6 underrated skills in Cyber Security

The demand for trained, highly skilled Cyber Security professionals continues to rise, as businesses start to realise the importance of IT security and recognise the need to keep both their and their customer's information safe and out of the hands of potentials hackers.

The popularity of Cyber Security as a career has increased, partially driven by a ‘digital first’ way of working, fast-tracked by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Most companies now have an online presence, which means more businesses than ever are collecting, storing, and sharing customer and business information. 

Data is a valuable commodity (with some experts referring to this resource as being ‘the new oil’), and as such, it is easy to understand why companies are going to great lengths to take on professional Cyber Security experts, to implement and manage systems to keep their websites and data safe from fraudsters and hackers.  

In this article, we explore what Cyber Security is, explore some Cyber Security qualifications, and teach you how to begin a career in Cyber Security. 

View our full range of Cyber Security qualifications. 

What is Cyber Security?  

Cyber Security refers to the methods and systems individuals and organisations use to reduce the risk of a cyber-attack while keeping company data as safe and secure as possible. The core function of Cyber Security is to protect the devices used by an organisation (such as smartphones, laptops, and desktops) and services accessed both online and offline. 

As Cyber Security is a growing field, there are many specific areas within Cyber Security that professionals can specialise in.  

Cyber Security professionals need to have a broad understanding of IT security and the different techniques they can use to keep an organisation protected, including handling security incidents, reporting on potentially harmful activity, creating Security firewalls to keep networks safe, and implementing malware protection systems.  

Cyber Security professionals are expected to have practical knowledge of the following underrated Cyber Security skills:  

Digital forensics -Digital forensics involves sifting through data left on devices (such as computer hard drives) to investigate potential data breaches and other suspicious activity.  

Security applications development -Application Security specialists can develop apps and other systems that will keep systems safe and thwart hackers who are attempting to enter a company’s network.  

Analytics expertise -Analytics expertise can be highly useful for Cyber Security professionals, especially in terms of data aggregation for the analysis of Cyber Security threats.  

Cyber Security compliance -In Cyber Security, it’s important that the controls and measures you put in place to protect your company’s data stand up to scrutiny and meet current legislative guidance.  

Mobile Cyber Security -Just like computers, mobile devices can also be infiltrated by hackers looking to harvest data. Therefore, there is significant demand for professionals with expertise in mobile Cyber Security.  

Secure data management -Good data management skills are essential for Cyber Security as a large part of a Cyber Security professional’s job role relates to learning how to secure data safely within a company’s network.  

Cyber Security training courses 

There are many Cyber Security training courses available to help you gain the necessary skills to start a career in Cyber Security. Universities offer degrees and master’s degrees in Cyber Security, but this is not the only way of getting into a career in Cyber Security.  

IT and Cyber Security training courses from awarding bodies such as CompTIA and EC-Council are a great way to learn the fundamental Cyber Security Knowledge, skills, and techniques to earn the qualifications necessary for a career in Cyber Security. 

Many of these Cyber Security training courses can be completed online at your own pace and studying for your Cyber Security training qualifications online on a part-time basis means that you can continue to work while studying. 

We have developed a range of professional IT & Cyber Security packages for those new to IT and Cyber Security. These packages will help you gain the skills and certificates necessary to progress further into Cyber Security. 

These include: 

•    Cyber Security Fundamentals – For those new to both IT and Cyber Security. 
•    Cyber Security Professional with Recruitment Support – For those who want to work in the Cyber Security sector but lacking the entry-level IT certificates. 
•    Cyber Security Specialist with Recruitment Support – For those who want a training package that includes the EC-Council Certificate in Ethical Hacking.  

We also have a range of stand-alone Data Protection and Cyber Security training courses. 

These include: 

•    CEPAS Principles of GDPR 
•    NCSC & APMG Data Breach 
•    CompTIA CySA+ Cyber Security Analyst (CS0-002 Cyber Security Series) Certification 
•    EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Virtual Classroom 
•    CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-002 Cyber Security Series) Certification 
•    BCS Data Protection Foundation Certificate - Virtual Classroom 
•    BCS Data Protection Practitioner Certificate - Virtual Classroom 

How to begin a career in Cyber Security 

After gaining fundamental IT certifications and experience in this industry, undertaking a specific Cyber Security training course would help you take your existing IT knowledge and start to specialise in Cyber Security. You could apply for internships, work experience, or even apply to become an apprentice.  

Our Cyber Security Professional with Recruitment Support package is one of the best training programmes to help you gain the knowledge and certificates to embark on a career in Cyber Security. As you go through your training programme, you will study a range of CompTIA certifications, before undertaking the EC-Council Certificate in Ethical Hacking. 

You will also benefit from expert ‘Success Coaches’, who will be there to support you throughout your studies, as well as receiving guidance from our Recruitment Support team, who will help you CV support, undertake competency-based interviews, job interview preparation, coaching, soft skills, confidence building, and more! 

Find out how to become a Cyber Security specialist

Call us on +44 (0) 20 3198 7700 to speak to one of our Career Consultants today, to discuss your career goals or get started.