There’s no one-size-fits-all path to a successful career in cybersecurity. Some tech professionals pursue undergraduate degrees in cyber security, while others take the alternative route by attending boot camps or transitioning from other IT roles. Regardless of your educational path, a sturdy set of technical skills is essential. Here are some ways to sharpen these skills and stand out in the field:
Stay Up-to-Date
As cybersecurity evolves, professionals must stay current with the latest trends and technologies. They can do this by reading industry publications and attending cybersecurity conferences. Additionally, it’s important to continue your education by earning an MBA Cybersecurity. Even for those without a technical background, many necessary skills can be picked up on the job through entry-level cybersecurity roles focusing on analysis and policy. Additionally, online programs are a quick and affordable way to acquire the practical tech skills needed for success in this field. As a career path, cybersecurity is challenging but rewarding for those with the right mindset and tools. This industry requires much work and dedication to thrive, like getting in shape. However, with the proper guidance and motivation, anyone can become a cybersecurity professional.
Work on Your Soft Skills
Many cybersecurity professionals start their careers with entry-level jobs in security operations centers (SOCs), which provide a good opportunity to work on soft skills and gain professional experience. It also helps them pass certification exams to advance in their career. Developing good written and verbal communication skills is essential for cybersecurity workers because they frequently interact with stakeholders who may require more or no technical expertise. They must explain complex issues in ways everyone can understand and effectively collaborate with other team members to solve problems.
Many cybersecurity experts pursue a specific aspect of the field, such as threat research or penetration testing (pen testing), and focus on becoming experts in those areas. Others, such as former journalists, have a unique skill set that can be helpful for the field; they’re used to digging for facts and writing clearly about them. Other professionals have military or law enforcement backgrounds that can be beneficial in a cybersecurity role as well.
Get a Certification
It’s a good idea to earn cybersecurity certifications. Not only will these demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to the industry, but they can also boost your salary potential. Before deciding which certification to pursue, consider your goals and ideal career path. Do you want to work on the frontlines of cyber defenses, such as a penetration tester? Or do you prefer to be on the offensive, preventing future attacks? Choosing vendor-neutral certifications is a good idea. These are broad, industry-standard credentials. However, you should pursue more specialized certifications as well. These can be great stepping stones toward more specific roles, such as security engineer or digital forensic analyst. Alternatively, you can start at an entry-level IT job with hands-on experience administering IT systems. These roles can be the perfect gateway into cybersecurity. Before pursuing certifications, many new cybersecurity professionals gain experience through internships and volunteer opportunities.
Get Real-World Experience
The field of cyber security is evolving at a breakneck pace. To stay ahead of the curve, you need real-world experience. Volunteering or working on freelance projects will allow you to demonstrate your skills in a highly competitive environment and help prepare you for professional certification exams. It would help if you also tried to attend hackathons time-constrained events where cyber security enthusiasts compete to solve a particular problem.
Getting entry-level positions like help desk technician or junior information security analyst is one way to get started in the industry. However, it’s also possible to transition from other technical fields, like computer science or IT, into cybersecurity if you have the right background and work on your skills. Then, you can move into more advanced roles, like a penetration tester or ethical hacker. You can even advance to a managerial position where you’ll build and manage cyber teams and design security policies.
