Networks Europe May/June 2019 | Page 24

24 TRAINING & SKILLS Scientific The perfect cybersecurity professional wants to solve problems using data and analytic skills. Cybercriminals are increasingly sophisticated in their attacks and this requires individuals who are highly technical and value evidence- based decision making. 4 Inquisitive The world of cybersecurity is ever changing. When threats are prevented, new ones emerge which can require a completely different set of skills than the ones needed previously. A successful cybersecurity candidate is imaginative, curious and creative. They need to figure things out quickly, show a motivation to learn and always be open to new ideas. 5 Sceptical ‘Trust no one’ would be a useful motto for a cybersecurity worker. To get ahead of the game and prevent attacks means sometimes having to think like a hacker. This means maintaining suspicion about what’s going on around you because in a world of constant threats, naivety can be a dangerous thing. 6 Responsive. In cybersecurity, things can go wrong quickly, and you might be blamed for breaches that weren’t your fault. If someone in the company opens a phishing email and exposes sensitive information, you might be held accountable. It’s thus important for a cybersecurity worker to be open and responsive to criticisms and avoid being passive-aggressive. 7 "Traditional recruiting practices often overlook personality and focus on education, experience and a set of hard skills. While these are important, it is crucial to remember that personality characteristics play a huge role" Diligent In a pressured environment with a firm’s security at stake, a successful candidate needs to be detail-oriented and constantly pushing projects to completion. One small oversight could lead to attacks, so cybersecurity specialists need to scrutinise every detail. They also need to value achievement and making an impact. 8 Personality power Dr Ryne Sherman, Chief Science Officer, added: “Traditional recruiting practices often overlook personality and focus on education, experience and a set of hard skills. While these are important, it is crucial to remember that personality characteristics play a huge role. A candidate with a suitable personality can be easily trained into the right role. This is especially true in the cybersecurity world where companies struggle to find the experienced individuals they need. To recruit top talent, companies should direct their attention to the power of personality.” n www.networkseuropemagazine.com