3 answers
Caulin
Student
Lancaster
1
Question
Asked
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what makes someone get into cybersecurity how can your work prove flexible how does the job bleed into/improve or change your life outside of work do you find that you have support outside your work that supports a working attitude that you also find in your workspace ?
what examples have you seen or experienced from your employment of your employer valuing effort over skill? do they seem to differentiate between the two? do they reward those who utilize the difference by using both hand in hand?
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3 answers
Jose Serra
Software Engineering Intern
5
Answers
Bloomfield, New Jersey
Updated
Jose’s Answer
This question is a bit loaded and I will attempt to tackle the question.
What makes someone get into cybersecurity?
There are many avenues in cybersecurity many people have their reasons for choosing cybersecurity one of them being that it is an emerging and growing field, another that it pays well, others it might just be that they feel purpose guarding and protecting other people's information.
How can your work prove flexible?
Work does not have to be a rigid structure for individuals for example you do not have to consider it as a 9-to-5 but something that brings challenges to you and fulfillment. These things enable flexibility in your day to day activity working.
How does the job bleed into/improve or change your life outside of work?
In my area of employment I gain experience developing applications, working as a team with other people, and rounding off those necessary soft skills such as knowledge communication, training, and so on. Soft skills are desired in a fast moving industry where soft skills are taught in classrooms.
Do you find that you have support outside your work that supports a working attitude that you also find in your workspace ?
I definitely feel I have support outside my work, and it comes through the form of constantly improving myself either through excercise, reading, and other activities.
What examples have you seen or experienced from your employment of your employer valuing effort over skill? Do they reward those who utilize the difference by using both hand in hand?
I have experienced employers valuing individuals that put in less effort or those that put in more effort all the time, reason being because highly skilled workers according to one of my professors Supermen/Superwomen are not liked by employers. The reason being because they often times ask for more money in an application, or in a raise. Rewards come to those who at times maintain level-headedness and perform just the requirements of the job because one may dedicate oneself to a company in their lifetime just to get laid off from such company. It really depends one the job environment, management and so on.
What makes someone get into cybersecurity?
There are many avenues in cybersecurity many people have their reasons for choosing cybersecurity one of them being that it is an emerging and growing field, another that it pays well, others it might just be that they feel purpose guarding and protecting other people's information.
How can your work prove flexible?
Work does not have to be a rigid structure for individuals for example you do not have to consider it as a 9-to-5 but something that brings challenges to you and fulfillment. These things enable flexibility in your day to day activity working.
How does the job bleed into/improve or change your life outside of work?
In my area of employment I gain experience developing applications, working as a team with other people, and rounding off those necessary soft skills such as knowledge communication, training, and so on. Soft skills are desired in a fast moving industry where soft skills are taught in classrooms.
Do you find that you have support outside your work that supports a working attitude that you also find in your workspace ?
I definitely feel I have support outside my work, and it comes through the form of constantly improving myself either through excercise, reading, and other activities.
What examples have you seen or experienced from your employment of your employer valuing effort over skill? Do they reward those who utilize the difference by using both hand in hand?
I have experienced employers valuing individuals that put in less effort or those that put in more effort all the time, reason being because highly skilled workers according to one of my professors Supermen/Superwomen are not liked by employers. The reason being because they often times ask for more money in an application, or in a raise. Rewards come to those who at times maintain level-headedness and perform just the requirements of the job because one may dedicate oneself to a company in their lifetime just to get laid off from such company. It really depends one the job environment, management and so on.
John Husband
Computer Science, Real Estate, Life
47
Answers
Boca Raton
Updated
John’s Answer
Hi Caulin!
What a question!
My background for answering is 15 years working for Microsoft and 30 years in the technology business altogether. It sounds like you have an interest in cyber security. That's fantastic and a growing industry. There is never a shortage of bad guys!
Here is how to get started.
First you'll want to take as much math as possible. Cryptography is based on mathematical principals. Can while you may never need some of the math to implement a firewall for example, you will find understanding some of the principals helpful. You should be thinking about a math minor with a computer science degree in college for context.
Second and perhaps more important is you want to become a white hat hacker. A white hat hacker is someone who tries to break into things to test the security of a business' systems. They get paid to do this! And they have permission to do this. Black hat hackers are the bad guys. Never hack anyone else's cyber asset without permission.
So how do you become a hacker? Hack! Setup your own website. Then hack it. Fix the security then hack it again. Fix it again then hack it again. Setup an online database and hack it. Setup an online store and hack it. Offer to hack for free your friends' parents websites etc.
