Non-technical skills of an ethical hacker
Institutional Affiliation
Student’s Name
Course
Date
Introduction
Ethical hacking entails identification threats to computers or networks. An ethical hacker, white hat, is, therefore, the brains behind the actual ethical hacking process. The hacker attempts to by-pass security systems and search for any possible weak points that could be utilized by various malicious hackers. The non-technical skills of an ethical hacker prove to be of more importance than the technical capabilities of the hacker. It takes more than technical skills to be an ethical hacker in the field of Cybersecurity.
Non-technical skills of an ethical hacker
The ability of learning and quick adaptation to new technologies is essential for an ethical hacker. An ethical hacker must update his/her inventory of knowledge with the increasing intensity of malicious hackers and the dark web, making the modern-day nature of cyber-attacks more sophisticated than before. An ethical hacker has to embrace the thinking of a malicious hacker and have the best interests of the company at heart (Flin, & Kumar, 2015). When an ethical hacker operates as a malicious activity, he/she will end up uncovering or at least anticipating the next probable cyber-attack from the malicious attacker. The hacker must also adopt better and more sophisticated software to track and eliminate possible hacks, which are also getting more involved with time.
Commendable work ethics, excellent communication, and problem-solving skills are skills applicable to any hacker. Practical communication skills have shown to be critical in both incidence responses and the infrastructural improvement of the Cybersecurity of companies. This incorporates a proper plan outlay and a directional approach geared towards the accomplishment of measurable goals. Such a skill is not known to be possessed by just any employee but instead gained through experience at the workplace over time. Therefore, if a hacker acquires such an original, prompt briefing of the management on the daily doings would prove helpful, as it would also help to build trust between the hacker and the company of engagement.
Awareness of set local laws and standards is essential. Every company has principles and set rules to ensure that its employees act professionally. Before getting absorbed into companies, most ethical workers were originally malicious hackers. This fact predicts possible misconduct from the newly employed hackers; therefore, all ethical hackers being used by companies have to be aware of the professional conduct required of them as employees and adhere accordingly (Youngson, & Sundt, 2015). An ethical hacker is given access to sensitive organization’s data. Therefore, the hacker must bear in mind the need to adhere to the security policies in place, so as not to put the company’s data at risk.
Conclusion
Cyberattacks and other dark web activities have been on a drastic rise in recent years, exposing companies to massive security fatalities and data breaches being the most implicated malicious hacking type. This scenario, therefore, forces companies to absorb skilled hackers as their security personnel. The employed hackers act as a shield for the companies from data intrusions or other hacks, from malicious hackers. This is a necessary step for companies, should they want to stay clear of hacks that may prove fatal to them. Companies should not just aim at hiring hackers with relevant expertise. They should instead employ hackers who also possess non-technical skills, quick learning and prompt adaption to modern technologies, commitment to the security policies of an organization, excellent communication, and problem-solving skills, and awareness of the local laws and standards of an organization.
References
Flin, R., & Kumar, M. (2015). Human factors: The science behind non-technical skills. Enhancing Surgical Performance, 17-36. https://doi.org/10.1201/b18702-2
Youngson, G. G., & Sundt, T. M. (2015). What next? Development of non-technical skills. Improving Surgical Performance, 185-197. https://doi.org/10.1201/b18702-11