Do You Want To Know Why More And More People Are Entering The Cyber Security Expert Field?
The first question that’s always asked is, “What exactly is a cyber security expert?” Cyber security (also known as Internet security, informatics security, IT security, or computer security) is a branch of computer technology designed to protect information from unauthorized access, modification, disclosure, disruption, or destruction.
If you’re the perceptive type, you might be asking yourself whether there is room for growth within the cyber security area. The answer: Definitely!
There are more than 355,000 open cyber security expert job postings as of April 2016 and this figure doesn’t include jobs that have not been posted yet. The need for cyber security experts will only continue to grow in the coming years with industry analysts projecting a 22 percent growth in jobs by 2022.
Cyber security is a rapidly growing field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this field is expected to increase by 18 percent between 2016 and 2026 (www.bls.gov). A cyber security expert is someone who uses knowledge of both technology and people to protect computer systems and their users from unauthorized access, modification, or destruction. Cyber security experts may work in technical roles, such as computer programmers or system analysts, or they may work with people to secure computer networks and other systems.
Cyber Security Expert Job Description
A cyber security expert may work as an independent consultant or for a company as part of an internal team or department. A cyber security expert’s job description will vary depending on the nature of his employment. In general, they will:
1. Monitor Online Activity for Signs of Intrusion into Networked Computers, and Devices
Monitor online activity for signs of intrusion into networked computers and devices.
Monitoring network traffic is the most common way to detect a breach. However, many organizations are not adequately monitoring their networks. Only half of all organizations say they monitor their networks to identify when an unauthorized device has been added (51%), while only a third monitor internet-facing ports (36%) or detect unauthorized application commands (33%).
Organizations also lack visibility into all types of web applications that are being accessed on their networks. While nearly all organizations (93%) monitor web applications that are directly accessible from their internal networks, fewer than half monitor web applications accessed remotely via cloud services (44%) or mobile apps (40%).
Basic Cyber Security Tools
While most organizations have implemented basic security tools such as firewalls and intrusion prevention systems (IPSs) at the perimeter, many businesses lack visibility into traffic outside their firewalls and IPSs. This includes traffic from external sources such as mobile devices, corporate laptops and other types of connected devices that may be compromised by malware or other cyber attacks.
The first step in protecting your business from a cyber attack is to monitor online activity for signs of intrusion into networked computers and devices.
Monitoring can be done in several ways. You can use an Internet-based service like Pingdom to monitor your website, or you can install software on individual computers and devices that will alert you if there has been any unauthorized access.
If you suspect that someone has gained access to your networked computers or devices, you should shut down the device immediately and attempt to clean up any damage caused by the intrusion before restarting it again.
Review Recent Activities
The next step is to review all recent activity on all systems in your network. If you notice anything unusual, check the logs for that system to see if there are any suspicious entries. If you find an entry that appears suspicious, check other systems for similar entries; this may indicate that an intruder has managed to spread malware throughout your network.
Check your router’s logs, firewall logs, and anti-virus software logs regularly. If possible, have someone with a little tech savvy look at these files occasionally to make sure they haven’t been tampered with or deleted.
Run anti-virus software on all of your devices. Make sure that it’s up to date, too.
Use a password manager like 1Password or Last Pass to create strong passwords for each website you visit and store them in a secure place (like your password manager). Use different passwords for different websites so if one site gets hacked all of your other accounts won’t be affected. Make sure all of your devices have strong passwords as well.
Use two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible; many sites offer this option now so take advantage!
2. Cyber Security Expert Ensures Compliance with Industry Standards for Information Security
The best way to ensure compliance with industry standards for information security is to establish a culture of security that is built into the organization’s culture.
First and foremost, being as a cyber security expert, it is important to understand what your industry standards are, and how they apply to you. These standards can include those set by the government, or other regulatory bodies such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Standards can also be set by industry organizations such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Once you have determined what standards apply to your organization, you need to ensure that everyone in your business understands what they mean and how they will affect them. For example, if you are a healthcare provider and must comply with HIPAA rules, then each employee should be trained on what HIPAA means for them personally and how it affects their work.
The same goes for other types of businesses – if your company handles credit cards then PCI-DSS should be a part of any employee training program.
Develop Effective Policies and Procedures
The next step is to develop effective policies and procedures that help employees comply with these requirements. This includes things like password management policies, two-factor authentication rules and so forth.
Conduct regular audits of the information security program to ensure compliance.
Ensure that all employees are trained in information security best practices, including how to identify and report suspicious behavior, such as phishing scams.
Information security must be managed at all levels of an organization, from the boardroom to the front line. The need for information security management in business was recognized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1987 with the publication of ISO/IEC 17799:2000, “Code of practice for information security management”. This standard was subsequently updated in 2005 as ISO/IEC 27002:2005 and in 2013 as ISO/IEC 27002:2013.
Two other standards relating to information security management are ISO 22301 (Guidelines for disaster-resistant organizations) and ISO 27005 (Information technology – Security techniques – Information security risk management). These standards are maintained by ISO Technical Committee 27 (TC27).
