Are you perceptive and good at solving problems? A role in cyber security could be perfect for you! But which one and where should you get started?
Let’s see if your characteristics could help you achieve success in a cyber security job!
Are you able to spot small details that others may overlook? Do your perceptive abilities help you fix problems in your school, work or other areas of your life? Having a keen eye for detail and using this trait to solve issues is a requirement for many jobs!
Numerous cyber security roles require a perceptive personality and a talent for problem-solving. Traits like these can come in handy when you’re scanning for a faulty piece of code that’s preventing your software from running or hunting for clues in the aftermath of a cyber security attack.
Relevant cyber skills to unlock
Someone who is perceptive and likes problem-solving could find it easier to develop their skills in:
- Digital Forensics - analysing a breached system in the aftermath of a cyber security attack.
- Log analysis - examining event logs and log files to uncover different logins as well as hardware and software action.
- Steganography detection (e.g. Steganalysis) - finding messages and passwords hidden in other data.
- Encryption - converting data from one form into another so that only the intended recipient can understand or make use of the information.
- Encoding - the practice of converting data from one format to another, such as converting text to binary or hexadecimal.
- Cryptography - writing and breaking encrypted messages, using ciphers, which hide private data.
- Programming - creating or using computer software to perform a particular function.
Digital Forensics Analyst
What is a Digital Forensics Analyst?
A Digital Forensics Analyst or Investigator is a defensive security role. A Digital Forensics Analyst investigates cyber security crimes by examining the digital data from a crime scene. This data is used to determine how and why a digital breach happened.
How are my traits relevant?
During a forensics investigation, a Digital Forensics Analyst will use various methods to analyse a system. These skills, such as steganography detection/analysis, log analysis and cryptography require a sharp eye and a talent for problem-solving.
Specific skills to unlock on the Digital Forensics Analyst skills tree
- Digital forensics
- Steganography
- Log analysis
- Encoding
- Cryptography
To find out more about the job of a Digital Forensics Analyst, check out our full blog post on the role!
Cryptographer
What is a Cryptographer?
A Cryptographer is responsible for writing or cracking encrypted information. In this role, you might work in a government agency or a private sector industry like a financial organisation.
A Cryptographer may write an encrypted message as a way to secure private data. For example, when purchasing an item on a website, your bank details will be encrypted to prevent anyone from accessing and exploiting them.
Alternatively, a Cryptographer could be hired to crack encrypted messages for a government agency to uncover hidden information. This information may be valuable for unearthing a national security risk or some other form of major threat.
A Cryptographer is responsible for writing or cracking encrypted information.
How are my traits relevant?
A Cryptographer is often responsible for developing new methods to encrypt data as cyber criminals’ methods become more advanced. This will require an in-depth knowledge of cryptography and encryption for both offensive and defensive purposes. Programming skills are also often necessary to create new cipher cracking or cipher building software.
As a Cryptographer, you can expect to use your perceptive eye and problem-solving skills to create or crack encrypted messages.
Specific skills to unlock on the Cryptographer skills tree:
- Cryptography
- Encryption
- Programming
Are you interested in any of these cyber security roles? No matter what traits you have, they will be transferable across many cyber security jobs. Whether you’re set on one cyber job or have a few in mind, it’s good to know that there’s potential to move between roles in the industry!
Want to learn more about these cyber security skills and where they could take you? Get started easily by playing CyberStart Game today and learn cyber security on a fun, gamified platform!
