Essential Skills for Future-Proofing Your Cybersecurity Career
Written on
The Impact of Economic Trends on Cybersecurity Careers
As we navigate through the global recession that began around October 2022, it's clear that the economic downturn affects everyone. The constant stream of news about the economic crisis can be disheartening, but it's important to remember that this recession will eventually end, leading to a resurgence in job opportunities. However, this cycle of recession and recovery seems to be ongoing.
While I advise cybersecurity professionals to diversify their income sources, many still rely primarily on their 9-to-5 jobs. The field of cybersecurity is not only in high demand but also continually evolving. It's astonishing how much has transformed in the last decade, with skills that were once essential now becoming less relevant.
Certain skills, such as traditional on-premises and data center expertise, are diminishing in importance as organizations increasingly transition to cloud solutions. Other skills, like basic systems administration focused solely on operating systems, are also seeing a decline due to the rise of managed services. Moreover, basic security scanning tasks—logging into a console, conducting a scan, and sending a report—are becoming less significant.
Key Skills to Focus on for Future Success
Here are three essential skills that every cybersecurity professional should prioritize over the next few years:
- Master Cloud Security
Whether you embrace it or not, cloud computing is a reality that is here to stay. The global cloud computing market is projected to reach approximately $1.55 trillion by 2030, which is remarkable. As CIOs seek to avoid the complexities and expenses associated with maintaining data centers, many organizations are shifting to private, multi-cloud, or hybrid cloud models. It's crucial to begin developing your cloud security skills now and aim to obtain relevant certifications within the next year.
- Understand Low-Code and No-Code Security
I've previously emphasized the value of basic coding knowledge for cybersecurity professionals, especially as vulnerabilities grow more intricate than simple patching solutions. Additionally, the trend of low-code and no-code development environments is on the rise. These platforms empower users to create applications with minimal technical knowledge, which can introduce significant security vulnerabilities. It's essential to familiarize yourself with these platforms and how to secure them. A great starting point is the "OWASP Top 10 Low-Code/No-Code Security Risks," which provides insight into the security challenges posed by this trend.
- Harness the Power of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) has emerged as one of the most transformative technologies of our time. However, it has recently been oversimplified to buzzwords like "A.I. will revolutionize everything" or "A.I. is the future." In reality, A.I. is set to have a profound impact on cybersecurity in the coming years. Beyond enhancing cybersecurity tools, it will also introduce new risks that many teams may not be prepared for. Reflecting on past application security threats, such as SQL injections and XSS attacks, can help illustrate the potential blind spots that A.I. attacks may create.
To delve deeper into this subject, consider exploring my discounted course on A.I. governance and cybersecurity available on Gumroad.
Taimur Ijlal is a recognized information security leader with over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity and IT risk management, particularly in the fintech sector. You can connect with Taimur on LinkedIn or visit his YouTube channel "Cloud Security Guy," where he shares insights on cloud security, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity career guidance.
Exploring Cybersecurity Career Development
The first video discusses strategies for securing a cybersecurity job in 2023 and emphasizes the skills needed to adapt to the evolving landscape.
The second video explores why a career in cybersecurity is a resilient choice, highlighting key reasons to consider this field for future job security.