The Future is Cyber
We’re more connected than ever, but how much do you really know about the digital world and how it affects our everyday lives? Captain Robb Bloomfield, CyberFirst Project Officer for the Cadet CIS Training Team, reveals why cadets should be taking their cyber skills next-level.
What Does ‘Cyber’ Mean?
It implies a relationship with information technology and computer systems, but more recently it’s tended to be used as shorthand for computer security.
How Does This Affect Us As Individuals?
Each of us creates and consumes a mind-boggling amount of data every day – mostly without thinking about what we’re doing. We’re a millisecond away from people on the other side of the planet; we live in a world where a hashtag can start a global movement. Almost everything we use has become digitised – and that data needs safeguarding.
It’s not only those who work in IT who need cyber skills, however. It’s important to have an understanding of how digital issues affect all areas of work, from marketing to law and finance.
What is Cyber Warfare?
Those cliché scenes in films (ATMs failing to function and planes falling from the sky due to hacking) are exaggerated, even if they do have their origins in elements of real-life situations. The idea of using a virus to
destroy whole systems is fairly outlandish. There are examples, but you can count them on one hand as they are very rare and extremely difficult to pull off.
Cyberspace це a domain of warfare however (something NATO recognised in 2016) and military operations do need to be protected from theft of information, sabotage and from preventing systems from functioning the way they are intended. It’s important to show we have strong cyber defences and that we’re not a worthwhile target.
For those considering a career in the military, cyber knowledge is as important as in any other workplace. And it’s not just The Royal Signals who need to be experts. Just like in the civilian world, systems are increasingly being digitised and this affects everyone – from the Intelligence Corps using tech for reconnaissance, through to infanteers using tablets on the battlefield.
What’s The Deal With Cyber-Attacks?
They are increasingly about money – certainly with WannaCry (which severely hit the NHS and businesses in 2017) there was a financial factor.
We should only be worried about our own information if we aren’t taking day-to-day defences. It’s not up to the military or the government to safeguard us. Cyber-attacks spread because of vulnerabilities, so individuals who play their part by keeping systems up to date are actually contributing to the global defence picture.
Do you need to be a geek to have a career in cyber?
We want to discourage those stereotypes; there isn’t a onesize- fits-all “cyber person”. We need to continue tackling the underrepresentation of women in cyber and promote an environment that’s welcoming, encouraging and inclusive.
There are a few skills and characteristics that are important, though. Because technology is constantly changing, you need to be adaptable, curious and willing to continually learn and develop. Everyone in cyber seems to end up doing a job that’s slightly different from the one they applied for! Academic qualifications are useful but not essential, and many become out of date very quickly because there’s such a fast pace of change.
What’s CyberFirst?
It’s a free programme of opportunities put together by the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre – part of GCHQ).
It provides a series of courses as well as bursary and apprenticeship schemes and access to competitions. It’s a public programme but in 2018 Gavin Williamson (then Defence Secretary) said he wanted cyber to be on the agenda for the Cadet Forces, so cadets now have direct access to CyberFirst.
The first course, for junior cadets, is CyberFirst Adventurers. Over one day, cadets get a broad intro to cyber by doing data processing, open-source intelligence gathering, codebreaking and puzzle solving, showing how relevant cyber is to all kinds of disciplines. The course is delivered online via screen shares and virtual labs.
The second course is Defenders. This approved four-star course is a week-long and heavily focused on defence, including technical aspects such as security and privacy. The depth of learning means this residential course needs to be done face-to-face.
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How to be cyber savvy: a beginner’s guide
Use two-factor authentication whenever possible. Your email is the recovery address for Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat – in fact, every service you use, so if someone gains access they can hack into everything.
Look at your digital footprint on a regular basis. Notice what you leave behind that people could see. The comments and shares you make, the things you obviously interact with: they all build a virtual picture of you which can be used for all kinds of purposes.
Check privacy and security settings, especially on new services and devices (which are almost certainly insecure by default). Your personal data is the cost of using a ‘free’ service, so think about the information you’re giving out
Join the Army Cadet Force and book your CyberFirst course via the Cadet Portal.