How can you meet the key skills and competencies that cybersecurity employers want?

Rather than trying to learn everything, especially if people are just starting out, they’d have more success picking one area and learn as much as possible within that realm. This will make it easier to have a good starting point—a foothold that people can leverage to start their journey into the field. After that, it becomes a matter of keeping up with the latest tools and techniques, as well as pursuing independent research and continuous learning, which is paramount to be successful.

To meet the key skills and competencies sought by cybersecurity employers, one should focus on technical proficiency in areas like network security, SOC operations (SIEM, EDR, DLP) and ethical hacking. Develop a deep understanding of operating systems, programming languages, and cloud platforms. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential for collaboration and conveying complex concepts. Lastly, maintain certifications such as CEH, or CompTIA Security+ to validate expertise. Continuous learning, practical experience, and a commitment to ethical practices are key to success in cybersecurity.

Certifications prepare you for a test, not necessarily how things work or what maybe the best path forward. As such certifications do not equate skill or knowledge. Knowledge equates putting theory into practice. Proficiency is how readily you can consistently apply that knowledge and streamline it. The only way to improve this is by doing.

I think people need to stop focusing on Cyber Security and remember that if you’re going to be serious you need strong Computer Science and Programming fundamentals that transcend any new shiny toy. We are creating little script kiddies by handing tools to people who don’t understand them which is why I am not a huge fan of CyberSecurity going mainstream and being sifted out of the reality that you need to know how computers work.. For real, at a low and high level, to progress and become a respected Vulnerability Researcher..

Never underestimate skills like technical writing, public speaking, and Agile development to an Engineer; simplifing concepts, explaining technical concepts in terms of business benefit, and other aspects of generally good communication assist the ability to clarify needs as to why certain choices are critical to put in place.

Interpersonnel skills are essential, you will work with a range of professions from engineers to admin staff up to managing directors. It is cruicial that you are capable of being able to effectivly communicate between these groups. Additionally problem solving skills are something I would look for. The obvious path is often not always the correct one and sometimes we need to consider new and unique ways to solve a particular issue.

The best way for me to learn is to be involved with others who share the same passion. This can relate to a specific product or an incident that both parties have experience with in their jobs. By being involved, you always stay aware and maintain communication with others, which can provide you with valuable information for your professional life. These relationships often form when we share a passion or a specific experience.

For OT soft skills apply to documentation for regulatory and legal aspects of the job that affect critical infrastructure. It’s extremely important to have negotiating skills. Often in OT cybersecurity you will be deconflicting IT security controls that don’t work in OT. You will be negotiating between IT and operations, and government entities.

A well-rounded security professional goes beyond being a subject matter expert. They possess the ability to communicate complex technical security concepts clearly to risk and business managers. These managers play a crucial role in translating security into actionable strategies for the organization. In addition, a comprehensive security professional understands the value of investing in people, tools, and processes to fortify an organization's security posture.

Businesses today require cybersecurity professionals who can understand the goals, needs, and challenges specific to different organizations and industries. It is essential to recognize how cybersecurity aligns with and supports these objectives. This holistic approach ensures that cybersecurity measures are not just implemented for the sake of compliance, but rather as strategic enablers for overall business success🌟

One of the primary skills I believe employers look for in terms of work is strong technical skills in network security, encryption, and coding (Python), alongside risk management expertise. The combination of those work-related skills with adept problem-solving, commitment to continuous learning, and ethical approach bolster a candidate's capabilities. Effective communication, collaboration, attention to detail, and adaptability further enhance a candidate's suitability for addressing cybersecurity challenges. The pooling of these attributes makes a candidate stand out compared to others

One thing to be successful in technology in any field is to constantly being willing to change and learn new things and ways of doing things. Being in a single role and single job function to long will be the kiss of death to anyone in a technology field.

One valuable suggestion is to apply your knowledge by actively engaging in real-world projects, both within and outside of your workplace. Collaborating with other security professionals on these projects, such as contributing to an OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) project, can provide valuable insights and experiences that contribute to your growth in the field.

To avoid burnout, create a study plan according to your career objective, use William Glasser's pyramid and Pomodoro techniques that can help you focus on your studies.

If you do not keep up independent learning you will quickly fall behind in this industry. Advisories are intellegent and resourceful, new threats emerge every minute, it is important to maintain an understanding of the current landscape.

In the realm of security, there are three critical levels of learning: theoretical understanding, practical application, and mentorship and mastery. Simply having theoretical knowledge is insufficient; one must actively apply security principles in real-world projects to solidify skills. Mastery involves mentoring others and being open to learning about emerging technologies like cloud, AI, and blockchain to effectively address evolving security challenges. Basic security certifications alone do not qualify as a professional capable of handling complex security tasks. Continuous learning and adaptability are keys to mastering security.

Like most things in IT, you never stop learning so yeah it's important to have a passion for it. Pay attention to the areas that interest you and go from there. Certs are nice (albeit expensive) to haves but showing a deep understanding of a subject gets a lot easier when it's something you enjoyed through a home lab. Many software vendors have free trials (Splunk I.E.) and there are always OSS options for many platforms. Smaller companies use these and you might just get an in to start your new career.

I think learning is the key to enhancements and growth, the field of cybersecurity is continuously evolving with new technologies and methodoligies coming in , I believe to attract new employers your resume should potray continuous learning skills with couple of in demand certifications and trainings and adaptability to new technologies

I have come to understand that adaptability is crucial to cybersecurity success. My technical, soft, business, and learning skills have all been required, but I can adapt to changes in the landscape that has been the most important to my career. I have also gained an understanding of global geopolitics and its relation to cybersecurity, allowing me better to appreciate different threat actors' motivations and origins. Additionally, my proactive approach to anticipating and acting on vulnerabilities before they become a problem has been instrumental in my career.

1. Threat Intelligence and Analysis: Understand current threat landscapes, attacker methodologies, and predict future risks 2. Incident Response and Management: Handle security incidents promptly and effectively 3. Cloud Security Proficiency: Expertise in securing cloud environments 4. Security Automation and Orchestration: Automate tasks using scripting languages 5. Regulatory Compliance and Frameworks: Adhere to industry-specific regulations 6. Advanced Cryptography: Stay updated on encryption algorithms and secure communication protocols 7. Soft Skills: Effective communication, teamwork, and conveying complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders 8. Continuous Learning and Adaptability: Commit to lifelong learning and certifications

Following your passion is crucial. If you find that security is a requirement imposed by your boss, and you don't feel engaged or enthusiastic about it, it may not be your ideal path. However, if you come across an opportunity to work on a challenging security project that aligns with your interests and the project's goals, it can be a fantastic chance to dive deeper into security and potentially transition into a career in cybersecurity. Passion and genuine interest often drive the most successful and fulfilling career choices.

Yes, the field of Cybersecurity is highly lucrative and financially rewarding. However, to be very successful in this field, as applies to virtually every other field, one first needs to be passionate about it. Financial reward should not be the number one motivation. Passion is the only quality that can truly motivate anyone to keep pace with the never-ending study requirements that the field demands. This it itself, is the direct consequence of the speed with which new technologies get introduced into the market. Good enough, sources of good quality and reliable information are freely available on the Internet today.

You must always way your skills and experience against what people are willing to pay for. Regularly put your resume out to find out how much interest there is in what you bring to the marketplace. If it doesn’t pay to keep doing what you are doing, jump ship to another company that offers support towards increasing your value. Even if it means walking away from your current career.