*By Emerson Bezerra
The cybersecurity market has been booming in recent years. We can especially notice now with the wars that are taking place around the world, how vulnerable large organizations are to cyber attacks and the fundamental need for the control and defense of information.
Today we have the need to implement a cybersecurity culture, not only in the systems and database of companies, but also in home networks with social network controls and disclosure of personal data, since we know this need, new vacancies arise every day for professionals trained in information security.
According to the Cybersecurity Workforce Study, there are more than 4 million jobs for cybersecurity professionals around the world.
Know, however, that, although we have this large number of vacancies, it is not very beneficial for a particular professional to decide which path of study he wants to follow if the current market does not have that demand.
Let's talk about the security professional's career and how the current market relates to this demand. Understand what knowledge and skills are essential for cybersecurity professionals, both those who want to enter the area and professionals who already work and want to improve.
How does the current market evaluate and select its candidates?
Currently, there are many ways to acquire knowledge about a certain area. There are complementary courses, in-depth studies on software and systems, programming languages, study of exploits, we also have free courses, certifications and much more.
Once we have this large amount of information and skills, recruiters of large and small companies cannot assess the individual knowledge of each candidate competing for the vacancy, there is no logic to help in the evaluation of each educational institution or each content known by the candidates. In reality, what happens is that when a recruiter needs to fill a particular cybersecurity vacancy, he will research which certifications are references in the market for that vacancy and only then will he search for professionals who have it.
It is also important to mention the need for undergraduate, graduate and master's degrees, as well as in other major areas of the market, cybersecurity is no different, we can say that graduations act as an initial barrier that will be a differentiating factor for professionals who get the starting positions.
Postgraduate degrees are always welcome for professionals who want to improve themselves and make companies end up seeing their concern in developing a career.
Master's degrees will only be required in some higher positions, advanced degrees will not always be required, but they have great value in organizations.
Finally, we must talk about the certifications recognized by the market, it is no longer a secret to anyone how important these certifications are. Let's understand a little more about them.
What is the value of a cybersecurity certification?
Certifications can be defined as attestations that prove that an individual has completed a certain event or knowledge. In many aspects that we need proof of acquired knowledge, we will have certificates, for example, when we complete elementary school, high school, specialized courses and others.
In the area of cybersecurity we have market certifications that are recognized worldwide, a professional who acquires a certification such as CompTia's Security+, for example, will be internationally recognized as capable of that knowledge, thus being able to receive job opportunities to work in companies in any country in the world.
According to a survey conducted by CompTia in 2013, 73% of organizations agree that it is best to hire a professional to understand if they are suitable for the job after completing the required certification for the job.
Certifications prove that the professional has the knowledge and guarantee that the information learned is always being updated.
Most Renowned Cybersecurity Certifications:
- CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker
- CompTia Security+ – Computing Technology Industry Association
- GSEC - GIAC Security Essentials
- CISM - Certified Information Security Manager
- CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional
There are international certifications in different cybersecurity sectors, they are Network Fundamentals, SOC Defense and Administration, Pentest Fundamentals and Attacks, Forensic Investigation, Security Application Development and more.
Among all the benefits that a certified team provides your organization, we can cite the main ones as more productivity in general, more insightful problem solving, better ability to understand and adapt to new technologies, better communication skills and better management capabilities. projects.
Qualifications Required for Cybersecurity Professionals
See what qualifications are required by the market for cybersecurity professionals. It is important to understand each qualification and adapt to having them, not only for professionals who want to work in security, but in any other area:
Continuous learning and development: You will never have all the knowledge you need, a good professional must always be willing to learn new information.
Team work: The myth that working with systems and screens will make you not have to interact with people is gone. Teamwork and interaction with co-workers is extremely necessary in any environment.
Communication skill: In addition to teamwork, it is crucial for a professional to have good communication, to know how to report information clearly and to have good contact with all sectors of the organization.
Discretion: Cybersecurity professionals deal with important information and sensitive data on a daily basis. Keeping information discreet and watching out for leaks is essential.
Problem solving: We live in the information age, it is the duty of the professional to be willing to understand and solve any problem that may arise. See new problems as opportunities to learn new solutions.
Security principles: Every professional who wants to increase his level of security knowledge must have a solid and consolidated foundation of the principles.
Programming skills: Knowledge of programming languages is necessary not only for professionals who are migrating from the infrastructure area to security, but for everyone.
Network protocols: A deep understanding of the main network protocols and their functions is essential for professionals at all levels of cybersecurity.
Intrusion Techniques: Knowledge of intrusion techniques is a current market requirement, professionals with structured knowledge are more in demand.
Today's world needs trained professionals. Don't waste time, understand the current market and start your studies now to acquire your essential certifications, it is guaranteed that in a short time you will also conquer your vacancy and contribute to the cybersecurity culture.
— Emerson Bezerra is a SOC Analyst at [SAFEWAY]
How can we help?
THE SAFEWAY is an Information Security consulting company recognized by its clients for offering high value-added solutions through projects that fully meet the needs of the business. In 14 years of experience, we have accumulated several successful projects that have earned us credibility and prominence with our clients, who largely make up the 100 largest companies in Brazil.
today through 25 strategic partnerships with global manufacturers and our SOC, SAFEWAY is considered a one stop shopping with the best solutions in technology, processes and people. We have both the technical skills and the experience necessary to assist your company in the process of structuring controls and preparing the environment for the implementation of an ISMS, SGS or SGCN and, consequently, certification of operations, services or companies to the ISO27001, ISO20000 or ISO22301 standards.
In order to support companies in this process of evaluation and adaptation to the requirements of the LGPD, [SAFEWAY] has in its portfolio of services, the Cybersecurity Health Check whose objective is to carry out a diagnosis of the CyberSecurity, Information Security and Data Privacy implemented in your company, contemplating the pillars of Law Suit, People and Technology.
through the Cybersecurity Health Check, risks associated with information security and privacy of internal processes and activities are identified, existing controls and new controls evaluated according to the size of your organization to increase the level of maturity and compliance, in accordance with good information security practices. If you would like more information, contact one of our experts!
