- SKILL LEVEL:
Cyber security specialist
Job profile:
Digital
Career zone:
The transformation driver
What is a cyber security specialist and what do they do?
Cyber security specialists help organisations assess and manage their information security and cyber risks. They conduct audits and assessments of the information security environments and provide proactive advice to enable organisations to protect themselves from cyber risks.
Key responsibilities
Responsibilities will vary, but examples include:
- seeking to build in security during the development stages of software systems, networks and data centres
- looking for vulnerabilities and risks in hardware and software
- finding the best way to secure the IT infrastructure of an organisation building firewalls into network infrastructures
- constantly monitoring for attacks and intrusions
- closing off identified security vulnerabilities
- identifying the perpetrator and liaising with the appropriate authorities, if necessary.
Why are they important?
As data becomes ever more important to organisations and the protection of personally identifiable data the subject of increasing regulation so this role is important in organisations.
Person specification
Cyber security specialists need strong digital skills especially in the areas of IT operating environments and applications. They apply lifelong learning to ensure that they are aware of changes in the threat profile, for example, those resulting from emerging technologies or 5th and 6th-generation attacks.
They are collaborators with others in addressing enterprise risk management.
They are strong critical thinkers and problem solvers.
They have a strong business acumen, developed through the ACCA Qualification, which they apply by assessing inherent risks and developing and implementing appropriate solutions.
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