Hacking like much of computer science is really about learning how to learn. There is always a bad guy out there trying to get around the security that you just put in. So you need to think like the bad guy and learn how to hack your own security and devise a solution to your own hack!
The amazing part of this is that it doesn't require a college education. You can start today. There's nothing stopping you. Find a free website host and put up a simple website then hack it!
When you go on your interview, the whole time you can be talking about how you hacked this or that and how you secured the system against your own hack! You'll be so much further ahead than people with just a degree. You will be able to show how you did it!
Hope this helps! Feel free to reply with any clarifying questions.
-John Husband
Setup your own website
Hack your own website
Secure your own website
Hack it again
Get a Master's Degree or PhD in cyber security.
What a question!
My background for answering is 15 years working for Microsoft and 30 years in the technology business altogether. It sounds like you have an interest in cyber security. That's fantastic and a growing industry. There is never a shortage of bad guys!
Here is how to get started.
First you'll want to take as much math as possible. Cryptography is based on mathematical principals. Can while you may never need some of the math to implement a firewall for example, you will find understanding some of the principals helpful. You should be thinking about a math minor with a computer science degree in college for context.
Second and perhaps more important is you want to become a white hat hacker. A white hat hacker is someone who tries to break into things to test the security of a business' systems. They get paid to do this! And they have permission to do this. Black hat hackers are the bad guys. Never hack anyone else's cyber asset without permission.
So how do you become a hacker? Hack! Setup your own website. Then hack it. Fix the security then hack it again. Fix it again then hack it again. Setup an online database and hack it. Setup an online store and hack it. Offer to hack for free your friends' parents websites etc.
Hacking like much of computer science is really about learning how to learn. There is always a bad guy out there trying to get around the security that you just put in. So you need to think like the bad guy and learn how to hack your own security and devise a solution to your own hack!
The amazing part of this is that it doesn't require a college education. You can start today. There's nothing stopping you. Find a free website host and put up a simple website then hack it!
When you go on your interview, the whole time you can be talking about how you hacked this or that and how you secured the system against your own hack! You'll be so much further ahead than people with just a degree. You will be able to show how you did it!
Hope this helps! Feel free to reply with any clarifying questions.
-John Husband
John recommends the following next steps:
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6342
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Caulin,
It's often said that our professions can significantly influence our lives beyond the workplace. For instance, police officers might face negative attitudes even when they're not on duty, especially if they're still in uniform.
However, in the realm of cybersecurity, we hope that the software they create can do the heavy lifting, tracking down the IP addresses of potential threats. While government corporate affairs may be aware of these cybersecurity experts, they are bound by confidentiality.
Assistance for those who have been hacked can come from various sources. Legal specialists may be able to issue a writ against the hacker, and larger corporations often have counsellors available to help employees deal with the psychological impact of being hacked.
It's common for employees to blame themselves when they fall victim to a cyber attack, but perhaps the focus should be on the employer investing in stronger firewalls.
An employer who discourages exceptional intelligence can hinder growth by promoting the "tall poppy syndrome". This could be due to a parental instinct to favor employees who are more easily managed.
Yet, everyone appreciates a sincere, hardworking individual. After all, a shepherd prefers more sheep. The key is not to suppress, but to communicate, as raw talent and intelligence are what bring in substantial profits for management.
The real concern arises when the "tall poppies" turn out to be hackers!
Wishing you all the best,
J
It's often said that our professions can significantly influence our lives beyond the workplace. For instance, police officers might face negative attitudes even when they're not on duty, especially if they're still in uniform.
However, in the realm of cybersecurity, we hope that the software they create can do the heavy lifting, tracking down the IP addresses of potential threats. While government corporate affairs may be aware of these cybersecurity experts, they are bound by confidentiality.
Assistance for those who have been hacked can come from various sources. Legal specialists may be able to issue a writ against the hacker, and larger corporations often have counsellors available to help employees deal with the psychological impact of being hacked.
It's common for employees to blame themselves when they fall victim to a cyber attack, but perhaps the focus should be on the employer investing in stronger firewalls.
An employer who discourages exceptional intelligence can hinder growth by promoting the "tall poppy syndrome". This could be due to a parental instinct to favor employees who are more easily managed.
Yet, everyone appreciates a sincere, hardworking individual. After all, a shepherd prefers more sheep. The key is not to suppress, but to communicate, as raw talent and intelligence are what bring in substantial profits for management.
The real concern arises when the "tall poppies" turn out to be hackers!
Wishing you all the best,
J