INTRODUCTION – Welcome to The Exciting World of Cybersecurity
Climb onto the exciting ride into the ever-changing world of cybersecurity and foray into what is the introductory stage into a more comprehensive exposure to the field. This first foray opens the rich diversity of the field of cybersecurity, focusing on the principal responsibilities associated with being an entry-level security analyst, in any comprehensive overview of the field. Understand the various roles professionals, specifically trained in cybersecurity, will adopt to safeguard digital environments. Explore the key prerequisites in terms of skills and knowledge that lay the groundwork for this vital discipline so that you are ready for the challenges-and opportunities-yet to come. This initial step is the context of much deeper immersion into cybersecurity space that is going to be very engaging in showing the dynamic nature of this topic.
Learning Outcomes
- This certificate program prepares learners for entering a career within the field of cybersecurity.
- Define the scope and significance of the field.
Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the entry-level security analyst. - Discover core skills and knowledge necessary for becoming a security analyst.
- Describe methods that security analysts use in securing networks and information.
PRACTICE QUIZ: TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: INTRODUCTION TO CYBERSECURITY
1. Fill in the blank: Cybersecurity is the practice of ensuring ______ by protecting networks, devices, people, and data from unauthorized access or criminal exploitation.
- customer trust, increased revenue, and advancement
- confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information (CORRECT)
- continuity, infrastructure, and attainment of business goals
- compliance, instructions, and accuracy
Cyber security pertains to securing the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information by protecting networks, devices, people, and data against unauthorized access, use, or harm through criminal exploitation.
2. What are the primary responsibilities of an entry-level security analyst? Select three answers.
- Create compliance laws
- Protect information (CORRECT)
- Search for weaknesses (CORRECT)
- Monitor systems (CORRECT)
An entry-level security analyst’s main task is to monitor systems, protect information and determine weaknesses against which one can put security enhancements.
3. Fill in the blank: Performing _______ enables security professionals to review an organization’s security records, activities, and related documents.
- security audits (CORRECT)
- software developments
- ethical hacking penetration tests
Correct: Conducting security audits helps security experts examine and evaluate the compliance of the organization with its security standards as well as spot the evidence of area improvements.
4. In what ways do security teams bring value to an organization? Select two answers.
- Reducing business productivity
- Increasing operational expenses
- Protecting against external and internal threats (CORRECT)
- Achieving regulatory compliance (CORRECT)
Value Contribution of Security Teams to Systems in an Organization: Regulatory Action Compliance and Protection against External and Internal Threats. Secure and Trustworthy Operations Continue for the System.
5. Fill in the blank: Cybersecurity is the practice of ensuring ___. Select three answers.
- vulnerability
- availability of information (CORRECT)
- integrity (CORRECT)
- confidentiality (CORRECT)
Such security practices maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of information. It is with the utmost case that networks, devices, people, and information are protected from unauthorized access, misuse, or other illegal exploitation.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: CORE SKILLS FOR CYBERSECURITY PROFESSIONALS
1. Which of the following proficiencies are transferable skills, likely to be applicable in almost any field? Select three answers.
- Programming
- Analysis (CORRECT)
- Written and verbal communication (CORRECT)
- Problem-solving (CORRECT)
These kill skills include the analysis, problem-solving and written and oral communication skills that make them transferable into the entry-level security analyst part. These enable the security analyst to assess security issues, develop solutions, and communicate findings and recommendations effectively.
2. Which of the following proficiencies are technical skills that are needed to become an entry-level security analyst? Select two answers.
- Regulation writing
- Collaboration
- Programming (CORRECT)
- Data analysis (CORRECT)
Learning programming as well as data analysis becomes important- a key technical skill that a novice security analyst will require both in automating tasks as well as determining data security for effective identification of potential threats or vulnerabilities.
3. Fill in the blank: ______ identify, analyze, and preserve criminal evidence within networks, computers, and electronic devices.
- Ethical hackers
- Digital forensic investigators (CORRECT)
- Security operations center analysts
- Business intelligence professionals
Digital forensic investigators are experts in spotting, analyzing, and collecting evidence of a crime present in networks, computers, and electronic devices. They help in the case of cybercrimes and are critical in providing evidence for legal investigations.
4. What are examples of sensitive personally identifiable information (SPII) that cybersecurity professionals need to protect? Select two answers.
- Last names
- Email addresses
- Bank account numbers (CORRECT)
- Medical records (CORRECT)
Health histories and banking identifiers are two sensitive examples of personally identifiable information SPII, which is a specific category of PII that requires stricter security because its theft or misuse may result in a significant injury to an individual, such as identity theft, financial damage, or privacy intrusion.
5. What are some core skills entry-level security analysts need to develop? Select three answers.
- Engineering
- Problem-solving (CORRECT)
- Programming (CORRECT)
- Communication (CORRECT)
Some of the necessary core skills for entry-level security analysts are programming, communication, and problem-solving. With these skills, analysts write effective code for security tasks, communicate efficiently with teams and stakeholders, and think critically and creatively in addressing security issues.
