We are all living in an increasingly digital world where computers and mobile devices are central to what we do. This can be seen in our personal lives, where people use social media platforms online to keep in touch with friends, digital streaming platforms to listen to music or IoT-connected devices to manage areas of the home.

Computers and digital tech are just as widespread when it comes to our working lives. The majority of businesses now have an online presence and use the latest digital tools or platforms, while most people use computers and the latest online technologies in their daily tasks.

One subject that increasingly comes up in relation to the dominance of online tech in the modern world is cybercrime. This involves cybercriminals targeting individuals or business who use the internet and is a problem that cannot be ignored. As a result of the dangers posed by online crime, cybersecurity has become especially crucial within the business world.

The growing importance of cybersecurity in our digital age has meant that this is a field that more businesses are taking seriously and more people are moving into as a career. But how can you get into this type of job, and why exactly is it so crucial for the times we live in?

 How do you get into cybersecurity as a career?

There is little doubt how important cybersecurity is for businesses in the modern age. It is growing fast as an employment niche within IT and is expected to expand even more in the years to come. With 3.5 million unfilled positions expected in cybersecurity by 2025, you can see not only the number of positions there will be for qualified online security professionals to move into but also the sheer size of this employment niche.

If you already work in IT and want to transition into this career path, how to get into cybersecurity is a question to consider. As with any role that requires higher-level expertise, it is key to get the right training first, such as the online master’s of science in cybersecurity from St. Bonaventure University. This program not only teaches you the specific skills needed to work in this exciting industry but also does so in a flexible, accessible way.

What soft skills do you need work in this field?

 To succeed in this type of career, a mixture of hard and technical skills are required.

An important soft skill is being a good collaborator. This is because most cybercrime specialists will work as part of larger teams within a company and need to work with people effectively. Attention to detail is also an important soft skill in cybersecurity. By paying attention to all the finer details, you are able to ensure all bases are covered in terms of IT security, which is crucial in deterring cyberattacks.

Leadership is also a key softer skill for this role, as you may be responsible for managing staff. It is therefore important to be able to inspire those you lead and provide the support they need to excel. Good communication is also a must in this role – not only when passing information onto staff you manage but also other colleagues, stakeholders or senior management. If you cannot explain yourself well or do so in a manner that is inappropriate, you will find it hard to rise to the top.

What technical skills are needed in cybersecurity?

When it comes to technical skills needed to work in this role, having a decent understanding of the most common operating systems and languages is essential. This will not only make you more effective in your own job but also allow you to more easily pass relevant knowledge in this area onto other staff who need help.

Data analysis is another technical skill that is key for cybersecurity professionals and helps them draw crucial insights on data generated around the IT safety of their company. When you also factor in end-user education, application security and cloud security, you can see the range of skills needed for this position.

 Why is cybersecurity so important in our digital age?

 As digital technologies become increasingly central to how we work and live, cybersecurity is only going to grow in importance over the next few years.

For businesses especially, there has been a real shift towards having an online presence and using IT networks, digital tools and systems to operate. Companies not only engage with customers via digital channels (such as websites, email and social media) but also sell goods and services online by taking digital payments.

Most modern companies now also provide digital tools and platforms for employees to complete their daily tasks. This might be cloud computing technology to foster easier collaboration or online video conferencing platforms to conduct meetings.

While this all has many benefits in a business sense, it also leads to firms becoming the target of online cybercriminals. Therefore, cybersecurity is very important in the digital age as it enables businesses to stay safe online and secure their IT networks. This makes it tougher for cybercriminals to access these networks to steal data, infect key systems with viruses or hit companies with malicious online attacks.

By doing this, businesses can avoid online crime disrupting their operations and costing them money. The cost of cybercrime in 2022 reached $6 trillion globally, so the scale of the issue and the need for organizations to protect themselves from it becomes clear.

Why else is online security so crucial in modern times?

 In addition to protecting businesses who have a digital presence or use IT networks to function, investing in excellent online security helps to protect an organization’s reputation from the damage of being a victim of digital crime. While there is no blame placed on any company who falls prey to hackers, an unfortunate consequence can be a tarnishing of the trust people feel in the brand.

When consumers hear about a company being hit by online crime, they start wondering if their security measures were lax or worry about the safety of doing business with them in future. This level of uncertainty can drive customers away and means investing in online security to avoid being a victim of cybercrime is essential.

In addition to this, investing in cybersecurity also keeps consumers safe when they visit a company’s website or pay for goods or services online. This means customers can engage with the business online in total safety and not become victims of malicious hackers themselves.

Cybersecurity protects staff

 Cybersecurity measures are also useful for protecting employees who work online in their daily role. Although you might not immediately think this applies to many workers, the opposite is in fact true for most of us!

While you might not spend 100% of your time working online, most people now are likely to do so at some point in their day. This might be replying to email messages, buying stock online or paying an invoice digitally. Cybersecurity is therefore critical for staff because it keeps them safe from hackers when online and stops them from becoming victims of cybercrime. For example, installing an effective spam screening program for company emails means employees are not exposed to fake emails laden with viruses, which some could fall for.

