There is one golden rule that anyone working in the cyber world should know: Anyone who asks for money before they do anything is not in business. But Golden advice for your Cybersecurity career should go beyond that, into the future. You want to be someone who makes others feel secure. You want to be seen as someone who has the security and privacy that people count on when they shop online, bank on the Internet, or simply do their everyday activities. It starts with knowing your customer and understanding what makes them tick.
Let’s face it, the cyber world has changed so much in the last year. We now have companies that can empty an entire bank account in less than 24 hours. This is because there is a lot of money to be made by taking advantage of new vulnerabilities and waiting for the right opportunity to present itself.
You need to have a solid plan of action. Prepare yourself for the changes that are afoot in cyber-security. Your job will no longer be to simply keep up with the latest threats. You will need to have the foresight to see how the industry will evolve, and what threats will surface in the next few years. Your career will need to be flexible enough to change with the times. Being right is not a skill you can develop easily, but you can get there nonetheless.
Think about your goals, and what skills you have to acquire to meet those goals. Are you looking at your Cybersecurity career as more than just a way to make money? If you are, you will need to spend some time thinking about how you can grow your skills. While that can take some time, think about what you currently offer that can help your employer better understand their current issues. For instance, if you are an information security specialist, might you consider offering training classes to other employees to help them understand the newest threats?
The advice doesn’t stop there. It continues on to the future. You need to start planning for the future. Do your research and determine who you want to stay in your position. Are you looking at a whole new company, or do you feel you can stick it out and work with what you have now? Think about what your skills will be, and whether you will need to find a new career altogether.
Take stock of your career path now. What direction would you like to take it? Is it steady growth, or does it seem to be going in a different direction each and every year? If you want to continue working in this field, you will need to keep learning and growing.
Some people choose to keep their careers in the same field they have worked in for years. This may be fine if you feel that you have some skill sets that will never be obsolete. For others, this isn’t an option. In this case, consider all options before making a final decision on where you will go.
If you need more guidance, the Cybersecurity Alliance offers several online classes and training that will help you learn how to become an authorized hacker. You can also find several books and articles that will give you golden advice to help keep you on your toes. Of course, you should always talk to someone at your current job before making major changes. Your direct supervisor can offer you some guidance as well.
One of the keys to keeping your position is to stay informed. Make sure you understand what your responsibilities are and who those responsibilities are in contact with. Don’t ever accept assignments without knowing who the intended recipient is. This is particularly important when it comes to companies with children. A careless move could end up with a person in trouble.
If you have made a mistake in the past, you will need to think about how to fix that. If you have a plan in place, write it down. This golden advice for your cybersecurity career can also include an evaluation of how your career path is shaping up. If you are unsure about this, take some time off and make sure you evaluate your situation. There is no point in taking a risk when there are clear steps you can take to avoid them.
Finally, if you see that someone in your industry is being uncooperative, consider reporting them. There’s nothing worse than knowing someone is not working to protect you. If you see the problem, speak up. There’s no need to be silent when someone is ignoring legitimate advice.