MODULE 1 CHALLENGE
1. Fill in the blank: The purpose of ______ is to protect networks, devices, people, and data from unauthorized access or criminal exploitation.
- planning
- cybersecurity (CORRECT)
- business continuity
- change-management
Correct!
2. Which of the following tasks are typically responsibilities of entry-level security analysts? Select all that apply.
- Examining in-house security issues (CORRECT)
- Installing prevention software (CORRECT)
- Creating organizational policies
- Protecting computer and network systems (CORRECT)
Correct!
3. Someone outside of an organization attempts to gain access to its private information. What type of threat does this scenario describe?
- External (CORRECT)
- Accidental
- Internal
- Ethical
Correct!
4. Fill in the blank: Identity theft is the act of stealing _______ to commit fraud while impersonating a victim.
- hardware
- personal information (CORRECT)
- business records
- trade secrets
Correct!
5. What are some key benefits associated with an organization meeting regulatory compliance? Select two answers.
- Recruiting employees
- Upholding ethical obligations (CORRECT)
- Identifying trends
- Avoiding fines (CORRECT)
Correct!
6. Which of the following proficiencies are examples of technical skills? Select two answers.
- Applying computer forensics (CORRECT)
- Communicating with employees
- Automating tasks with programming (CORRECT)
- Prioritizing collaboration
Correct!
7. Fill in the blank: Security information and event _____ (SIEM) tools enable security professionals to identify and analyze threats, risks, and vulnerabilities.
- mitigation
- management (CORRECT)
- monitoring
- maturity
Correct!
8. A security professional receives an alert about an unknown user accessing a system within their organization. They attempt to identify, analyze, and preserve the associated criminal evidence. What security task does this scenario describe?
- Programming with code
- Resolving error messages
- Computer forensics (CORRECT)
- Software upgrades
Correct!
9. Which of the following statements accurately describe personally identifiable information (PII) and sensitive personally identifiable information (SPII)? Select all that apply.
- Pll is any information used to infer an individual’s identity. (CORRECT)
- An example of SPII is someone’s biometric data. (CORRECT)
- Only SPII is vulnerable to identity theft.
- An example of PII is someone’s phone number. (CORRECT)
Correct!
10. Fill in the blank: Cybersecurity aims to protect networks, devices, people, and data from ______ or unauthorized access.
- changing business priorities
- criminal exploitation (CORRECT)
- poor financial management
- market shifts
Correct!
11. A security professional collaborates with information technology teams to deploy an application that helps identify risks and vulnerabilities. What does this scenario describe?
- Conducting a security audit
- Upgrading network capacity
- Installing detection software (CORRECT)
- Ethical hacking
Correct!
12. An employee receives an email that they believe to be legitimate. They click on a compromised link within the email. What type of internal threat does this scenario describe?
- Accidental (CORRECT)
- Abusive
- Operational
- Intentional
Correct!
13. What is identity theft?
- Failing to maintain and secure user, customer, and vendor data
- A data breach that affects an entire organization
- Trying to gain access to an organization’s private networks
- Stealing personal information to commit fraud while impersonating a victim (CORRECT)
Correct!
14. Fill in the blank: An organization that is in regulatory compliance is likely to ____ fines.
- rectify
- encounter
- avoid (CORRECT)
- incur
Correct!
15. Fill in the blank: Security information and _____ management (SIEM) tools enable security professionals to identify and analyze threats, risks, and vulnerabilities.
- event (CORRECT)
- enterprise
- employer
- emergency
Correct!
16. A security professional investigates an alert about an unknown user accessing a system within their organization. What is the purpose of computer forensics in this situation?
- Identify, analyze, and preserve criminal evidence (CORRECT)
- Make upgrades to network security
- Implement tools that help detect an incident
- Establish new security frameworks, controls, and regulations for the business
Correct!
17. An individual has their personal information stolen. They discover that someone is using that information to impersonate them and commit fraud. What does this scenario describe?
- Secured customer data
- Data breach
- Identity theft (CORRECT)
- Network infiltration
Correct!
18. What do security professionals typically do with SIEM tools?
- Identify threat actors and their locations
- Educate others about potential security threats, risks, and vulnerabilities
- Identify and analyze security threats, risks, and vulnerabilities (CORRECT)
- Locate and preserve criminal evidence
Correct!
19. Fill in the blank: Cybersecurity aims to protect networks, devices, people, and data from ______ or criminal exploitation.
- market shifts
- changing business priorities
- poor financial management
- unauthorized access (CORRECT)
Correct!
20. Which of the following entities may be an internal threat to an organization? Select three answers.
- Customers
- Vendors (CORRECT)
- Trusted partners (CORRECT)
- Employees (CORRECT)
Correct!
21. An individual is in their first job as an entry-level security professional. They apply the problem-solving proficiencies that they learned in past roles to their current security career. What does this scenario describe?
- Taking on-the-job training
- Understanding business standards
- Using transferable skills (CORRECT)
- Having expertise with a specific procedure
Correct!