialized online training courses, including university open-access courses.
IT and Networking
Cybersecurity experts need to have technical skills to defend computer system resources and networks against intrusions. For example, if they should locate and contain software vulnerabilities. Software engineers involved with cybersecurity need to understand scripting languages like PHP, Java, C, etc.
The ability to administer computer systems and networking systems, along with having the ability to adopt system controls for purposes of cybersecurity, are important. Knowing the best practices for configuring, diagnosing, and maintaining security tools is also beneficial for your career.
Ethical Hacking
Ethical hacking is an authorized attempt to access a computer, application, or data. Carrying out an ethical hack involves performing the same strategies and actions of malicious attackers. This practice aids in identifying security vulnerabilities that can be eliminated before a malicious attacker has the opportunity.
Cloud Security
You’ll need to understand cloud computing and the various vulnerabilities that come with it. To protect your data and not get breached, you must first understand the various cloud services. This includes knowing if a service is secure or not and if you can trust your information with that provider and create a secure environment on such a service.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning
It’s no secret that AI and machine learning is a growing field. It’s being used in almost every aspect of our lives and has the potential to reshape the world as we know it. When it comes to cyber security, artificial intelligence has a lot of potential uses in securing information.
From data mining to predictive analytics, AI is quickly becoming a large part of modern technology and something you’ll want to start investing in. Google’s experience with AI and machine learning upskilling has shown that, the earlier you start down this path, the better off you and your organization will be in the long run.
Blockchain Security
Blockchain has been called the “Internet of Value” because of its ability to provide secure, verifiable, and redundant data. Blockchain can provide identity authentication services and cryptographic protocols that allow for faster and automated business transactions.
As well as that, Blockchain’s inherently encrypted nature allows for trustless interactions across networks for a more efficient and secure exchange of information. The skills needed for Block chain include programming knowledge of such technologies as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Hyperledger.
Analytical Skill
Analytical ability is one of the most important skills needed for cyber security. As a cybersecurity professional, you’ll need to determine the strengths and weaknesses of different networks, data, and systems. Analytics includes quickly identifying the vulnerabilities within a system before it’s too late and preventing successful cyber-attacks.
Penetration Testing
Penetration testing is a critical aspect of an organization’s cyber defense plan. A penetration tester will search for weaknesses in networks and services by searching for known security vulnerabilities and new ones. Penetration testing allows you to identify things that need to be fixed or enhanced before facing a crisis.
Digital Forensics
Digital forensics involves the collection, analysis, preservation, and investigation of digital evidence. The discipline is used to analyze and interpret a wide variety of data, including computer files, media files, mobile devices, networks, messages, and data.
Risk Assessment
A risk assessment is a systematic approach to identifying and prioritizing risks to an organization’s assets. A risk assessment aims to determine what operational, security, and business risks are posed to the organization. Risks are posed by external factors as well as internal factors, including people, processes, and technology.