The 10 Most Important Cybersecurity Skills

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting your internet-connected computers, servers, websites, apps, mobile devices, data, and other IT entities from cyber attacks. This is accomplished in a variety of ways, from installing specialized software to implementing office policies for employees to follow.

Organizations around the world are facing evermore crucial needs for developing and continually adjusting their cybersecurity strategies, so they can prevent catastrophic cybersecurity failures and effectively protect their sensitive systems.

Doing all of that is easier said than done for the modern company though. As technology constantly changes and cyber criminals learn how to circumvent outdated security solutions, new cybersecurity strategies are always needed to help the good guys stay ahead of the villains.

So it’s cybersecurity experts to the rescue!

There are many different types of cybersecurity professionals, including cybersecurity analysts, cybersecurity engineers, and application security experts, to name a few.

Cybersecurity experts who can protect remote data from vulnerabilities are now in even greater demand since remote work has increased during the COVID era.

Does your career path involve cybersecurity? Is this where you come in?

If you’re looking to become a cybersecurity professional, you’ll need a rich combination of technical skills and work-related “soft” skills to succeed.

No matter your specialty, you can launch your career as the go-to cybersecurity expert by equipping yourself with the most in-demand cybersecurity skills of 2022. This in-depth article outlines the top 10 skills to learn if you want to become an expert and earn a reputation for keeping your company’s data safe day in and day out.

Here are the ten most important cybersecurity skills to develop this year:

• Networking
• Network security control
• Cloud security
• Mobile device management
• SIEM management
• Intrusion detection
• Penetration testing
• Digital forensics
• Coding
• Soft skills

Networking

To be a great cybersecurity pro, you have to know the fundamentals of data transmission. Data is transmitted through cyberspace from one computer to another, the process of networking.

A computer network is made up of two or more desktops computers, laptops, servers, smartphones, tablets, or other computing devices that are connected to one another. Their established connection means they can share information easily. Networking is an improvement on old-school connections which were made through physical on-premises cables.

Today, many organizations have migrated to the cloud, using web-based servers that allow computers to exchange data over the internet. Cloud-based networking makes cybersecurity networking skills more important than ever.

You can develop the right networking skills for cybersecurity and prove your system administration know-how to employers by obtaining cybersecurity certifications like CompTIA Security+, Cisco CCNA, and GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF).

Network security control

Once you understand the basics of computer networks and how they work, you need to know how to secure a network as a cybersecurity professional. This process is called network security control.

Networks need to be secured against unauthorized access so your company’s sensitive information doesn’t end up in the wrong hands. You don’t want hackers to wreak havoc on your information systems. As a cybersecurity pro, you’ll provide that network security through various solutions—like the essential firewall (an intrusion detection system), virtual private networks (VPNs), and other specialized network security control products.

Cloud security

Now that many organizations build their networks using cloud-based or hybrid platforms like Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), or the Google Cloud platform, cybersecurity professionals should hone their network security skills specifically in this realm. It's important to know how to build these cloud systems securely and how to implement policies with software solutions that all work to keep the organization's web-based servers safe from hackers.

Quite a few valuable cloud security certs are available, depending on which cloud computing systems you work with. For general training, consider studying for the CompTIA Cloud+ or the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) certifications.

Mobile device management

Managing the way mobile devices are used to access your organization's network can sound like a beast of a chore at first. But with standard knowledge about mobile device management, you can succeed at protecting your systems even when they're only accessible from afar.

Mobile device management (MDM) is the practice of controlling the way laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices access your organization’s computer network. MDM typically involves both policies and software solutions combined to form a complete MDM protocol that protects the company from a wide range of risks that come with using mobile devices.

Users need to perform all kinds of tasks from connecting to guest WiFi networks to downloading random apps, so you’ll need to help them avoid the cybersecurity pitfalls of mobile device use in business. It’s a big job.

To learn MDM, you can advance your skills through various training courses, free or paid. One widely preferred option is the SANS course in MDM, SEC575: Mobile Device Security and Ethical Hacking.

SIEM system management

When you’re managing cybersecurity for an organization that has a decent system in place, security data comes at you like a firehose, with tons of information needing quick analysis. A SIEM helps you deal with this like a pro.

Pronounced "sim," the acronym SIEM stands for Security Information and Event Management. SIEM products combine a network's security information management with its security event management, creating an all-in-one, proactive cybersecurity system.

SIEM software and complete service providers have grown in popularity as cybersecurity requirements have increased throughout the world.

To work as a cybersecurity professional, it's important to understand how SIEM products work so you can help your organization take advantage of the latest, most effective cybersecurity solutions.

One of the leading SIEM products today is Microsoft Sentinel, which is also a more comprehensive SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) solution.

There are three main pathways to learn how to use Sentinel:

• Microsoft Learn training modules. Sentinel beginners can study the official learning pathway offered for free by Microsoft. Here you’ll learn the basics about Sentinel.
• Microsoft Sentinel Ninja Training. For a complete in-depth training course on Sentinel, go through this self-guided training program. It’s absolutely free and includes an ending certification.
• SC-200 Microsoft Security Operations Analyst certification. The SC-200 cert is the one that covers Sentinel basics, so if you study for the exam, you’ll get a great overall introduction to Sentinel. Various training programs and study guides are out there to help you study for this specific certification. (The Sentinel concepts covered in SC-200 are also covered in the Ninja Training modules suggested above.)

Splunk is another big SIEM used by businesses in 2023. You can learn Splunk through the official training and certification resources, or through a wide variety of third-party courses, like those provided by Cybrary.

