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I'm looking at a career in the Army that involves coding/computer skills and I have a few questions.

a. How do cyber jobs interact with the military?
b. What are ways to stand out in cyber jobs?
c. Will cybersecurity be overinflated in the next 5 years because of how popular it is now?
d. What are little known ways to perfect your coding?
e. What are the biggest mistakes you can make when coding?

Thank you comment icon Hey Scarlett, I don't have the answers to your questions, but I think you should certainly reach out to your local Army or National Guard Recruiting office for this information. They will be able to answer all of your questions. Good luck :-) -Amanda Amanda Granados
Thank you comment icon Hi, Scarlett! Per our Community Guidelines, please post only one question at a time. This makes it much easier for Professionals to respond, and that means you are more likely to get advice! Thanks so much for using CareerVillage. Alexandra Carpenter, Admin

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ALEJANDRA’s Answer

If you have ever considered a career in cybersecurity? If so, it's important to know if a career in cybersecurity requires programming.

Cyber ​​security is one of the most popular professions to enter as the world becomes more digital. There are countless cybersecurity positions that vary in how the operator protects data and information systems.
Much of this cybersecurity work can also require multiple skill sets. Those skill sets will depend on the specific role you fill. Also, whether or not you need programming will depend on your specific job description.

Let's dig a little deeper to answer the question "Do cybersecurity jobs require programming?"

Skills you need in cyber security
There are numerous "hard" skills involved in cyber security. Must be able to understand cyber terminology - terms.

Cyber ​​terms like patches and breaches will become part of your everyday language.

You will also need to understand the latest trends in IT and data security. Staying ahead of hackers means knowing what different types of security measures and improvements are coming your way.

There are also soft skills for cyber security that will be a necessity of the job. Communication with other members of your organization who are not well versed in cyber security is important for these roles.

You need to be able to communicate to them what actions they should take, what threats your organization may face, and how to recognize a potential threat before you find it.

Additionally, this may involve having patience with professionals who are inexperienced in discussing or handling cybersecurity issues.

What do cybersecurity analysts do?
What individual cybersecurity jobs require will vary by organization. Many cybersecurity jobs involve managing an organization's information security.

Here is a brief summary of some common duties of a typical cybersecurity professional:

Periodically monitor the security of the organization's network to determine if breaches have occurred
Install security software with tools like firewalls and encryption to protect sensitive data
Report on the causes, impacts and recommendations for mitigation of security breaches
Undergo penetration tests, which determine how vulnerable the network is to an attack by simulating an attack
Stay up-to-date on information security trends
Develop, share and implement cybersecurity best practices for the organization's operating systems
Discuss possible improvements to system security with IT staff
Assist other employees when they require cybersecurity training on new security products.

Does cybersecurity require programming?
However, the question remains…does cybersecurity require programming?

It turns out that the answer is not as simple as yes or no. The amount of programming a cybersecurity professional has to do depends on the specific job. Programming knowledge is not a requirement for all cybersecurity jobs. But it is for some, and it can help you advance your career, and programming skills can also help you pursue more cybersecurity-related job opportunities.


Although not all jobs in cybersecurity require programming, programming skills are more than helpful. Not only will it open more paths in the industry, but it will also help you better understand the basics around information security and network protection.

If you ever plan to advance to high levels in the cybersecurity field, programming is going to be a skill you'll want to possess. It can be the difference between pursuing cybersecurity as a mere job versus pursuing cybersecurity as a potential long-term career.

Do cyber security engineers code?
Entry-level cybersecurity jobs don't necessarily require coding ability. The further you advance in the profession, the more knowledge you need to have on how to interpret lines of code.

Understanding programming languages ​​is essential to staying ahead of hackers who have intimate knowledge of these systems and how to exploit them.
While there are numerous programming languages ​​available, they are not all the same. The best programming languages ​​for cybersecurity software engineering are listed below:
SQL manages databases
PHP is a server-side language for building websites.
JavaScript is one of the main languages of the web along with CSS and HTML.
Python is great for automating scripts which makes yPython great for automating scripts which makes your role as a cybersecurity professional more efficient.
C and C++ are two of the most powerful programming languages, more than Python or JavaScript.

Regarding Military Areas I do not have depth of knowledge

But regarding the growth of Cybersecurity I can comment that

Cybersecurity is a great profession to pursue based on the market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cybersecurity jobs are expected to grow at a rate of 32% by 2028. This is much higher than the average for other positions. With a median average pay of roughly $98,000, it's also a high-paying profession.

ALEJANDRA recommends the following next steps:

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm#tab-2 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm#tab-5 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm#tab-6
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lukas’s Answer

There are a variety of opportunities available in the government sector which require cyber skills, there are a multitude of opportunities available in the fields of cryptography, cybersecurity, among others. To stand out for these positions, prior experience is always helpful, as well as related coursework or projects is always a plus. Making proper use of networking will also give you a leg up in the job search.

One of the key things to keep in mind when coding is making your code readable and documentation, while you may not work on the same piece of code all the time, being able to go back and understand your, or someone else's intentions and purpose of a block of code is extremely helpful. Cybsersecurity is unlikely to be overinflated within the next 5 years as the relevance of cybersecurity in our increasingly connected world will only go up, in specific markets it might be but overall no.
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Ram’s Answer

The U.S. Military pioneers in many areas of IT and CyberSecurity. Although not widely advertised the Dept. of Defense is usually 5 sometimes 10 Years ahead of current technology in civilian world.

If you want to stand out You would do well to be totally focused and not be distracted. Because you will be competing against the best of the best to get into any of those units.

The best coders always document their code well - succinctly without fluff, so it is easily understood. In a large organization like the military much of the work is modularized so one gets to see and interact with the big picture items only after many Years of hard work which leads to my next point.

Consistency is the single most effective way of moving up in a career, Those who step in thinking they will start at the top would not last very long. The code looks very favourably on those who go in with humility.

The biggest mistake any programmer make is to fall in the trap that his/her code has no errors. Always keep this thought in the back of your mind that there could be an error in the code you originated. Always review your code and keep reviewing it even after you think it is running correctly.
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