The standard ISO/IEC 27002:2005 defines an Information Security Management System (ISMS) as “a structure designed to provide guidance and assistance for the establishment, implementation, maintenance, monitoring and improvement of overall information security within an organization.” It contains a series of requirements that should be met by an ISMS.
3. Identify Potential Risks to Data Security
Data security is a huge concern, and it should be. Data breaches are becoming more and more common. Your business could be next.
As a Cyber security expert, we see the damage that these data breaches can cause to businesses that fail to take proper precautions to protect their data.
Risks to Data Security
There are numerous ways for data to be compromised. Here are some of the most common:
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Human error
A user may leave an unlocked computer unattended or share passwords with others, which makes it easier for a hacker to access sensitive information.
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Malware
Malicious software can gain access to data by infecting computers or networks through viruses, spyware or other harmful programs.
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Physical theft
Stolen laptops or flash drives can expose sensitive information if they don’t have adequate security measures in place.
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Data breaches
Hackers often target large databases containing sensitive information, such as credit card numbers or Social Security numbers, which can be used for identity theft and fraud.
As your organization grows and expands, you will need to ensure that your data is secure. The following are five key areas where you can focus your attention to help ensure the security of your data:
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Network infrastructure
A strong network infrastructure is essential for any business, but it’s especially important in an age where data is becoming increasingly mobile. You should make sure that all devices have the latest anti-virus software installed, as well as regularly backing up data to minimize the risk of losing vital information.
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User access
The more users you have accessing company resources, the greater the risk of a security breach. Limit access to only those who really need it and make sure that passwords are complex and regularly changed.
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Data protection
It’s crucial that employees understand how important it is to protect company data at all times. Your IT department should also be able to provide regular training sessions on how best to protect confidential information when working remotely or traveling abroad.
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Data encryption
Any data that is not encrypted is vulnerable. Anyone can read by intercepting or stole it. The only way to protect sensitive information from this vulnerability is through encryption.
when your email is not encrypted, it’s very easy to fall into the wrong hands. It could happen because of a misplaced iPad or a phishing attack.
Encryption is the only way to ensure that your confidential data is safe from prying eyes and in this article, I’ve outlined some ways you can do exactly that.
4. Secure Data Through Encryption Techniques
Encryption is a security technique that involves transforming information into a form unreadable by anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result is encrypted data (or cipher text). In some cases, the encrypted data can be decrypted without the key, but in other cases it cannot; this is known as non-reversible encryption.
Encryption has long been used by militaries and governments to facilitate secret communication. Encryption of data at rest refers to techniques for encrypting information in storage, whereas encryption of data in transit refers to techniques for transmitting encrypted information between systems.
Most commonly, encryption can be described as a method of using a secret key to encode and decode information. Encryption is the process of converting readable data into an unreadable format to ensure its confidentiality and make it unreadable by anyone except those authorized to read it.
Encryption is used in many areas of computer science, including computer security, cryptography, steganography, digital rights management and more.
Encryption is used to protect sensitive data on mobile devices and desktops. It can be used to protect email messages and documents. It can also be used to protect data stored on databases or other types of applications that use network connections.
There are many different types of encryption algorithms that you can use when you want to encrypt your data. These include:
Symmetric-key algorithms: These algorithms use the same key for both encryption and decryption purposes. Examples include: AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) Twofish Serpent Camellia Blowfish 3DES (Triple DES) RC4
Asymmetric-key algorithms: These algorithms use two different keys for encryption/decryption purposes. Examples include: RSA DSA ElGamal
5. Implement Software Patches And Upgrades To Keep Systems Current With New Threats
When it comes to security patches and updates, you don’t have to figure everything out for yourself. Instead, there are a number of resources available that can help you find information about the most widely used pieces of software on the Internet. Just make sure that you are using credible sources and keep in mind that your anti-virus software may warn you away from some of these resources. If you still have questions or concerns, it’s always best to contact the software manufacturer or vendor directly.
It’s important to keep your system up-to-date with the latest patches because they often fix problems that could allow an attacker access to your computer or network.
A cyber attack can be costly and disruptive, but it’s not just about the money. A successful attack on your business could have a significant impact on the trust your customers have in your brand.
The good news is that there are steps you can take to protect yourself from cyber attacks and keep your systems safe.
Here are five things cyber security expert practice to help prevent a cyberattack:
- Implement software patches and upgrades to keep systems current with new threats.
- Use strong passwords that are unique and regularly changed.
- Update anti-virus software regularly, as well as other security tools like firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS).
- Create an incident response plan so you know how to respond if something happens — now or in the future.
- Keep an eye out for suspicious activity, such as unusual spikes in traffic or attempts to access sensitive data without authorization.
Conclusion:
The jobs for the cyber security expert exist in the cyber security industry are numerous and can be very rewarding.
There are many new opportunities available to safeguard networks, devices, applications and information from intrusion, manipulation or disruption.
These jobs range from technical to managerial roles, including positions at all levels of the corporate ladder. They exist in fields such as software consulting, hardware manufacturing, education and private enterprise.
