5 Things You Need To Know About Cybersecurity Data Science

Did you know that worldwide spending on cybersecurity is projected to reach $133.7 billion by 2022? This is hardly surprising if you consider the fact that hackers launch an attack every 39 seconds which translates to at least 2,244 attacks per day. And also that the average cost of a data breach is estimated at $3.92 million. What’s clear to see is the ever-growing need for sciences that allow us to defend devices, networks, and electronic systems from malicious attacks. Enter cybersecurity data science.

What is cybersecurity data science?

Cybersecurity data science (CSDS) is a relatively new discipline. It focuses on the application of insights and knowledge gleaned from data science study to defend computer systems from cybersecurity threats. As an emerging profession, what are some of the key things you should be aware of?

CSDS has one main objective: improve cybersecurity

What lies at the heart of cybersecurity data science? In a nutshell, CSDS is geared at the optimization of cybersecurity operations and improving security solutions. Just how important is this field of study? It may have helped companies such as Equifax avoid the embarrassing data breach of 2017 – which saw the sensitive information of more than 147 million clients exposed. To date, Equifax is still paying off the $4 billion dollar lawsuit brought against it by clients.

CSDS is an interdisciplinary study

Using data scientist Drew Conway’s Data Science Venn Diagram, it’s easy to see where data science falls in relation to cybersecurity. In order to reap the best rewards from cybersecurity data science, you must appreciate the multidimensional aspect of this new science. It’s key to be well-grounded in mathematics and statistical knowledge, have substantive expertise in cybersecurity and possess a fair level of hacking skills.

Source: Drewconway.com

CSDS works to address all prolific threats

Students of cybersecurity data science are taught to address any and all threats regardless of origin. The most common causes of a data breach: malware, application vulnerabilities, stolen credentials, insider threats, user error and social engineering are all actively addressed and their origins whether human, cyborg or automated are analyzed so an effective solution can be devised.

CSDS shies away from traditional cybersecurity approaches

Where traditional cybersecurity was concerned with rule-and-signature-based approaches, cybersecurity data science brings in a completely new paradigm. The new insights and knowledge being gleaned have led to a paradigm shift in the way cybersecurity solutions are deployed. Firms like Cybeta are on the forefront and are actively studying the progress of CSDS so they can provide clients with the most up-to-date security solutions.

CSDS is so vast that even professionals are struggling to keep up

CSDS is not without its own challenges. According to Scott Mongeau, a cybersecurity data scientist at SAS Institute, the pace at which technology is advancing is so fast that even cybersecurity experts themselves are struggling to keep up. The sheer breadth of the data science domains and the complexity of the subject matter has resulted in even seasoned experts being able to retain only so much.

Get the help you need before it’s too late

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