Although the mass migration of businesses into the digital sphere as a result of the pandemic has had numerous positive effects, it has inadvertently led to an increase in the instances of cyber crime. According to the FBI, since the outbreak of the pandemic, cyberattacks have increased by 400% in just the U.S alone. Since most businesses didn’t have a remote work plan in place prior to COVID-19, and had to rush their digitization, many of them failed to acknowledge the imminent threats associated with cloud-based operations. This is why, now more than ever, all businesses planning or implementing their digital transformation needs to hire experts with a background in cybersecurity.

According to Robert Half Technologies, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals is now at an all time high, as businesses scramble to secure the few available candidates for critical IT roles in their companies. As a manager or business owner, this means that you need a reliable source of highly qualified experts you can hire on the go. And since keeping your cybersecurity measures up to date and free from vulnerabilities is a time-sensitive matter, you need only the best of the best. 

Luckily, on Ureed.com, you can hire top-class talent in only a few minutes. The platform is teeming with vetted IT freelancers from all over the world who will work tirelessly to keep your data secure. 

Here’s a rundown of cybersecurity experts you can hire to keep your data secure:

• Information Systems Security Manager

This professional would be the leader of your company’s security measures. Their job description would include: creating security infrastructure; formulating and implementing policies for the safety of your data; identifying, managing and handling threats; and preventing breaching of your systems. However, their roles and responsibilities would vary with the size of your organization and your budget. For this reason, it would be best to hire a freelancer since you can scale up or down depending on your needs. 

It is also their responsibility to ensure that your employees, vendors and customers understand your cyber security measures within their respective capacities. They’d also be carrying out regular audits to ensure that everything is above board, and that your company keeps up with emerging trends in cybersecurity so that your sensitive information is safe at all times. They also ensure that your entire security system is synergized by coordinating the rest of your cybersecurity team.

• Security architect/engineer 

A security architect’s main role is identifying threats to your company’s network, from malware to hackers and viruses. This professional can be a great addition to your team because they would essentially assess your security infrastructure in conjunction with your IT staff to identify vulnerabilities and help counter them in good time, so your business performance is not compromised.

Security architects can work remotely by monitoring any activities they deem suspicious, so that in the future these threats can be identified with ease. They’re also skilled at preempting your company’s needs so that you’re always one step ahead. Additionally, they have to keep up with new laws affecting cyber security in your country and universally.

• Network Security Engineer

This expert would be in charge of building your security framework from the ground up. Or, if you have an existing system that needs tweaking, this is the expert to hire.

They usually work with automated tools to carry out penetration testing exercises to identify issues in your infrastructure. Just like the security architect, they also monitor activities to ensure that the right detection and response measures are in place in case of any breaches. Look for a professional with a deep understanding of security tech, threat assessment and security policy creation.

• Data Security Analyst

Also known as a computer security analyst, this freelancer is on the front line to protect you against the constant threat of hackers and other malicious activity that may endanger your data. This expert must be a pro in all things IT and have a clear understanding of the inner workings of your security framework.

• Application Security Engineer

Virtually every business today relies on programs for their operations. This creates the need for an application security engineer to ensure that every line of code run within the company’s digital framework is free from malware. This expert has a background in programming languages like C++, Java and Python.

How to Hire The Right Cybersecurity Experts: A Summary 

All the experts mentioned in this blog will work to improve the security of your sensitive data as you, your employees and clients run your activities remotely. But what should you look for as you assemble your cyber security team? Here are some pointers:

1. Your freelance expert of choice should possess the essential cybersecurity qualifications, like software development skills and Cisco certifications.
2. Be able to communicate and collaborate effectively with the rest of your team, especially if they’ll be working remotely.
3. Understand network architecture as it applies to your business and your existing digital strategy.
4. Have a knowledge of emerging issues in the cybersecurity world.
5. Be adept at early detection and mitigation of security risks

In conclusion 

Since the world has been catapulted into an age of rapid digital transformation, it is not only important to go digital, but to also ensure that you have the right measures in place to safeguard the data that your business runs on.

If you’re looking to strengthen your enterprise security, prevent your company from being infiltrated by hackers, meet security compliance standards, and optimize your overall security infrastructure, it is important to have the right experts on your IT team. 

As home to over 54 thousand freelance experts across various fields, Ureed.com leads the pack as the source of reliable, vetted freelancers who will keep you and your business safe.