India’s digital framework has garnered global attention and is being actively adopted by multiple countries, strengthening its position as a leader in digital technology. Our digital economy is expected to grow more than five times and reach $1 trillion by 2030. However, as digitalization increases, cybercrime may also increase. The 2024 Thales Data Threat Report highlights a significant increase in cyber-attacks, with 42% of respondents citing ransomware and malware as the most important type of threat.
Unsurprisingly, cyber security continues to feature prominently among the top risks in the 2024 edition of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024. (Shutterstock)
Unsurprisingly, cyber security continues to feature prominently among the top risks in the 2024 edition of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024.
This has increased the demand for cybersecurity professionals to help make the digital ecosystem safe for everyone. If you’re aiming for a career in cybersecurity, here are some important skills to consider. Master these and you’ll become an expert in defending the digital frontier.
Knowledge of computer systems and networks
A strong defense against cyber attacks relies on a foundation of core technical skills. Cybersecurity professionals need a thorough understanding of operating systems, programming languages, IT networks, servers and endpoints, and security tools. Conceptual knowledge in these areas can help you find and understand security weaknesses, create a solid security plan, identify and implement appropriate security controls, and quickly address problems. For a successful career in cybersecurity, it is important to understand IT systems and be well versed in security standards to effectively protect your information assets.
Technical aptitude and problem-solving ability
The cyber threat landscape is continually evolving, with new threats surfacing daily. This requires security professionals to have strong analytical skills and critical thinking, with great attention to detail. These critical problem-solving skills, combined with technical knowledge and expertise, help security professionals analyze security threats and work quickly to mitigate them. It’s equally important to stay up to date with technology advances, attack methods and scam types, and the latest threats and vulnerabilities by reading security blogs, participating in online forums, and networking with security professionals. is.
communication skills
When designing and building applications and systems, you must balance user convenience and security. For example, two-factor authentication adds an additional step for users, but provides the security needed to ensure that only authorized users can access resources. Here, by combining technical capabilities with strong communication skills, experts articulate security risks, drive consensus and collaborate with cross-functional teams to devise effective responses. to effectively mitigate cyber threats. Security concepts need to be explained in simple terms to senior management who are likely to approve budgets and make decisions. Senior management may not be technical.
Cybersecurity has a wide range of diverse career paths, including security engineers, malware engineers, ethical hackers, cyber forensics, incident responders, and other technical roles that are front and center in all our activities. At the same time, there are strategic roles such as security consultants, cyber risk experts, and cyber security analysts who help with security assessments, policy development, and related guidance. Depending on your field of interest, you may be required to further strengthen your personal capabilities and develop your foundational skills. For example, if you are interested in ethical hacking, you must be able to identify weaknesses, put yourself in the attacker’s shoes, and understand how an attacker can gain unauthorized access to your data. Therefore, you should be proficient in operating systems, network security, and coding. They must also be able to inspect source code and scripts to fill in gaps that an attacker could exploit.
In addition to these skills, it is also important for cybersecurity professionals to stay up-to-date on legal and regulatory changes, compliance standards, and industry best practices. With the rise in cyber-attacks and data breaches, the security management environment is being shaped not only by organizational policies but also by government and regulatory mandates that require the adoption of security practices and the deployment of controls. With increasing digitalization, increased digital payment fraud, and potential service interruptions, businesses need cybersecurity experts. We believe this field offers promising careers across sectors.
(Author Abhishek Kumar is Chief Security Officer, Asia Pacific, Mastercard. The views expressed here are his own.)