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Intrusion detection

The same way a home security system might alert you to an intruder entering your house, a proper cybersecurity system should alert you anytime an unauthorized person accesses your computer network. This is intrusion detection.

You can offer intrusion detection as part of your cybersecurity skillset by understanding how to monitor network activity in general, which is often accomplished using intrusion detection software. Learn how to master these software solutions, some of which are listed below:

• Intrusion prevention systems (IPS)
• Security information and event management (SIEM) solutions
• Intrusion detection systems (IDS)
• Other network monitoring products

Once you have a firm grasp on these various intrusion detection tools, you’ll be able to help your organization catch fishy activity on the network right away and identify outright data breaches. This will help you take immediate action to foil the intrusion.

Penetration testing

In 2022, penetration testing by ethical hackers is in especially high demand. “Pen testers,” also called assurance validators, are experienced cybersecurity experts who understand how criminal hackers think and work. To preempt attacks, you’ll test their strategies on your company’s systems to identify weaknesses in your security solution.

Pen testers need to be familiar with a range of hacking tools, as well as the equipment they’re trying to penetrate. For example, you’ll need to know how a firewall works, both digitally and mechanically.

But that’s just one small example of the many topics you need to study to become a successful pen tester. When hiring assurance validators, employers demand solid cybersecurity experience plus high-level penetration testing skills.

You can break into the field of pen testing by getting familiar with the top penetration testing tools and studying for relevant certifications.

Popular pen testing tools include:

• Wireshark. Free packet sniffer
• Kali Linux. Free Linux pen testing software
• John the Ripper. Free password cracker
• Metasploit. Free pen testing software for macOS, Windows, and Linux

And for penetration testing certs, go after these:

• CompTIA PenTest+
• GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN)
• GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT)
• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) (PEN-200 Exam)
• GAQM Certified Penetration Tester (CPT) (CPT-002 Exam)
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Digital forensics

While cybersecurity is primarily concerned with preventing cyber threats, digital forensics focuses on recovering from an attack after an intruder successfully breaches your network. It's good to have both kinds of skills in the world of cybercrime fighting.

Digital forensics is a part of cybersecurity incident response. It involves analyzing digital evidence and collecting useful information about a security incident. The information you obtain will help strengthen your cybersecurity protocols accordingly.

Coding

You don’t need to become completely fluent in coding, but if you want to be a successful cybersecurity professional, knowing coding basics will help a lot.

The main three coding languages used in cybersecurity today are Python, Java, and C++. These are programming languages, also called scripting languages, used to communicate with computers and tell them to perform certain types of actions. They’re different from static coding languages, like HTML, used to create unchanging text.

Having some skill in coding is helpful when your job involves securing an internet-connected computer network that handles a flow of all code languages daily.

To get started, see our guide on Python certification and learn how to choose the best training course for you.

Soft skills

Soft skills are more like personal characteristics than technical skills, but they’ll help you succeed as a cybersecurity specialist. While essential soft skills for a graphic designer, for example, might be creativity and flexibility, the soft skills that help an IT expert working in cybersecurity succeed will be slightly different.

These are the top four soft skills to emphasize in your resume if you’re looking to flourish in a cybersecurity career:

Attention to detail

Cybersecurity is about covering all your bases, plugging all the holes, and making sure there’s no “door left unlocked” in your network where hackers can get in.

This kind of task requires serious attention to detail. Whether you’re coding in Python or working to configure a mobile device policy, your job is to prevent loopholes for attackers—not to allow them. Every missed loophole is one more way your company’s system is insecure. Detail is everything in cybersecurity.

Critical thinking

Cybersecurity professionals are often called upon to make important, problem-solving decisions for a company’s IT department. They’ll need to consider security protocols, products and services to buy, and how to approach cybersecurity overall. Critical thinking is an essential part of all of these tasks.

Critical thinking skills in cybersecurity involve the following:

• Clearly identifying the problem
• Understanding the context of situations
• Reading and assessing data for analysis
• Asking pointed questions to further your research
• Considering your biases and assumptions
• Drawing conclusions based on data and research
• Keeping alternative solutions in mind

If you take this approach to managing cybersecurity, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful cybersecurity professional.

Risk management

Depending on the size of your organization and its network, you’re potentially going to be presented with several cybersecurity issues simultaneously and on a frequent basis. This reality forces cybersecurity professionals to prioritize tasks, and generally, they’ll have to base their priorities on risk.

High-risk issues are handled before low-risk issues—but making those priority decisions is easier said than done. So if you’re especially adept at risk management, you’ll have an easier time working in cybersecurity. You’ll need to understand risk and compliance security audits which allow you to identify weaknesses in your cybersecurity solutions.

Communication

As a cybersecurity pro, you won’t just be dealing with computers and code. People are going to need your input too. Whether you’re presenting a new cybersecurity policy to the staff or you have to provide written documentation of a security breach, your communication skills could mean everything at times during your cybersecurity career.

Communication may particularly come into play if your cybersecurity job description includes project management responsibilities. When you’re leading a team of cybersecurity team members, effective communication skills will be essential.

Your next cybersecurity job opportunity awaits

Once you’ve leveled up with new cybersecurity skills, a whole new world of job opportunities opens up. Check out the freelance positions that are currently available for cybersecurity professionals and other IT experts on Upwork.

Talent Marketplace^TM on Upwork helps freelancers, such as cybersecurity contractors, find great work opportunities.

Take advantage of high demand in the field of cybersecurity! Browse our listings for freelance IT security and cybersecurity jobs today.

Just starting out? Beginners should consider participating in a cybersecurity bootcamp. If you’d like full training on cybersecurity, the real-world lessons offered by cutting-edge bootcamps are unmatched.

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Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.