Cybersecurity and Coding: Two Sides of the Same Coin?
As technology has evolved, so have the methods of cyber attacks. Cybersecurity has never been more important than it is right now, especially with recent major data breaches. In order to stay ahead of these threats, cybersecurity experts need to possess a range of digital skills. One such skill is coding.
How Coding Plays a Role in Cybersecurity
Coding stands at the heart of the IT security world. In order to protect against online vulnerabilities, security professionals need to be able to understand and identify coding vulnerabilities. In fact, many cybersecurity experts have even referred to coding as the ‘secret language of hackers.’
Hackers prey on websites with coded vulnerabilities, such as those that allow SQL injection or cross-site scripting attacks. When a website’s code is compromised, it can result in stolen data, unauthorized access or even a full-scale data breach. But what is often forgotten is that coding can also be used as a tool against hacking. By understanding how hackers exploit coding vulnerabilities, security experts may be able to identify and resolve issues before they’re even discovered.
Training in Coding Can Benefit Cybersecurity Professionals
Prominent organizations such as the FBI, NASA and NSA suggest that cybersecurity experts should be equipped with a solid programming foundation. By understanding coding concepts and languages, security professionals can better understand how computer programs function, and thereby build better, more secure software. Moreover, understanding how to write code can also help them to carry out digital forensics in criminal cases, where tracing a hacker’s moves may require programming expertise.
Examples of the Importance of Coding in Cybersecurity
One example of the importance of coding in cybersecurity can be found in the infamous Equifax data breach. In 2017, Equifax suffered a cyber attack that compromised the personal information of over 140 million users. The company later reported that this attack was caused by an unpatched vulnerability in Apache Struts, a popular open-source web application framework. The fact that this software had an unaddressed vulnerability was a clear indication that coding practices needed to be improved.
Another example is the WannaCry ransomware attack of 2017. The attack was spread through a vulnerability in an outdated Windows protocol. By understanding how this protocol functioned, cybersecurity professionals were able to create a patch that blocked the ransomware and prevented further damage. Had they not had a solid foundation in programming, they may not have been able to respond as quickly and effectively.
Conclusion
In today’s digital world, cybersecurity experts need to have a broad range of skills to stay ahead of evolving threats. One of the most significant skills is coding. It’s becoming increasingly important for security professionals to understand coding concepts, languages, and vulnerabilities in order to protect against the destruction of online breaches. And by having this knowledge, they can help to build better, safer software for others to use while also keeping the cybercriminals at bay.
