Computers in the Workplace

Figure 1, (Homeland Security Today, 2019)

Computer usage is integral in the field of cybersecurity. Computers are used to monitor intrusion detection and intrusion prevention systems (IDS / IPS), pull log reports, track unauthorized user activity, and use a multitude of analytical software tools to investigate incidents. Computer literacy is an inherent requirement in the field. In addition to typical Microsoft Office programs, such as Outlook, Word, and Excel, used for communication and drafting reports and graphs, we must understand how to use all our analytical tools. Some of the tools that my office uses are Splunk, Solara, Cisco Firepower, Cisco Threat Grid, and Cisco IronPort Email Security Appliance among others. Each tool has its own purpose and generally a specific syntax used to query data to analyze. Each analyst must be familiar with these programs to be able to analyze potential threats and recommend remediation steps as necessary to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

As technology continues to develop, computers will become faster and be able to store more data. As we are already seeing in many products, the internet of things (IoT) market will continue to grow, connecting nearly all our devices to the internet. This introduces even more opportunities for vulnerabilities to exist in a network and the added need for security. One of the largest advances I think we will see in the next ten years in cybersecurity is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). While still relatively new, AI and ML is already being implemented successfully in cybersecurity to detect new variances in malicious software. It can also be used to detect anomalies in user activity to spot potential malicious activity (Palmer, 2020). While AI and ML will not be able to replace the human element in cybersecurity, it will become a needed compliment in detecting new threats and protecting sensitive networks as the technology is advanced.

Reference:

Homeland Security Today. (2019, February 22). CyberDOD-e1519017674956 [Online Image]. Homeland Security Today. https://www.hstoday.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/CyberDOD-e1519017674956.jpg

Palmer, D. (2020, March 2). AI is changing everything about cybersecurity, for better and for worse. Here's what you need to know. ZDNet.  https://www.zdnet.com/article/ai-is-changing-everything-about-cybersecurity-for-better-and-for-worse-heres-what-you-need-to-know/