What to Expect in Your Cybersecurity Job

If you are considering a career in cybersecurity, you may be wondering what a typical day in the life of a cybersecurity professional is like. The good news is that the term ‘cybersecurity’ actually covers a wide range of job functions, all with diverse requirements, so there’s a good chance that you can find the one that best matches your interests and abilities.

In general, cybersecurity professionals protect sensitive data from exposure. However, there are a number of diverse positions within this larger function, with different responsibilities that can appeal to different personalities and/or interests.

For example, the Cybersecurity Workforce Framework created by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) established seven different roles that are related to cybersecurity functions. These range from ‘securely provision’ (build a secure network or system) to ‘operate and maintain’ (ensure security in daily operations); to ‘incident response’ - the high pressure, emergency response team that works to minimize damage while a cyber event is occurring.

Each of these roles requires a different skill set and a different type of daily life for the person in the job.

• A person who securely provisions is an architect, detail-oriented and willing to invest time into testing and quality assurance. Their days would be measured, and planned, requiring more interactions and communications with various other departments in the organization. 
• In contrast, an incident response professional must be calm under pressure, willing to work around the clock under stress and intense scrutiny to minimize damage during a breach or event. Their days are spent in analytics and testing until an incident occurs - at which point the pressure to respond is on.

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Universal Requirements.

At the same time, there are some skills that are required of all cybersecurity jobs. A candidate for these positions should possess:

Technical skills including operating systems, networking, cloud and virtualization are all key to a career in cybersecurity. Knowledge of the basic programming languages is important as well, as are development and analytical skills. Most importantly, a successful cybersecurity professional should have a deep understanding of technical systems, and the ability to pick up new skills as necessary. This may include a degree in IT/CS, or participation in a training, bootcamp, or certification program.

 

While technical expertise can be demonstrated with a certification or skills test, critical thinking is harder to quantify. However, it can be equally as important to cybersecurity success as technical skills – creating a foundation for analysis and judgment that can be applied to a number of different situations; from development to management, detection to prevention.

 

Project management skills help a cybersecurity team to ensure a streamlined process, timely deliverables, and swift resolution of any problems or issues that arise. A solid footing in project management keeps cybersecurity on track and aligned with organizational strategy.

 

Related Reading: 5 Candidate Traits Employers Look for

While the idea persists that soft skills are unimportant in technical jobs, the reality is that cybersecurity professionals must operate within an organizational structure. A candidate with strong communication and leadership skills, balanced with technical proficiency, is well-placed for a successful career in cybersecurity.

 

In cybersecurity, threats are continuously evolving, as malicious actors take advantage of new opportunities to breach system security. Because of this, it is critical that a cybersecurity professional be committed to continuous learning, keeping skills up to date to successfully address ever-more sophisticated attacks.