Cybersecurity is more in demand than ever as companies rely more on cloud technology. Here are the top cybersecurity skills you should learn to be invaluable in the workplace.
For those planning to embark on a new career or simply to expand their skill set, look no further than cybersecurity. A new report from Atlas VPN found that demand for cloud security will increase about 115% in the next five years. The report also stated that cloud expertise commands the highest salary.
A range of job opportunities await in cloud technology, so which skills should you learn? We broke down some of the top cybersecurity skills you need to stand out in 2021, plus where to get cybersecurity training to upskill or reskill.
Why Is Cybersecurity Important?
There was a time when antivirus software and simple firewalls were adequate security measures for organizations. However, the past 10 years have driven the usage of cloud services, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), for storing sensitive information and personal data. Unfortunately, this also encourages more bad players to try and get their hands on this critical information
The INTERPOL reported a 300% increase in cybercrime since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and no one has been immune to hackers. In the past couple of years, even large tech corporations such as Facebook and LinkedIn have faced significant data breaches that compromised the accounts of hundreds of millions of users. As a result, the need to protect critical and sensitive information has become more important than ever.
COVID has made companies even more reliant on cloud technology at an unprecedented rate. Remote work and eCommerce mean that more companies need to safeguard their data. In fact, Gartner predicts that cybersecurity spending will reach $170 billion by 2022, which is an 8% increase in just one year. As such, trained professionals to fill this need are in demand.
Cybersecurity Skills Shortage in 2021
As the number of cybersecurity professions increases, the market faces a critical skill shortage. According to ISACA’s State of Cybersecurity 2021, over 55% of more than 3,600 cybersecurity professionals said they currently had unfulfilled positions at their companies. The majority of the respondents also stated that hands-on cybersecurity experience was one of the main factors considered when filling a role.
Based on these market trends, applicants can enhance their resumes with targeted in-demand skills. These skills and experience can be obtained with proper training.
Many companies now offer programs that enable students to gain in-demand skills to take with them on the job market. For example, ISACA’s CSX programs allow students to increase their technical skills. Likewise, the Fortinet Training Advancement Agenda (or TAA) offers free training that provides students with a leg up and enables them to learn valuable cybersecurity skills. SANS offers more than 60 courses that teach various aspects of cybersecurity.
Those who want to upskill or re-skill in cybersecurity have several options to choose from.
Fastest-Growing Cybersecurity Skills to Learn in 2021
While cybersecurity jobs are in demand, not every cybersecurity skill is in demand. Some of the top growing areas that you should consider learning to encourage career growth include:
Application Development Security
Application development security is rising faster than other cybersecurity skills. In fact, one recent study found that it should increase by 164% over the next five years. Training in application development security will enable you to strengthen app defenses. You learn to identify and fix vulnerabilities, usually during the development phase before the application goes into production.
Cloud Security
Maintaining cloud security means understanding the foundational principles and industry standards to design, implement, deliver, and manage security for cloud-based services. With cloud security training, learners are taught how to safeguard mission-critical applications and services.
Risk Management
The best way to handle a data breach is to stop it before it even starts. With cybersecurity risk management training, IT administrators learn how to perform risk assessments and the key principles that allow risk analysis and mitigation to keep data secure.
Threat Intelligence
Companies today are continuously bombarded by the increasingly advanced threats that malicious players develop and use. Threat intelligence concentrates on persistent and flexible human threats and finds ways to counter them. Those certified in threat intelligence have the know-how to help organizations build better security systems, respond to incidents more quickly, and more effectively hunt for threats.
Incident Response
Despite organizations’ best intentions, incidents can happen. Reacting quickly and efficiently is critical. Training teaches students the necessary skills to develop protection plans in case of an incident. Those in incident response can define processes for recovery procedures, find the right backup solution for saving company data, and devise ways to lower recovery times.
Compliance and Controls
Understanding industry standards and compliance issues is critical for security. It enables businesses to abide by regulations and legislation. Training in compliance and controls helps employees make sure their companies are not accidentally in violation.
Data Privacy and Security
Data privacy is no longer for the IT department alone. Considering that many data breaches are due to human error, cybersecurity privacy training empowers employees with the skills necessary to spot cyber threats such as phishing, malware, social engineering, and more.
Access Management
The access manager maintains control of user identities and oversees their access to enterprise resources and information. Access management serves to enforce who can access what within the organization through authorization, accounting, and authentication.
Security Strategy and Governance
Cybersecurity is not limited to IT. It also affects every aspect of a business. Security strategy and governance help align cybersecurity strategies with the overall business vision and innovation objectives.
Health Information Security
Healthcare cybersecurity requires stringent standards and regulations that must be met, particularly with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance. Those with the requisite training in health information security can navigate a challenging healthcare regulatory environment and keep patient data secure.
Cybersecurity offers exciting opportunities as the world increasingly relies on cloud technology. With the right training, employees can gain valuable skills to bring into the workforce. By learning these top cybersecurity skills, you can make yourself invaluable in 2021.