#secureScribeFridays 3 reasons why leveling up in cybersecurity can help any software engineer’s career.

1. Software infrastructure is getting complicated, be the knowledge resource.

Documenting software infrastructure and architecture goes beyond mere organizational protocol; it is immensely valuable in identifying attack vectors. Taking the lead provides you with a platform to demonstrate your understanding, foresight, and meticulous attention to detail. Set yourself apart by championing thorough and accurate documentation, positioning yourself as thought leaders and indispensable assets to their teams. Companies often seek professionals who can not only develop but also elucidate complex systems, ensuring continuity and scalability for the future. By embracing this responsibility, you can position yourself within the organization as someone who can mentor peers in addition to being an architecture and security expert. In the landscape of career progression, spearheading software documentation becomes a noteworthy differentiator, elevating one's prospects for leadership roles and lateral moves into different software verticals such as DevOps and SecOps.

2. No field can escape “AI”

You shouldn’t be running to cybersecurity to escape working on AI. AI is dramatically reshaping the landscape of cybersecurity in multifaceted ways. Firstly, sophisticated AI tools are enabling hackers to identify new attack vectors more rapidly and efficiently, narrowing the time window security professionals have to preemptively address these vulnerabilities. Secondly, AI models, despite their transformative capabilities, have emerged as new points of vulnerability. The vast volumes of data they process, combined with the intricate infrastructure they rely upon, make them prime targets for cyber threats. As a result of these evolving challenges, governments worldwide are amplifying their scrutiny of AI applications in security. A burgeoning wave of legislation is on the horizon, aimed squarely at AI's role in cybersecurity. Corporations are now facing pressure not just to harden their software but also to ensure their AI-driven systems are robust and resilient against these novel cyber challenges. The intersection of AI and cybersecurity is rapidly becoming a pivotal battlefield, demanding unprecedented levels of innovation and vigilance. Understanding this and shaping your cybersecurity skillset around AI could be a major differentiator.

3. Security engineers are overloaded

The current technological landscape witnesses a significant disparity in the realm of cybersecurity, where companies fall short of hiring a sufficient number of security engineers. This results in security teams being stretched thin and ground down by the stringent demands of compliance standards such as SOC2, ISO, and FedRAMP. These mandates bring a slew of intricate, and often undesirable, tasks that traditional feature developers typically shy away from. \@Wes Sheppard in his BSidesLV talk highlights this gap as a golden opportunity. Proactive professionals who focus on crafting platforms and libraries to streamline these cumbersome compliance tasks can not only bridge the divide between feature developers and security teams but also significantly elevate their own career trajectories. Collaborating closely with managers, both within and outside of security teams, to spotlight these contributions is crucial. By emphasizing how these initiatives expedite the development lifecycle and fortify the security posture, individuals can carve out a niche for themselves, showcasing their indispensable role in shaping a more agile and secure tech environment.

You can do this

In an era where AI's transformative capacities intersect with cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and where security engineers grapple with increasing workloads due to scanty team numbers and complex compliance mandates, there lies a profound opportunity for career-minded engineers to step up. Recognizing these gaps opens doors for the creation of innovative platform software, making tasks more efficient and enhancing team collaboration. As technology continues to evolve, integrating cybersecurity into one's existing work isn't merely an asset; it's a necessity. Make sure these efforts are noticed and find allies who will highlight you contributions.

Embracing this call will ensure not just the protection of digital landscapes but also the growth of individual careers.

Written by: Pratik Pramanik