A focus on online security helps firms evolve with hackers

It is also key to factor in that cybersecurity helps firms evolve with online criminals and remain one step ahead of them. The unfortunate truth is that digital crime is always moving in new directions and looking for fresh ways to target people and businesses.

Usually, this means changing how commonly known cyberattacks work to fool current security measures or taking advantage of new tech (such as crypto or open-source cloud environments) to commit crime. By investing in online security as well as IT networks and hardware, companies are able to keep pace with the latest online threats and stay safe from them.

What are the key concepts behind cybersecurity in business?

 If you are interested in digging a little deeper into the subject of cybersecurity, one of the best places to start is the core concepts that underpin digital security for business.

By understanding these concepts, you not only get more of a flavor of what working in this position may involve but also what cybersecurity is all about in general. So, what are the three main processes of computer security?

Threat prevention

 Prevention is always better than cure, and this is certainly true when it comes to cybersecurity. This means that it is always preferable to prevent threats before they can cause problems, rather than having the hassle or expense of fixing them when they arise. As well as saving time and money, preventing threats to IT networks also means businesses do not suffer any damage to their reputation or lose valuable data.

The first step in this process is understanding how critical threat prevention is and taking the time to fully engage with it. Prevention must be done in a proactive sense because this means any measures that are needed are in place when an online attack occurs.

It is common for companies to start by reviewing the current IT security plan and measures they already have in place to protect their servers, devices, online platforms, systems, databases and website. It can also be useful to take into account any emerging online security threats to plan for and give staff further training on cybercrime.

Once this review has taken place, cybersecurity specialists can begin to put into action any changes that are needed. This could be running IT training for staff on common cyber threats, which is often listed as one of the top cybersecurity measures every business should focus on.

 Detection

 Once threat prevention is covered, the next process to focus on is detection. While you may feel prevention is enough to keep business IT systems secure, it is still critical to follow this up with detection. This is because a company might still fall prey to cybercrime despite their best efforts to guard against it.

But how could this happen if you have spent lots of time making your company’s IT network extra-secure? It can be easier than you think, and usually it involves human error. A member of staff visiting a virus-laden website is a classic example, as is a new cyberattack hitting your network that you have never heard of before.

Instances like this show why detection is so crucial and why it is not something to ignore. By focusing on detection, businesses are able to recognize when their IT defenses have been breached and what the source is. It also enables firms to see how far the problem has spread and take steps to deal with it as soon as possible. Without detection in online security, any IT attacks that were not prevented could go unnoticed and cause a lot of damage.

Response

 This last major step in information security involves responding to the threat you have detected. Interestingly, this is not just confined to attacks that have not been prevented and need dealing with.

Failed attacks on a business’s network should also spark a reaction in terms of what the thwarted attack was and where it came from. This allows companies to learn more about the type of cyberattacks they are being hit with and how well their firewalls are doing to prevent them. In addition, it can allow businesses to see if a certain source is targeting them time and again.

Of course, if a cyberattack has made it through an organizations IT defenses and has been detected, a response is needed to stop it. Once the issue is isolated by cybercrime specialists, they will be able to not only identify what type of attack it is but also what the best solution is to deal with it. This last step helps companies eliminate any cybercrime problem that has not been prevented by your defenses before it has too much impact.

What are the most common online IT threats to know about?

 While online criminals are constantly coming up with new ways to target businesses, there are a few common cyberattacks that have been around for a while and remain ever-present. These include:

  • Phishing, which involves hackers contacting staff in an attempt to obtain sensitive details/data from them via email, phone or text.
  • Malware, which is malicious software designed to harm an IT network. Specific examples of malware such as ransomware or spyware are something all companies need to watch out for.
  • DoS attacks, which involve hackers flooding a firm’s IT network with false requests in order to disrupt it or crash the main website.
  • Inside threats, where employees engage in cybercrime from inside a company’s network (either with malicious intent or through poor IT security habits).
  • IoT based cyberattacks, in which criminals take control of an IoT-connected business device to steal data or set up a widespread IoT-based DoS campaign.
  • DNS tunnelling, which involves hackers tunnelling into a company’s domain name system to bypass their IT security measures.

 The above is not an exhaustive list of every IT attack a business may face but does include the types that are most widely seen. Phishing and malware in particular are among the most favored tactics used by online criminals on a global scale.

Cybersecurity is key in the digital age

 Cybersecurity becomes especially important when you consider how much time most people now spend online for work or play. When you also factor in the number of businesses who now have an online presence, the need for robust online security in the corporate world becomes even more essential.

By investing in protecting their IT networks, companies not only save themselves the expense involved with being victims of online crime, but they also avoid the time-consuming effort it can take to sort out the problems that result.

Taking care of online security is key in helping businesses protect customers, staff and their own reputation. Qualified cybersecurity specialists are needed to do this effectively, making it a niche within IT employment that is quickly growing. As we move further into the digital age, both experts in cybersecurity and the field of cybersecurity itself will have more of an impact on society.