Cybersecurity
How to Start a Career in Cybersecurity? | Tips on Cybersecurity Career Paths
June 7, 2020 | By Parag
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Cyberattacks are happening worldwide, and 15k Websites in total are hacked every day, meaning that keeping our private data safe and secure is more critical than ever.
India is the second most country that is affected by cyberattacks, according to a DSCI report. The COVID-19 pandemic, not only affected human but also led hackers to put a new twist on attacks that already exists, thereby affecting the businesses across nations. Remote working (WorkFromHome) has turned out to be a necessity for every individual in the company. In such a crucial situation, the role of cybersecurity will gain greater pull in the post-COVID-19 era, making a career in this field more feasible. Also, here is a shortage of people in this field, so learning about cybersecurity can have enormous payoffs for your job. So In this post, I’ll cover how a beginner can start his/her career in the cybersecurity field.
So let’s jump into it.
WHAT IS CYBERSECURITY?
According to Cisco, Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks. It’s also known as information technology security. Organizations transmit sensitive data across networks and cybersecurity safeguards by protecting that information and the systems used to process or store it.
IS A COLLEGE DEGREE NECESSARY FOR CYBERSECURITY?
There are various paths on how you can start your career in cybersecurity. Some people start with an undergraduate degree in IT/Computer Science. But having a degree in cybersecurity is like having a ticket to get into the train :-). And if you have a degree/experience in information security, the options are plentiful and distinct. Also, after obtaining an undergraduate degree and gaining experience in this field, a master’s degree is the next step towards expanding your career opportunities in the cybersecurity field. Most of the people I’ve met in this field are self-taught.
WHAT ARE THE BASIC TECHNICAL SKILLS REQUIRED IN CYBERSECURITY?
1] Programming Knowledge:
Coding skills are not mandatory for all types of cybersecurity job roles unless and until they are technical. For example, a Security Analyst, Security Engineer, Ethical Hacker, Penetration Tester, etc. would require programming skills such as C, C++, PHP, Perl, Java, Shell, JavaScript, etc. for them to understand the backend of a system better.
A basic understanding of programming languages is critical for any cybersecurity expert. These help to gauge the possibility of attacks on the system and to develop the counter-measures accordingly. Programming knowledge not only equips them to fight against the threats but also helps to generate more concrete contingency plans in the future.
2] Operating Systems & Database Management:
For beginners, you need to understand the system architecture, administration, and management of operating systems (various Linux distros, Windows, etc.), networking. This is an addition to the general programming/software development concepts and software analytics skills.
3] Networking:
A network is a group of computers or devices that are connected to share information and resources. Learning this will help you to know how a network works; also, it will help you to write your own payloads and discover system vulnerabilities. Computer Networking is one of the essential skills in the cybersecurity field
4] Others: (Optional)
- System/network configuration
- TCP/IP
- Routing and switching
- Network protocols and packet analysis tools
- Firewall and intrusion detection/prevention protocols
- Proxy Server knowledge
- VPNs
To gain more knowledge and experience in this domain, you can start collaborating with a mentor or invest in self-directed learning and guided training.
WHAT ARE THE CAREERS IN CYBERSECURITY?
Since this field is vast, there are various paths when it comes to how to get into cybersecurity for beginners. Below are some common roles:
Note: Titles can vary from company to company.
Cybersecurity Analyst:
A Cybersecurity Analyst is a professional who works to protect and secure an organization’s computer system, data, and network. They investigate security breaches and prepare reports about the vulnerabilities or threats.
Cybersecurity Trainer:
A Cybersecurity Trainer is a professional who educates the students/government employees/military officers on Information Security, Ethical Hacking, Secure Coding to handle all types of vulnerabilities at the coding level, etc.
Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Tester (VAPT):
VAPT Analyst is a professional who provides a detailed report of the critical flaws that exist in an application. Also, they exploit the vulnerabilities in the system to determine/test whether unauthorized access or other malicious activity is possible or not.
Bug Bounty Hunter:
A bug bounty hunter is an individual [Ethical Hackers/White Hat Hackers] who find the security flaws in an application/system and reports them via software/bug bounty programs.
Network Security Engineer:
A Network security engineer is a professional who is responsible for the implementation, maintenance, and integration of the corporate WAN, LAN and server architecture. Also, they are responsible for many other different tasks on the IT spectrum.
Cloud Security Engineer:
A Cloud Security Engineer is a professional who is responsible for providing security for cloud-based digital platforms to protect their organization’s data. Also, they are responsible for analyzing existing cloud structures and creating new and enhanced security methods.
Penetration Tester:
A Penetration Tester is a professional who attempts to find and exploit vulnerabilities in a computer system. Also, they are responsible for identifying any weak spots in a system’s defences, which attackers could take advantage of.
Malware/Forensics Analyst:
A Malware/Forensics Analyst is a professional who examines, identifies, and understands the nature of cyber-threats such as viruses, worms, bots, rootkits, Trojan horses, Memory dumps, etc.
Security Auditor:
A Security Auditor is a professional who audits the security systems used by the company/individuals and provides them with a detailed report of information systems.
Cybersecurity Engineer:
A Cybersecurity Engineer is a professional who creates and executes secure network solutions that provide security against cyber-attacks, hackers, etc. They safeguard the sensitive data of business from hackers and cyber-criminals.
WHAT ARE THE TOP-RATED CERTIFICATIONS IN CYBERSECURITY?
To land an excellent job in cybersecurity, you need an industry certification in a specific area that you are interested in. Some of the most popular certifications along with the levels are:
Beginner:
- CompTIA Security+ by Simplilearn
Intermediate:
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) by EC-Council
Advance:
- EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA) by EC-Council
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) by Simplilearn
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) by Simplilearn
- Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) by Red Hat
Expert:
- Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) by Offensive Security
- Offensive Security Certified Expert (OSCE) by Offensive Security
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) by Simplilearn
- Advanced Web Attacks and Exploitation (AWAE) by Offensive Security
- Offensive Security Wireless Professional (OSWP) by Offensive Security
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SUMMARY:
If you’re really interested in cybersecurity and always curious about getting started, don’t let your education or background determine your career path or limit your options. As long as you have an interest and desire to learn, you’re on the right track. Once you start to develop your skills and begin to build a network of people, trust me, the opportunities will come.
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