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Nowadays, coding is a necessary skill in practically every field of technology, including cybersecurity. Therefore, cybersecurity professionals need to grasp coding concepts in order to analyze malicious actor activity on their networks properly.
Moreover, they need to be able to create code in order to work more productively and efficiently on their own projects. Although not all cybersecurity roles specifically call for coding expertise, it’s difficult to think of a cybersecurity career that wouldn’t profit from occasionally being able to write at least a few lines of code.
However, it’s a bit intimidating for cybersecurity professionals who want to learn to code for the first time to decide which language to learn. With so many widely used programming languages available today, it can be difficult to know where to begin. I think the following five should be a part of any modern cybersecurity toolkit:
- PHP
- HTML
- Shell scripting
- SQL
- And JavaScript
Let’s examine each of these essential programming languages, their purposes, and how to become proficient in them.
1. Python
Why do you need it? Python is the current workhorse of programming languages. Python is a general-purpose language that can be used to complete practically any software development work, which is why it is so popular.
If you only plan to study one language, this is the place to start. Python code lies beneath the surface of many popular cybersecurity tools, and it’s simple to use Python to automate most of your job.
How to learn it. The best method to learn Python is to combine tutorials and examples. I recommend starting with a basic Python tutorial, such as those offered by LearnPython.org or Codecademy.
From there, you can proceed to examine some Python code authored by other people. Possibly, you could look for some examples in your own workplace, or you could try creating a Python script that interacts with Nmap, a popular cybersecurity tool. Today, Python is one of the most popular tech stacks in the industry as well.
2. HTML
Why it is necessary for you? Well, not all programming languages are the same as HyperText Markup Language (HTML). It is, in technical terms, a markup language. However, it is the language that is used to make webpages on the internet.
However, for cybersecurity professionals, knowing HTML is crucial because so many different kinds of attacks rely on HTML code. Moreover, hackers will use HTML to write a SQL injection attack or embed a malicious script in a website. Therefore, you must comprehend HTML if you hope to be able to analyze those attacks.
So, how to master it? Thankfully, HTML is a fairly easy language to learn; you may become proficient in it in a matter of hours. This is because HTML, being a markup language, begins with plain text and formats it using a set of code elements called tags. These tags allow the text to be included with other webpage elements, like embedded video and images.
A free HTML tutorial from W3Schools will have you up and running in no time. Proceed to learn by doing. Explore various web pages and examine the HTML source code. You can study the work of expert web developers and discover how your favorite HTML websites were created.
3. Shell Scripting
So, why it is necessary for you? Well, Shell scripting allows developers to create automated scripts to perform a variety of repetitive tasks using many of the same commands that you may already be familiar with from your preferred operating system’s terminal sessions.
Are you looking for a fast way to grant the right access and provision of accounts? Are you trying to find a fast way to automate a system configuration’s security lockdown? Looking for shell scripting is where to start.
You should become proficient in one of the Linux shell scripting languages, like Bash, if you use Mac OS or Linux. If you are proficient with Windows, explore PowerShell scripting.
So, how to master it? Prior to learning shell scripting, make sure you are familiar with the fundamental command-line tools that come with your operating system. From there, you can begin putting together some simple scripts by imitating the examples found in popular PowerShell or Linux shell script tutorials.
4. SQL
Why it is necessary for you? Well, relational databases are written in a language called SQL, or Structured Query Language, which plays a vital role in adaptive software development.
SQL queries are written by database administrators, developers, and end users to retrieve, insert, update, and remove data from database tables. Moreover, this language is also used by hackers to launch a number of web-based assaults, compromise data storage, and steal confidential information.
You will need to have at least a basic understanding of SQL if you want to be able to identify attacker activity and stop SQL injection and other database-related attacks.
Fortunately, learning SQL is not too tough to master. It’s a good idea to investigate your company’s relational database if you have access to one. In the event that you lack access, an abundance of online tutorials enable you to gain practical experience. I suggest taking advantage of the courses offered by DataCamp and LinkedIn Learning.
5. JavaScript
Why it is necessary for you. Websites are built on HTML, but JavaScript gives them their functionality. JavaScript code is frequently used for a variety of online tasks, including tracking user activity and incorporating external elements.
Additionally, a lot of web-based application attacks, like cross-site scripting, use this language. Undoubtedly, if you want to become an intrusion analyst, you will need to have some experience with JavaScript.
Learning it or mastering it is similar to other coding languages, you can learn the fundamentals of JavaScript by following any website’s tutorials, like those at W3Schools. Looking at the JavaScript used on any website you visit is a great way to start learning how it’s used in practice from there.
Look at a webpage’s source code to find any JavaScript code, then try to understand what the code is trying to say. Cybersecurity professionals utilize precisely the same skill when attempting to decipher JavaScript in the wild.
In case you’re still feeling overwhelmed simply choose one of the five languages mentioned earlier and get started. You’ll quickly discover that knowing how to code is a highly valuable ability for anyone working in cybersecurity, and it’s also lot of fun!
