Career Paper

Darius Burks

November 23, 2024

Career Paper

Introduction

            As I began the search on how professionals depend on social science research and social science principles in their respected careers, I have interpreted that cybersecurity engineers depend heavily on the principles.  A cybersecurity engineer is an IT professional who defend organizations from intruders and the havoc they cause. Cybersecurity engineers design sophisticated systems and networks that keep sensitive information safe from cyber attackers. Cybersecurity engineers have many substantial roles including troubleshooting security and network problems, responding to security and network breachers, managing security protocols and measures including firewalls, intrusion detection systems and data encryption algorithms.  Also, they are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality and availability of information systems and data. These engineers depend massively on their technological skills with a mix of positive network hacking artistry.

Use of Social Science Research

Cybersecurity Engineers rely on social science in many ways to reinforce the efficiency of their policy, scheme, and technologies. With a better understanding of human behavior, Cybersecurity Engineers can have a more in depth comprehension on how these cyber attackers use tactics to exploit human behavior such as pretexting, dumpster diving, and phishing. With the research in psychology and sociology with provides information on why individuals fall for the scheme, thus helps the Engineers develop better defenses and security systems. With the research of psychology, it can benefit the engineer with a better comprehension of the emotional and psychological impact of data breaches on individuals.

Displaying the Social Science Principles

           Cybersecurity Engineers who are willing to have a better understanding of cognitive biases can create systems and security protocols that mitigate human error, with examples like pushing the user to create and update their passwords or use more secure authentication methods. With anthropology being, “the science of humanity,’ which studies human beings in aspects ranging from the biology and evolutionary history of homo sapiens. Economics play a major role in cybersecurity engineering by influencing people’s decision making, risk management, and cost effective security measures. Economics is an integral part in the work for cybersecurity engineers because it helps them stay informed about the market dynamics that affect the cybersecurity landscape and incentivize secure behavior.

Conclusion

            I believe being a Cybersecurity Engineer can be a one of the most time consuming and most difficult jobs that are done on the computer. You are constantly fighting against multiple hackers who are using malware and cyber attacks to pursue information and data you are protecting. By using the research and principle, it makes it easier to know what type of disruption to yield the attacker’s progress. Cybersecurity Engineers apply both the social science principles and the social science research into everyday situations in their professional fields. The existence of the social science research allows the Cybersecurity Engineers to depend on and use it to account for organizational dynamics, cultural influences and differences, human behavior, and the societal implications of cybersecurity. With integrating the psychology, sociology, economics, and political science, engineers can create and establish more effective network systems that address not only the human factor but also the technical aspect. Cybersecurity Engineers are the face of internet and network protection.

References

  1. Madden, J. (2023, August 18). What is a cybersecurity engineer?. CompTIA. https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-cybersecurity-engineer
  2. Profile. (n.d.). The role of a Cyber Security Engineer: Responsibilities and Skills. cyberneticsearch.com. https://www.cyberneticsearch.com/blog/the-role-of-a-cyber-security-engineer–responsibilities-and-skills/
  3. Liberto, D. (n.d.). Social science: What it is and the 5 major branches. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-science.asp
  4. Encyclopedia Britannica, inc. (2024, October 19). Social science. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/social-science