The importance of data security in the digital age is highlighted through the story of Krishna and his stolen smartphone.

 SHORT INTRO ABOUT ME

This is Vamsi, I’m a Senior Data Security Engineer with relevant experience of 5 years and an overall experience of 8 years in the IT field.

Currently, I work as an SR. Guardium/DB Security Engineer, specializing in data activity monitoring. My role involves utilizing IBM Guardium and related security tools like 1Touch, GDE, and Guardium Insights. I handle DAM projects from sales to demos, health checks, proof of concept, stakeholder engagement, architecture, deployment, testing, documentation, compliance monitoring, reporting, training, knowledge transfer, and client support.

In this and upcoming articles, I'll share my journey, covering learning, aspects, and domains of cybersecurity. This attempt may have mistakes, but I'll strive to cover as much as possible. Stay tuned for more on becoming a cybersecurity professional.

My main goal is to inspire individuals to pursue a cybersecurity career. In future articles, I'll provide insights on courses, videos, skills, experiences, Q&A sessions, presentations, tools, software, and more. Stay tuned for valuable information!

Let’s get started.

Once upon a time in a small village nestled in the lush green fields of South India, there lived a wise old man named Raman. He was known far and wide for his knowledge and storytelling abilities. People from all walks of life would gather under the banyan tree in the village square, eagerly awaiting his tales.

One sunny day, as the villagers gathered around, Raman began his story. He spoke of a young farmer named Krishna who had recently embraced the wonders of technology. Krishna had purchased a smartphone and was amazed by the endless possibilities it offered. With just a few taps, he could connect with people from distant lands and access a wealth of information.

Excited by his newfound tool, Krishna began using his smartphone for various tasks. He stored important details like his bank account information, personal documents, and even photographs of his loved ones. Little did he know that there were lurking dangers in the digital realm.

One fateful evening, as Krishna returned home from the fields, he discovered that his smartphone had been stolen. Panic set in, for he realized that all his personal information was at risk. His heart sank, thinking about the potential consequences of such a breach.

News of the theft quickly spread throughout the village, and it reached the ears of the wise old man, Raman. Concerned for Krishna's safety, he invited the young farmer to seek his guidance. Krishna, feeling helpless, rushed to Raman's house, desperate for a solution.

As Raman listened to Krishna's plight, he understood the importance of data security in this digital age. He assured Krishna that all was not lost and that there were measures to protect his information from falling into the wrong hands.

Raman narrated a tale from his own life, where he had faced a similar situation. He had once misplaced a pouch containing important documents, including his land records. Realizing the potential consequences, he immediately reported the incident to the authorities and took swift action to secure his data.

He emphasized that data security was vital in our lives, just like safeguarding our physical belongings. Raman explained the significance of regularly updating passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being cautious while sharing personal information online. He stressed the importance of backing up important data and using antivirus software to protect against digital threats.

Krishna was grateful for Raman's wisdom and guidance. He understood that the digital world, like the real world, had its dangers and needed to be navigated with caution. From that day forward, Krishna took every precaution to ensure his data remained secure.

The village continued to gather under the banyan tree, not just for Raman's captivating stories, but also to learn from his experiences. Raman's tale had taught them all a valuable lesson about the importance of data security. They realized that in this interconnected world, protecting one's personal information was essential to safeguarding their identity and preserving their peace of mind.

And so, the villagers went forth, sharing Raman's wisdom with others, ensuring that the tale of Krishna and his stolen smartphone became a cautionary tale for generations to come. They understood that in this digital era, data security was the key to a safe and protected future.

But that's just one tale among countless cybercrimes occurring worldwide. You might find the Netflix web series titled Jamtara interesting, as it delves into the life of a cybercriminal. I highly suggest watching it to gain insights into online scams, hacking, phishing, identity theft, cyberstalking, social engineering, and more.

Some statistics in India about cybercrimes.

As per HT's report on Wednesday, the overall count of cognizable cases saw a 28% rise. However, the number of new cases still increased compared to 2022. Notably, instances of phishing and cybercrime witnessed a significant surge of 19.3%.

Concerning complaints related to cybercrime sections, the registered cases increased from 44,735 to 50,035 compared to the previous year. This aligns with global trends as more individuals shifted to remote work and study, resulting in increased reliance on digital tools

Some statistics in the world about cybercrimes.

·Nearly 1 billion emails were exposed in a single year, affecting 1 in 5 internet users.

·Data breaches cost businesses an average of $4.35 million in 2022.

·Around 236.1 million ransomware attacks occurred globally in the first half of 2022.

·1 in 2 American internet users had their accounts breached in 2021.

·39% of UK businesses reported suffering a cyber-attack in 2022.

·Around 1 in 10 US organizations have no insurance against cyber-attacks.

·53.35 million US citizens were affected by cybercrime in the first half of 2022.

·Cybercrime cost UK businesses an average of £4200 in 2022.

·In 2020, malware attacks increased by 358% compared to 2019.

·The most common cyber threat facing businesses and individuals is phishing.

What Does This Mean for IT Professionals?

Regardless of the reasons for the increase in demand, the pressing problem is a shortage of people trained and capable enough to fill the growing number of cyber security roles. NASSCOM reports that despite having the largest IT talent pool in the world, India simply lacks skilled cybersecurity professionals. In fact, the need for experienced professionals is so high that companies are willing to pay a premium salary of over Rs 1.5 to 4 crore to top talent. This has increased the cyber security budget by 71% as observed by PwC in its 2022 report.

Who is a Cybersecurity Professional?

Cybersecurity professionals are skilled and trained individuals who protect your data, networks, systems, and devices from malicious threats, cyber-attacks, phishing attacks, and unauthorized access. Protecting your data, client information, cloud, and mobile networks and systems is a challenging job. 

However, along with the relevant education, cybersecurity personnel are highly creative, passionate about research, have a keen eye for detail, and always think on their feet for out-of-the-box solutions to unconventional problems.

A cybersecurity career in India is in high demand due to the increasing need for IT professionals and cyber-focused individuals. A key responsibility of a cybersecurity professional is protecting the organization's valuable data and networks. Another title for a cybersecurity professional is a cybersecurity analyst. As the name suggests, a cybersecurity analyst analyses and tackles cyber-attacks and malware on your networks, data, and information.

Conclusion

There are many opportunities for cyber security jobs in India today, but plenty of other roles exist and go unfilled, including information risk auditors, firewalls, security device development professionals, security analysts, intrusion detection specialists, computer security incident responders, cryptologists, and vulnerability assessors.