Strong critical thinking , analytical and problemsolving skills are the superpowers that make the best cybersecurity pros stand out .
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Strong critical thinking , analytical and problemsolving skills are the superpowers that make the best cybersecurity pros stand out .
People with a similar background in IT , engineering , maths , or physics may have the aptitude and skills to excel as a cybersecurity professional , even if they don ’ t have a formal education or experience in this space . Some jobs suitable for reskilling for cybersecurity include IT pros , such as network engineers or systems administrators , as they may have the skills and foundational knowledge needed to transition . Software developers with experience in programming languages can reskill for cybersecurity roles such as security software developer or incident response analyst . Others in auditing or law enforcement can reskill for roles such as information security manager , incident response analyst or cybercrime investigator .
Typically , cybersecurity applicants should be familiar with security best practices and industry compliance regulations – but you can learn all of this . While some parts of the business you should be knowledgeable and experienced with security technologies , such as firewalls and encryption , and have experience with programming languages , other parts of the business , like supporting functions , are more easily trained . For example , take technical writers or customer service representatives . Women can be trained in many of these roles if they have good experience outside cybersecurity .
Soft skills also shouldn ’ t be overlooked . A candidate can have plenty of credentials that look good on paper , but strong critical thinking , analytical and problem-solving skills are the superpowers that make the best cybersecurity pros stand out . This instinct helps security leaders identify and mitigate security risks . Thinking out of the box is also key . Creativity , curiosity and the ability to come up with new solutions are critical in a constantly evolving field . Strong communication skills are also important because cybersecurity roles involve collaboration with other departments .
Employers also have a role to play by rethinking the job requirements list and where they look for candidates . Go beyond the online job boards and consider someone with a different educational background that can be reskilled or trained where skillsets overlap with cybersecurity .
3 . There are opportunities for growth and making a difference
As a woman who ’ s worked in the tech and security space for nearly 20 years , I believe in actively supporting other women in this industry . I ’ ve mentored many team members and students
over the years across many functions . Women want to succeed professionally . We also want to make a social impact and inspire others .
I created The Leadership Bench Program within my organisation to support aspiring leaders by challenging them with stretch goals that develop their leadership abilities . The majority ( 90 %) of candidates in this programme have been women or visible minorities . Through programmes like this , we can encourage women by giving them opportunities to be exposed to the many areas of security that align with their passions .
Executive levels are still sparsely populated by women , but we ’ ve achieved so much over the past few years . Let ’ s keep going . Cybersecurity needs women . The more we encourage women to get into this space , the more talent we ’ ll attract . We need schools to push these career options , we need organisations to commit to train and we need to rethink how we market jobs . By supporting women and showcasing their success stories , we ’ re empowering more women to know their value , break through glass ceilings , secure board seats , get to the C-suite – and never look back . u
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