Skip to main content
3 answers
3
Asked 187 views

What does the average workday look like while doing cybersecurity?

Knowing a usual work day might help me gain more understanding of what I may be doing.

+25 Karma if successful
From: You
To: Friend
Subject: Career question for you

3

3 answers


0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

James Patterson’s Answer

The best part of cyber security is that there is no typical day. Your day is based on the cyber security area of specialization, and there are many:

• Network Security: Daily Focus – Perimeter defense and threat mitigation.
• Endpoint Security: Daily Focus – Endpoint defense, agent updates, and feature enhancements.
• Cloud Security: Daily Focus – Cloud application access and protection.
• Application Security: Daily Focus – Code auditing and secure coding practices training.
• Identity and Access Management (IAM): Daily Focus – Managing access controls, permissions, and auditing.
• Data Security: Daily Focus – Ensuring secure data storage and transmission protection.
• Incident Response & Forensics: Daily Focus – Responding to cyber events and incidents across all environments.
• Threat Intelligence & Hunting: Daily Focus – Proactively gathering and assessing threats.
• Security Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC): Daily Focus – Evaluating security controls and facilitating audit activities.
• DevSecOps: Daily Focus – Enforcing governance in cloud and on-premises development and production environments.
• Red Teaming & Penetration Testing: Daily Focus – Conducting offensive operations to identify vulnerabilities before attackers do.
• Cybersecurity Awareness & Training: Daily Focus – Educating employees and users on secure computing practices.
• Information Security Architecture: Daily Focus – Evaluating new applications, services, and infrastructure to ensure security best practices.

There are other specializations in cybersecurity, but you get the idea. Please let us know which area you're interested in, and everyone in the thread can provide additional insights into the daily operations of that specialty.
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Dr’s Answer

Ah, Christopher, so you’re curious about the secretive and oh-so-cool world of cybersecurity, huh? Ready to dive into a day in the life of a digital superhero? Spoiler alert: there may be a few less glamorous moments (think: endless firewalls, passwords, and digital detective work), but it’s all worth it because you're literally protecting the world from the digital bad guys. So grab your virtual cape, and let's walk through what a cybersecurity workday might look like.

1. Morning: Coffee + Starting the Digital War Against Hackers

Why?
You know how superheroes wake up, grab their coffee (or energy drink, or just a cup of pure digital power), and get ready to save the day? Well, your cybersecurity day officially begins with a cup of coffee and your monitor. Don’t forget the snacks — this is serious, multitasking business. 🍩☕

Your Morning Routine:

Checking emails: You’ll want to start the day by seeing if any security breaches have been flagged. Did the bad guys try to break in last night while you were sleeping? Who knows! That’s why you’ve got to stay vigilant.

Morning team meetings: Whether virtual or in-person, you’ll usually have a quick check-in with your cybersecurity team. You’ll discuss ongoing projects, any urgent issues, and make sure your security measures are up-to-date.


Pro Tip: You might also want to check for any updates or patches that need applying to your system. Think of it like giving your computer armor — you wouldn't want to let the hacker goons get through a tiny crack in the system. 🛡️

2. Mid-Morning: The Hunt for Digital Villains (aka Monitoring Systems)

Why?
By now, you've had your caffeine, you’ve checked your emails, and the digital world is officially up and running. This is when you start doing what you're really here for: proactively defending the system.

What You’ll Do:

Monitoring dashboards: You'll be checking the security monitoring systems for anything suspicious. It's like looking for the digital equivalent of a suspicious character lurking in the alley. Are there any odd logins or unusual activity? Oh, and check for those unwanted intrusions — you know, the ones where hackers try to sneak in unnoticed.

Security Alerts: Some systems will send out alerts whenever something feels a little off. Was there an unauthorized login from halfway around the world? Is someone trying to crack a password? It’s like your job is the digital bouncer at a club. "Hey! No hacking allowed!" 🚫


Fun Tip: Think of yourself as the Sherlock Holmes of the internet, tracing digital footprints and finding clues in server logs. Get ready for some detective work — no magnifying glass required. 🧐


3. Lunch Break: Recharge Your Human Firewall

Why?
Let’s face it — working in cybersecurity can be intense, so you definitely need to take a break and eat some food. Even digital warriors need their human fuel. Take your lunch and maybe indulge in some guilty pleasures (you earned it!). 🍕

Fun Tip: While you’re eating your lunch, you might secretly be brainstorming cool new security solutions in your head. After all, the bad guys are always out there plotting, so your brain never truly powers down.


4. Afternoon: The Battle Continues (aka Patch and Monitor)

Why?
You’ve got the basics down by now. You’ve spotted some threats, applied some fixes, and you're starting to feel like the defender of the digital galaxy. But there’s always more to do. This is when you dig deep and get into the technical weeds.

