How Can Cybersecurity Be Improved and Will I Need Formal Education?

If you like the idea of using your skills to fight crime but don’t relish a hail of bullets as your workstation, then a career in cyber defense might be right for you. With cybercrime and digital terrorism on the upswing, many people interested in computer science and working to help others find themselves interested in a cybersecurity career.

Employers tend to look for at least a bachelor's degree in a discipline like computer science, programming, information assurance, or similar. If you want to progress further up the career ladder, a Masters in Cybersecurity could serve you well. Clearly, this field is one that has many opportunities and room for advancement.

Almost half of all cyber threats are internal

A 2016 report released by the firm Cybersecurity Ventures revealed that cybercrime is likely to cost $6 trillion worldwide by 2021. If you pair that figure up with research by the SANS Institute, 46 percent, or $2.8 trillion in damages will be attributable to internal threats to information security. IBM pegs this at more than 60 percent.

Of these, roughly a quarter are accidental, with the remainder involving malicious intent. It's obvious when you think about it. Who is in a better position to tinker with your data than someone who already has ready access and who knows where an attack is likely to hurt?

A 2016 article in the Harvard Business Review identifies three of the most common insider risks:

• Human error
• Leaked passwords
• Identity theft

How to guard against internal cyber attacks

What you don't want to do is treat your entire work force like criminals. For one thing, it will drive the criminals further underground. While cyber sleuths are beavering away building a better mousetrap with which to ensnare the black hats, egotistical hackers are on the other side of the tracks building better mice.

Aside from that, does anybody really want to work in a zero-trust environment? That's a big zero percent in the employee retention column. Besides, like West Wing's President Bartlett's physician once said to him, "In the event of a coup, Sir, what makes you think the Secret Service is going to be on your side?"

As it happens, artificial intelligence and analytics make cyber-frisking your CISO completely unnecessary. Harvard Business Review comes to the rescue once again. These tools make it possible to assess behavior at the level of the employee, and are able to spot violations within a matter of minutes.

Additionally, here are four practical tips for getting a better night's sleep:

• Your top priority is to identify the job positions most likely to cause the most damage. Focus on the friability of the assets, not the personality of the individual. The best criminals are sociopaths, who are adept at fooling even the best of character judges, so don't even try to psych them out. Monitor these positions the most closely.
• Determine your most valuable information assets, and focus your resources on these.
• Apply deep analytical tools such as those described above. People are nothing if not creatures of habit. Not only do they come and go at regular times, they also develop individual patterns of interacting with technology.
• Don't neglect the small stuff. Simple software patches applied quickly will seal up a vulnerability before a hacker has a chance to exploit it. Additionally, train your people in user awareness like developing, and regularly changing, secure passwords. Then test them. HBI recommends tripping them up with fake exercises.

Where to get the training you need

If you're interested in a career in cybersecurity, you will want to make sure you have a good education behind you. If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Cyber and Network Security - Cybersecurity Track, consider ECPI University. For more information about our accelerated programs, connect with a knowledgeable admissions professional today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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Gainful Employment Information – Cybersecurity Track - Bachelor’s

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