Amidst growing cybercrime and cyberthreats, it is wise for businesses to hire professionals with cybersecurity skills. The pandemic-induced lockdown has changed the way we work, and as more people work from home, the risk of cybercrime is increasing. While digitalization has changed the landscape of IT (Information Technology), it is not free of threats.
Cybersecurity is the practice of securing your system, networks, devices, and applications from hackers and malicious attacks. Cybersecurity is a subset of Information Security or InfoSec. Implementing cybersecurity measures to protect your business data, files, or information is essential for every business. In fact, organizations have to comply with regulations to secure data and systems; failure to do so will result in stiff penalties and fines, which will impact the balance sheet. An organization’s reputation could also be impacted, and it could experience customer churn.
Importance of Cybersecurity
With rapid improvements in technology, such as big data and the IoT (Internet of Things), the risks of data theft and harm have increased. Companies and institutions rely on technology, and cyberattacks such as ransomware, socially engineered attacks, and others are evolving as well.
According to Cybersecurity Ventures, cybercrime will cost around $10.5 trillion annually by 2025 globally, growing by 15% every year over the next five years.
The pandemic-induced lockdown led to businesses adopting a virtual or remote-work framework, thereby increasing the risks of cyberthreats.
Therefore, professionals with cybersecurity skills are required to mitigate the threats and will always be in demand. Without them, the chances of organizations winning the fight against data breaches and cybercrime are slim.
This article helps you learn the importance of the rapidly increasing field, i.e., cybersecurity and its elements. We shall also discuss the top four cybersecurity skills in demand in 2021.
Fastest Growing Cybersecurity Skills
One cannot undermine the importance of digital security. Companies around the globe need cybersecurity specialists and IT experts to protect and recover their data, systems, and applications. Therefore, professionals need to know the in-demand cybersecurity skills required to safeguard the security of your business.
As per a report published in studyinternational.com, 301 data breaches in 2020 revealed over 5 million sensitive data records. This highlights the importance of the need for cybersecurity professionals in your organization. They hunt threats and mitigate the risks of data theft.
IT Security specialists skilled in application development security, risk management, and cloud computing will have the most job opportunities.
In-demand Cybersecurity Skills
Building a career in cybersecurity requires in-depth training and knowledge. Apart from basic computer and programming skills, one also needs to learn the important skills required for cybersecurity jobs. Let’s learn about the top four in-demand cybersecurity skills in 2021:
1. Application development security
Application development security is one of the most in-demand cybersecurity skills in 2021, per a report from Atlas VPN.
In five years, Atlas VPN forecasts a 164 percent increase in demand for this skill.
Application development experts find and patch flaws in apps to improve security in the developmental phase. Threat attacks are increasingly becoming sophisticated with the advancements in technology, so naturally, the risks are high.
Therefore, building a secure application is no small task. Application development security must include measures in all aspects of the software development cycle. It is one of the most crucial cybersecurity skills needed to secure an organization’s assets.
A few occupations, such as Software Developer, System Engineer, Cybersecurity Engineer, DevOps Engineer, and Network Architect, require the expertise of an application security specialist.
- Expected salary in 2021: $12,266
- Growth forecast for the next five years: 164%
2. Cloud security
Cloud security is encompassing robust technologies and measures to prevent online data leakage and theft. Reports suggest that cloud security is in the top two in-demand cybersecurity skills in 2021.
Security measures to protect cloud computing infrastructure from internal and external threats, malware, and ransomware are the need of the hour. Therefore, the demand for professionals with a cloud security skillset is only going to increase.
Cloud security is essential for individuals and businesses because sensitive data, applications, and resources are shifting to cloud storage. The tools used by hackers are also changing along with evolving technology. As technology advances, so do the tools used by hackers. Therefore, organizations need to employ skilled cloud security professionals to protect their cloud data from theft and risks.
Some significant positions, such as Software Developers, Cloud Architects, Cybersecurity Consultants, System Engineers, and Cybersecurity Engineers, require expertise in Cloud security skills.
- Expected salary in 2021: $15,025
- Growth forecast for the next 5-years: 115%
3. Risk management
A Cybersecurity risk management professional analyzes data to understand the risks the organization can face and minimizes them. Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) work closely with business stakeholders and leaders to identify the threats and their extent and build concrete steps to lower the risks.
Occupations like Cybersecurity Analyst, Cybersecurity Manager, Cybersecurity Engineer, Network Architect, and System Engineer require expertise in risk management skills.
- Expected salary in 2021: $13,379
- Growth forecast for the next five years: 60%
4. Threat intelligence
Every organization or governmental institution requires security professionals skilled in cyberthreat intelligence to mitigate cyberattacks. Threat intelligence is analyzing the organization or business data for potential threats. Professionals with this cybersecurity skill are well-versed in the intent and resources of cyberthreats. Businesses can use threat intelligence data to assess the intentions and goals of threat actors and make informed security decisions.
Professions like Cybersecurity Analyst, Cybersecurity Engineer, Security Intelligence Analyst Vulnerability Analyst, and Software Developer need threat intelligence skills.
- Expected pay in 2021: $9,609
- Growth forecast for the next five years: 41%
Conclusion
Cybersecurity is a thriving domain with numerous career opportunities. Businesses and government agencies alike require security professionals who are proficient in cybersecurity skills to combat cybercrime.
Risk management and threat intelligence are the other top cybersecurity skills projected to grow 60% and 41%, respectively, in the next five years.
If you want to thrive in this field, you need to show your cybersecurity skills on your resume. You can join the Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH) certification to acquire the necessary skills. A cybersecurity specialist needs to have good technical and analytical skills. They also need to adopt a wide range of other skillsets to explore and identify the threats an organization can face. CEH helps participants acquire the skills needed for cybersecurity professionals to advance their careers.
Become an Ethical Hacker
If you want to learn the in-demand skills required for cybersecurity specialists, you should get EC-Council’s C|EH certification. CEH modules include everything you need to know about cloud security and IoT, modern exploit technologies, and attack vectors. The certification enables participants to grasp the basic and advanced technical knowledge required in this field. This certification is recognized by the United States Department of Defense and includes knowledge of a broader aspect of the entire cybersecurity domain.
Join EC-Council’s ethical hacking course and advance your career in the right direction.
20+ Job Roles | 10,000+ Job Openings | Avg. Salary of $93,000
Become a Certified Ethical Hacker
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1.What is cloud security?
Cloud security is encompassing robust technologies and measures to prevent online data leakage and theft. Reports suggest that cloud security is in the top two in-demand cybersecurity skills in 2021.
Security measures to protect cloud computing infrastructure from internal and external threats, malware, and ransomware are the need of the hour. Therefore, the demand for professionals with a cloud security skillset is only going to increase.
2. What is cloud security?
A few of the top cybersecurity skills expected to create numerous job opportunities in 2021 are cloud security, risk management, threat intelligence, application development security, incident response, security strategy and control, and health information security.
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