As a growing industry, the cybersecurity field has many job openings. However, interested candidates find it hard to land one of these jobs. Why is that? What skills do you need to get a cybersecurity position?
The Dilemma
Organizations looking for cybersecurity professionals are often looking for individuals who already have 3-5 years of experience. This is because they most likely do not have the funds – or are simply unwilling – to provide training for a brand-new security professional. As a result, individuals with no experience in cybersecurity but want to shift into this industry are often rejected.
Meanwhile, individuals with no experience are unable to get the needed security experience because organizations are not hiring them. As a result, with no one willing to hire them, people new to the industry are unable to gain the experience they need.
In-Demand Skills
What can you do to appeal to potential employers? What are employers looking for when hiring for cybersecurity? Here are five of the most in-demand skills in cybersecurity you can focus on to impress recruiters and potential employers.
1. Application Development Security
According to a report by Burning Glass Technologies, the cybersecurity skill that is currently in most demand is application development security. Burning Glass Technologies expects the demand for skill to increase by 164% in the next 5 years.
Application development security is a skill where experts search and patch flaws in applications to improve the security during the development phase. This is because incorporating safety measures and programs inside a developing application is necessary to building a secure application and software.
Application development security is a difficult task because you must consider all aspects of the application while incorporation the security portion of the app. Additionally, the security of the application must be evaluated throughout the entire software development cycle. This will ensure the security of the application’s final product.
Application development security is a necessary skill for several occupations in cybersecurity. Positions that need this skill include the following:
- Software developer
- Cybersecurity engineer
- System engineer
- DevOps engineer
- Network architect
2. Cloud Security
Cloud security is another rapidly growing skill that organizations desire. In Burning Glass Technologies report, cloud security is projected to grow by 115% in five years.
Cloud security uses technologies and measures to prevent online data breaches and leaks. These days, more organizations are using the Cloud to store information. Therefore, security measures that protect cloud computing infrastructure is crucial to the safety of the organization.
These security measures must consider both internal and external cyber threats. The need for cloud security experts will only continue to grow with the increase of cloud-based technology and storage. Furthermore, organizations need to ready themselves for the advancement of hacker’s tools and technology – which is why they need to employ cloud security experts.
Positions that deal with cloud security include:
- Software developer
- Cybersecurity consultant
- Cloud architect
- System engineer
- Cybersecurity engineer
3. Risk Management & Assessment
The third quickest-growing cybersecurity skill needed is risk management and assessment. The demand for risk management in cybersecurity is expected to increase by 60% in the next five years.
Cybersecurity risk management professionals analyze data and information to determine the risk an organization is facing. As a result, they can formulate a plan to minimize the risk and how to address the risk.
Cybersecurity risk management also needs a variety of knowledge of the cybersecurity industry. They need to be familiar with cyber threats and how to address these cyber threats. This includes – but is not limited to – ransomware, malware, and phishing. They also work closely with business stakeholders and leaders to identify the threats and create a response plan to address the risks.
The following positions in cybersecurity require the expertise of risk management skills:
- Cybersecurity analyst
- System engineer
- Cybersecurity manager
- Network architect
- Cybersecurity engineer
4. Threat Intelligence & Digital Forensics
Threat intelligence, or digital forensics, is the next top-growing cybersecurity skills. It has a growth rate of 41% in the next five years.
Threat intelligence, much like risk management, analyzes data in an organization for potential threats. However, unlike with risk management, professionals in threat intelligence do not necessarily need to create a response and management plan regarding the cyber threat.
With threat intelligence, professionals mitigate cyber attacks by understanding the intent and resources of the cyber threat. An organization can also use threat intelligence data to assess intent of the cyber attack and make an effective and informed security decision. For example, one common form of threat intelligence in action is penetration testing.
Professions that use threat intelligence include:
- Cybersecurity analyst
- Security intelligence analyst
- Vulnerability analyst
- Cybersecurity engineer
- Software developer
5. Incident Response
Lastly, incident response is the fifth fastest-growing cybersecurity skill, and it is expected to grow by 37% in the next 5 years.
Incident response is the process an organization handles a data or cyber breach. This skill is often used in conjunction with risk management and threat intelligence. Additionally, incident response is a crucial skill in dealing with a data or cyber breach after it occurs. It also helps minimize damage and cleans up the harm caused to the organization.
Cybersecurity professions that use incident response skills include:
- Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) Manager
- Cybersecurity manager
- Cybersecurity engineer
- Cybersecurity consultant
Conclusion
Many cybersecurity professions require more than one of these skills, so you should build and improve multiple cybersecurity skills show your competence in the cybersecurity field.
In our next blog, we will discuss what cybersecurity certifications you can get to prove your practical skills. These certifications will also demonstrate your practical skill despite having zero years of work experience in the cybersecurity industry.
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