Cyber security jobs in high demand as online threats grow

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Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points. ‘As technology evolves, like AI, the tools that bad actors use evolve too,’ a professor said
As technology constantly evolves in the online world, there will be an ongoing need for people who work in cyber security.

The threats to online safety are many.

“There are tons of threats and it would take a couple of years to list every single threat that’s out there these days,” said Sam Laitinen, a professor in Sault College’s Computer Networking and Cyber Security program.

“In the past the big threat was viruses and malware but it’s changed. Now we have sophisticated hackers. They break into a business and hold its data for ransom.

“People have their data locked down and basically it’s ‘pay us this much money and we’ll unlock your computer for you.’”

Computer users should also be wary of phishing at the office or home, Laitinen said.

“You get fake emails. I used to work for a company and in my first week there I got an email that said ‘you won a $25 gift card for being a new employee.’ I thought ‘awesome’ but sure enough I clicked the link and it said ‘you’ve been involved in a phishing scam.’”

People should also be alert about text messages that appear to be sent from huge companies like Bell.

“They’re not from Bell or some other large company. It’s someone trying to scam you into something. It’s gotten worse these days and we’re going to see it more and more,” Laitinen said.

Villains in the online world can range from someone living in their parents’ basement in Canada to organized groups located abroad, Laitinen said.

With such threats to cyber security, what safeguards can be taken?

Strong passwords, up to 16 characters in length or more, are a good start, Laitinen said.

It’s also vital to keep passwords a secret.

“I’ve walked into so many businesses where employees have a long password on a post-it note pasted to the computer screen. There’s no protection if you do things like that,” Laitinen said.

Multi-factor authentication is now playing a greater role in cyber security.

“If you ever sign into a website or your email and you put in your username and password it will send a code to your phone by text. That will help to protect you.”

Patching, which involves keeping software and operating systems up to date on computers, phones and tablets and keeping backups of data offline will also help in protecting people from cyber security breaches, Laitinen added.

Locally, the Sault College board of governors approved the establishment of a two-year Computer Networking and Cyber Security program in 2021 and its first intake will begin their studies in September.

“To put it simply we are teaching them networking which is how to connect computers in a room or building to the internet and once we build those networks, we are showing them how to protect against attacks from both inside and outside the network,” Laitinen said.

Students will be taught how to address cyber attacks.

“When an attack happens, we are showing them how to break down what happened to help prevent future attacks.”

People with professional knowledge in computer networking and cyber security, no matter where they receive their training, will have little to no difficulty in finding employment, Laitinen said.

“There is a global skills gap in this field. In reality every company is now a technology company. Whether you run a bank, a hospital, or a retail store in Station Mall, you have data to protect. The demand for skilled professionals far outstrips the supply.”

People going into computer networking and cyber security will have a career, not just a job, Laitinen said.

“They’re entering a field that is critical to national and local security. It’s also a job for the right person that is very mobile. You can end up working across the planet protecting and building networks.”

People entering the cyber security field need to have a specific mindset, Laitinen said.

“Technical skills like coding and networking can be taught, but they need to have curiosity.”

“You don’t need to be a computer genius by any means, but you do need to have a willingness to learn. If you enjoy video games, solving puzzles, or taking things apart to see how they work, you have the right mindset.”

Laitinen said key traits that cyber security professionals should possess include:

Problem solving: enjoying puzzles and logic
Skepticism: the ‘law enforcement’ mind, always asking ‘does this look right?’ and ‘how could someone exploit this?’
Communication skills: they need to be able to explain technical risks to non-technical bosses

Cyber security professionals can have a job for life if they wish.

“It is an arms race,” Laitinen said.

“As technology evolves, like AI, the tools that bad actors use evolve too.

“Cybersecurity isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. We don’t just solve security and go home. If there is valuable data online, there will be people trying to steal it. People in this field must be lifelong learners so they can stay ahead of that curve.”