Introduction

Cybersecurity is the practice of defending information assets from malicious attacks. It is also known as information technology security and while it may be different from information security in regards to what it addresses the overall goal remains the same. 

It can be divided into many subcategories depending on what risk is being addressed such as network security to application security.

The definition of cybersecurity will differ depending on who you talk to and the location, but the general premise remains the same. 

 Within cybersecurity there are many different roles, they can require skills that differ from one another but having a well-established foundation across some of the below can really help you.

• Soft Skills - The ability to communicate with other functions within the business is paramount, this also means having the ability to translate technical jargon into easy to understand terms. A big tip here is to know your audience.

• Computing - The understanding of how computers in general function is key to being able to understand how certain attacks may exhaust a system of resources. This can also play a part when designing systems and solutions, to know what is required to achieve the desired outcome.

• Networking - The understanding of how systems communicate with each other and the technologies that enable this is crucial for cybersecurity, a lot of attacks occur over the network so it would make sense to know how it all works. This can also be useful when it comes to designing networks.

• Linux Administration - Many tools reside on Linux operating systems, while not crucial it is recommended to be familiar with the Linux operating system.

• Security Standards & Methodologies - The understanding of different security standards and methodologies will also be highly advantageous.

• Coding/Programming - This is not a necessity, however learning to dabble in high-level coding languages will help you understand a little how software is created and help you to debug applications. It will also help you read code to understand what it is trying to do. Remember we are security professional not developers so you do not need to be well versed in programming languages.

• Experience -  contrary to popular belief, cybersecurity is not an entry-level field and while they do have entry-level positions they are different from an entry-level position in IT, you will be required in some cases to have the relevant experience whether it be network engineering, desktop support, or other roles that could be deemed relevant. Another thing is personal projects can also demonstrate skill so remember to show people what you are doing.

While this list is by no means exhaustive, covering these key areas will place you in good stead for entering the field and give you a loose guideline on where to focus your studies