5 talents you already have to qualify for a
career in cyber security
Are you always looking forward to participate in the
next hackathon? Are you often curious about what makes computer
systems work and how you can trouble-shoot when problems arise?
If the answer is a resounding “yes”, you could already
be setting the stage for a future career in tech’s latest hot job
for all you know.
With security and privacy becoming the biggest
challenges in today’s increasingly digital world, cyber security is
now a rapidly growing market thanks to our government’s push to
build a resilient ICT (Information and Communications Technology)
infrastructure and the launch of the Singapore’s Cybersecurity
Strategy last year.
While paper qualifications and technical chops might
land you an initial job interview, today’s employer is seemingly
looking for a more well-rounded employee with a wider set of skills
and talents.
Read on to learn about the five aptitudes you already
have to qualify for a career in cyber security. Perhaps it’s time
to leverage on your talents to give yourself a head start for one
of the most sought-after jobs in the tech industry.
1. You love computer
forensics
You love technology and you’ve dreamt of becoming a
criminal detective since you were five. Strong analytical and
diagnostic skills are your strengths. You think creatively and
solving complicated problems excites you. Your curiosity is
evidenced by your love for digital forensic and crime scene
investigation TV shows. In many ways, a cyber security worker has
to think like a hacker on top of being a digital detective. You’re
a regular at hackathons and innocuous symptoms such as slow
networks and unsolicited computer restarts aren’t normal for you –
these signs immediately become red flags for you. In fact, you’re
such a natural in following leads when things don’t look right that
more often than not, you annoy your friends to bits with your
paranoia.
2. You’re a wordsmith
and “research nazi”
Researching is a learned skill and you have mastered
the art of it. You are quite the cyber sleuth expert and nothing
gets past your eagle eyes when it comes to digging up information.
With an “X-ray vision” to browse through search results and a flair
for writing, you know the top key words and types of search engines
to use to optimise your search results. And since working in the
field of cyber security involves policy creation (e.g. end-user
guidelines and network security policies), your strong writing
instinct and research skills (into the latest cyber technologies
and industry best practices as well as to unearth new risks and
vulnerabilities) will come in very handy when writing a solid
policy brief that requires a good amount of research and details to
support your recommendations.
3. You’ve a gadget
addiction
You love gadgets and you cannot lie. Your curiosity on
how things work means that long hours are spent on playing with
electronic devices and you always stay informed of technology
advancements. Family and friends call you the techno-fiend because
of your knowledge of the ins-and-outs of all things gadgety. And
you most definitely can’t imagine going through a day without your
electronic companions and modern technology. You’ve got all the
latest and greatest gadgetry you need but each time a new one is
released, you can’t wait to get your hands on it.
4. You’re a master of
oral expression
Explaining complex ideas to people is your specialty.
You have a knack for interpreting complicated technical concepts
clearly and effectively to others; with analogies so good that IT
noobs would remember them forever. Whether it’s teaching your
grandparents how to check their emails or presenting to a roomful
of non-techie people, you’re a crackerjack in your strong verbal
skills and masterly ability to help others overcome their
frustration [from the lack of tech understanding] and learn a new
thing or two.
5. You DIY your home
security system
You love to tinker around with surveillance gadgets and
always stay current on cyber security trends and threats. You’re
the self-appointed household tech support who runs virus scans and
upgrades your home computer software before anyone even asks.
You’ve become a master of your craft and having to pay for an
expensive home security system makes no sense to you. So you whip
up a low-cost home surveillance system by converting your laptop
into one. What’s more, you’re a tech ninja who not only creates
unique passwords for every security service that you use, you even
activate a second-factor authentication step to safeguard each one
of them. Talk about the art of foiling security measures!
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