By Timothy J. Xuereb
The Cybersecurity Skilling Programme is an extensive training initiative that is being conducted throughout 2023 till 2025. The aim of the programme is to provide fundamental and specialised training in the field of cybersecurity and information security. The practice of cybersecurity becomes essential with each passing moment as we continue marching towards digitization. The pervasive accessibility of information from the comfort of one’s home emphasises the necessity to safeguard our sensitive data from unauthorised sources. Subsequently, the demand for individuals proficient in cybersecurity practices has escalated.
The Security Operations Centre (SOC) Analyst Training Course, as part of this programme, offers a well-structured and organized curriculum, starting with the fundamental concepts and gradually progressing in complexity while maintaining an approachable pace. I believe that any individual can benefit from this endeavour, whether they are classed as a beginner or like myself, already possess a background in Information Technology. Moreover, the instructors entrusted with delivering the course showed patience and understanding to all attendees and were readily available to clarify any challenges that participants came across. Finally, it also offers the convenience of online accessibility, ensuring flexibility for all participants and in the event of absenteeism, recorded sessions are made available. Having said that, it is strongly recommended to prioritize active participation as it offers a more suitable learning process.
Various aspects of cybersecurity are covered in this course such as:
The Fundamentals – The basic principles, concepts and even terminology related to cybersecurity and information security in order to provide a solid understanding of the field.
Security frameworks & practices – An extensive understanding of security frameworks and best practices that help organisations protect assets and sensitive information whilst also covering domains such as risk management and incident response.
Network & Application Security – Knowledge pertaining to network infrastructures such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS & IPS) as well as techniques to cover application security such as vulnerability scanning.
Threat Landscape – Understanding common types of cyber-attacks, malware and social engineering techniques employed by threat actors. With each attempt, threat actors evolve their techniques to remain undetected and improve their chances of successful infiltration. Within this context, understanding these threats is essential to develop effective defensive strategies.
Virtual Labs – This programme is not all about theory, but it also provides an element of hands-on practical experience where one has the opportunity to conduct network & host intrusion analysis or digital forensics investigations with tools provided by the instructors. I cannot express how fun these activities were as they allowed total freedom for curiosity and experimentation.
The information gleaned from this endeavour has allowed me to further improve my capabilities as a Security Operation Centre Analyst within my workplace. Even though I was familiar with certain tools and techniques, I was introduced to a plethora of new technologies and different methodologies that produce meaningful results in a more effective and efficient manner.
In conclusion, The SOC Analyst Training Course was a golden opportunity that I do not regret signing up for and I can guarantee anyone interested in this field will not be disappointed either.