Cybersecurity risks and threats have grown in tandem with technological development. There is a pressing need to fill the shortfall of cyber expertise and close the cybersecurity skill gap as the frequency and severity of cyber attacks continue to rise.
This post is excellent for anyone who wishes to learn more about cybersecurity and pursue a career in the same. We’ve compiled a list of the top cybersecurity talents employers are looking for in 2022, so you can get a head start on your career.
Introduction to Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is the practice of preventing and responding to attacks on computer systems, networks, data storage devices, and mobile devices.
In addition to affecting the global economy, the proliferation of the COVID-19 coronavirus led to a manifold increase in cyberattacks. The workers shifted from corporate IPs to home or shared Wi-Fi networks, exposing them to cyber dangers as more and more organizations opt for the Work From Home model to prevent the spread of the virus.
Hackers took advantage of the widespread panic over the pandemic and the subsequent shift to home and remote office work to further their cybercrime campaigns and exploit unsuspecting citizens, governments, and businesses.
As the number and sophistication of cyber attacks continue to grow, IT professionals and businesses will need to make significant adjustments to their current cybersecurity strategies to maintain an acceptable level of protection. As the prevalence of cyber threats increases, so does the demand for trained cybersecurity experts. Students and aspirants can pursue the best cybersecurity courses to become trained and skilled.
Potential Cybersecurity Issues in 2022
Cybersecurity Ventures estimates that by 2025, annual damage from cybercrime will reach $10.5 trillion, up from $6 trillion in 2021. Since cybercrime continues to pose the most significant risk to businesses worldwide in 2022, it’s essential to analyze the most pressing cybersecurity issues of the year.
A. Phishing
Phishing is a technique of social engineering in which specific individuals are lured into disclosing personal information through the transmission of digital messages designed to look like they came from a trustworthy source.
B. Cryptojacking
The term “cryptojacking” describes the illegal practice of bitcoin miners using victims’ computers without their knowledge or permission. Since bitcoin mining needs so much computational power, hackers often do it by using the devices of unsuspecting victims. It may cause your computer to run more slowly and compromise safety.
C. Deep Fakes
Digital thieves can utilize AI to create fake images and audio files, known as “deep fakes,” which can then be used in their malicious endeavors. To make this type of video, the video’s audio or visuals are manipulated in some way, usually to replace a person’s face.
D. Attacks on IoT Devices
The IoT keeps us linked at home or in the office. Everything, from computers and mobile devices to cameras and routers to smartwatches and home appliances to autos and security systems, are all examples of things connected to the IoT. If hackers gain access to these, confidential information may be compromised.
E. Attacks Using Ransomware
Hackers access the victim’s computer and lock them out in a ransomware assault. The infected system is unlocked if the victim pays the hackers a ransom. Cybercriminals increasingly use technologies to retrieve a company’s records and demand payment in exchange for granting access to them. Ransomware attacks cost victims staggering amounts every year.
Top Cybersecurity Competencies for the Year 2022
Technical proficiency is essential if you want to enhance your career in cybersecurity. Completing an excellent cyber security course can help you achieve competency in cyber security. Let’s go through the cyber security competencies for the year 2022:
Increasing Safety in Applications
Having security personnel well-versed in DevSecOps principles and collaborating effectively with software development engineering teams is essential for modern businesses. To catch more glimpses, aspirants can check cybersecurity courses.
On the commercial side, businesses need cloud security experts who are familiar with the terms of their shared responsibility agreements with the vendors from whom they purchase cloud services, in particular, the words about the vendor’s responsibility for the cloud service provider’s data security. Professionals with experience operating powerful platforms like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform are in high demand.
Intelligence Examination of Potential Dangers
There is no shortage of threat intelligence tools, but experts who can interpret their data and spot emerging patterns in security threats are hard to find. It’s difficult for businesses to locate employees with this skill, and it’s even more challenging to train them. To succeed in this role, you’ll need to be highly analytical, curious, and able to work under intense pressure.
Digital forensics analysis is a specialty of threat intelligence professionals. Commonly, they can code, and typically in Python. Those interested in the security field can gain valuable experience in this area by joining incident response teams, where many of the skills learned here are used. Threat experts familiar with the challenges facing machine learning and AI settings are also in high demand.
Red Teaming/Pen Testing
Those skilled in penetration testing and red teaming are professionals in offensive security, able to get inside businesses and identify vulnerabilities and recommend solutions. This is a field where employers have a hard difficulty filling positions since performing them requires extensive education and expertise.
Some of the most excellent pen testers assume they can break into any system. It demands a high degree of self-assurance and bravery and a high level of expertise acquired through formal education, on-the-job training, and relevant seminars and workshops. The demand for “blue teamers,” or defenders, has also surged.
Safety for the Network
Everyone working in security needs to be familiar with network security fundamentals. For this reason—that the foundations of security stem from familiarity with how networks function—many top security professionals have a background in network security. You can’t defend networks if you haven’t learned the basics of intrusion detection and prevention.
This includes knowing how routers function, reading firewall logs, and understanding what they indicate. Some people believe that those interested in security should begin their careers in computer assistance or network administration and gradually move into more security-related roles.
Managing Identities and Permissions
Over 80% of all security incidents result from weak, repeated, or otherwise compromised passwords. Having the ability to communicate effectively is crucial once again. Companies need security experts who can educate employees on the risks they face and show them how to mitigate them by switching to passwordless solutions like Google Authenticator, Authy, fingerprint readers, and retina scanners.
Organizations also require personnel with expertise in identity and access management, specifically in network privilege setting and management. They look for candidates who have certifications from the best cybersecurity courses. In this field, experts need to establish who has access to what data and what permissions based on each worker’s specific job description.
Cloud Computing
It may be accessed from a mobile device. Now, there is a talent that some may say deserves a higher ranking. The best cyber security courses can help the new skill to get hands-on experience. During the COVID-19 work-from-home phase in 2020, security teams likely spent most of their efforts deploying VPNs and administering Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) servers so remote workers could access corporate applications from home.
Companies generally accept hybrid work circumstances, even if there is some light at the end of the tunnel now that more people have been vaccinated and life has returned to an average pace. Since many businesses have seen success with the work-from-home model, security teams will always require individuals with knowledge of managing VPNs and RDP servers and working with individuals to segment their home networks for increased protection.
Conclusion
The cybersecurity market is poised for rapid expansion, which might provide you with excellent job prospects. The cybersecurity industry still needs trained individuals and specialists, making this a great moment to enter the field. You can avail yourself of the learning opportunities through the best cyber security courses.
In addition, it’s a field that never dies out. Hackers will continue to use the internet unethically as long as more people use it for legitimate purposes. Because of the growing number of cyberattacks and widespread internet adoption, the demand for cybersecurity professionals is expected to remain indefinitely. This bodes well for the future of your chosen field.