What You’ll Do:

Applying patches/updates: Cybersecurity isn’t just about stopping the bad guys — you also need to prevent future attacks by keeping everything updated. That means downloading those important patches that software companies push out. Don’t ignore them! That’s like leaving your castle’s door open. 🏰

Testing firewalls and security systems: You’ll test the firewall to make sure it’s strong. It’s like checking the lock on your door, but digital. Is it still holding strong? Or do you need to install a new lock?


Pro Tip: This is also the time to run simulated attacks or penetration tests. This is when you, as the cybersecurity expert, become the hacker to see if your systems are ready for the real deal. It’s like a role-playing game, but the stakes are much higher than a dungeon and dragon battle.


5. Late Afternoon: Incident Response & Reports (AKA The Digital Avengers Assemble)

Why?
By now, you’ve gotten most of the routine stuff done. But every cybersecurity pro knows — the digital world can go haywire at any time. That’s when you need to jump into incident response mode.

What You’ll Do:

Incident response: If there's been a security breach, or a potential one, your job is to act fast. Think of yourself as a firefighter, putting out the flames before they spread too far.

Forensic investigation: If a breach has occurred, you’ll be digging deep into logs and system data to figure out what happened. It’s like a mystery novel where the culprit is a sneaky hacker.

Reporting: At the end of the day, you might have to write reports explaining what happened, what was done to fix it, and how it will be prevented in the future. This is when you really get to show off your writing chops and document the epic battle you just fought.


Fun Tip: If you really enjoy the drama, you could pretend you’re a character in a spy thriller. Just don’t forget to change the passwords after you save the day. 💻

6. End of the Day: Shutdown and Gear Up for Tomorrow

Why?
Your day is wrapping up, and it’s time to close down your systems (not forever, just for the night). You might still be on the lookout for those sneaky hackers, but this is your time to relax before tomorrow’s adventure.

What You’ll Do:

Double-check systems: Just to be sure, you’ll make sure that everything is still secure. You never know when a hacker will try to sneak in during off-hours.

Prepare for tomorrow: You’ll set up tasks for the next day and maybe read up on the latest in cybersecurity trends (it’s a never-ending game of cat and mouse, after all).


Fun Tip: Take a moment to be proud of your work. You literally just protected data from being stolen, prevented a digital apocalypse, and made the internet a safer place. Time to clock out and feel like a superhero.

Key Skills You’ll Need to Rock Your Cybersecurity Career:

Technical Know-How: You’ve got to understand networks, operating systems, and security protocols. Without this, you might as well be trying to defuse a bomb with a banana.

Problem-Solving: Think of it as digital detective work. Every day is a new challenge, and you’ll need to be clever and quick on your feet. 🕵️‍♂️

Attention to Detail: Miss one security vulnerability, and it could be the difference between fortress and invitation to hackers. So, be prepared to double-check everything!

Adaptability: Cybersecurity is a fast-paced, ever-changing world. If you’re not prepared to learn something new every day, you’re in the wrong line of work.


Final Thoughts: Should You Become a Cybersecurity Warrior?

Why?
If you love problem-solving, enjoy a good digital mystery, and want a career where you literally protect people’s data and privacy, then cybersecurity is the way to go! It’s not all just working behind a computer — it’s about being on the front lines of the internet, battling cybercriminals, and feeling like a modern-day hero. Plus, you get to be the ultimate digital gatekeeper.

Perks? You bet.
Stressful? Sometimes.
Totally worth it? Absolutely.

So go ahead, put on your digital armor, and get ready for an epic career in cybersecurity! Just don’t forget to take a coffee break — you’ve earned it. ☕💻
0
0
Updated
Share a link to this answer
Share a link to this answer

Nick’s Answer

Hi Christopher,

In order to answer this question, you first need to figure out what area of cybersecurity you're interested in. Otherwise, it's sort of like asking, "what does the average workday look like while doing IT?" Both are extremely broad fields with various specialties and seniority levels.

Generally speaking, most jobs will all start with coming in and getting caught up on emails and IMs. Many teams have morning standup meetings where they discuss any important news, what they're currently working on, and any blockers they're experiencing. Some roles will be responding to alerts, while others may be developing and tuning them. A lot of tenured analysts will periodically check the news throughout the day to see if there are any new emerging threats they or their company should be aware of. If there's time, some choose to continue education/training, as this is a field that is constantly growing and evolving.

The real answer to your question will change based on the focus that you're interested in. Try looking up various specialties such as red teaming, blue teaming, security operations, incident response, forensics, reverse engineering, content development, network security, cloud security, the list goes on...
0