As you learn about cybersecurity, you’ll develop hard, technical skills from operating and coding to risk management. To be a well-rounded professional, you must also develop applicable soft skills, which influence how you perform and interact with others. They can also set you up for future leadership roles. Here are some of the most critical soft skills to have as you advance your cybersecurity career, no matter how long you’ve been in the industry.
- Collaboration
You must be able to work alongside and communicate with people across departments. Cybersecurity professionals often interact with IT, management, stakeholders, legal teams and end users. You may build cybersecurity training materials alongside the human resource department or implement security management with computer systems analysts.
Cybersecurity is a growing field, with about 17,300 job openings projected yearly from 2023 through 2033. Effective communication can improve the work you and your fellow professionals can accomplish. To become a stronger collaborator, you should practice attentive listening, explaining yourself clearly and resolving conflicts constructively.
- Adaptability
The sector isn’t static. Cybersecurity professionals must be able to keep up with the changing digital landscape and continue developing technical skills. You’ll need to consider the needs of companies and individuals as you find ways to protect their privacy online. Adaptability can help you easily face new challenges and boost workplace morale.
To develop stronger defenses against cyber threats and become a more flexible asset to your team, seek new learning opportunities and prioritize tasks by their urgency. You’ll need to develop reliable coping mechanisms to stay calm under pressure.
- Problem-Solving
Nowadays, there are increasing means of cyberattacks, and artificial intelligence can make scams harder to detect. They can take the form of phishing attempts, fake phone calls and social media impersonation. You need to be able to address them using methods that fit the entity’s workflow and budget.
To become better at solving problems, it’s essential that you can recognize the root cause of a problem and weigh multiple solutions until you can determine the most effective one. Take it further by continuously monitoring your solution, which may include trying new methods.
- Empathy
Cybersecurity specialists must be capable of empathizing with those whose information they’re tasked to protect. You may need to explain technical security information in lay terms to managers and stakeholders or tailor security training to employees who could be targets of phishing or other scams. Another benefit of empathetic thinking is it can help you understand a hacker’s motives and stay one step ahead.
You can further develop empathy by recognizing your own biases and seeking diverse perspectives. When you offer support to someone, practice active listening and pay attention to any nonverbal cues.
- Ethical Judgment
As a cybersecurity specialist, you have to protect individuals’ and organizations’ data. Cybersecurity attacks target confidential and personal data and can occur on a large or small scale. For instance, attacks against the financial, media, manufacturing and industrial sectors rose 300% in February 2025. Potentially 1.2 billion Meta users’ data was scraped in May 2025, which could be Facebook’s largest data leak yet.
A strong code of ethics is vital as you work toward preventing attacks like these and many others. Cybersecurity professionals must maintain open lines of communication, be transparent about security measures in place, and promote trust across departments and users.
- Optimism
Cybersecurity requires trial and error, from vulnerability scans and penetration tests to training employees on best practices for safeguarding data. A positive attitude toward your tasks and challenges can empower you and those around you. Professionals with growth mindsets believe their efforts will expand their intelligence and abilities. They stay curious and embrace constructive feedback.
To feel more optimistic about your work, find ways to learn from setbacks instead of letting them defeat you. Recognize what went well and use your problem-solving skills to determine what needs improvement. Optimism could boost your resilience, too.
As the Features Editor at ReHack, Zac Amos writes about cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and other tech topics. He is a frequent contributor to Brilliance Security Magazine.
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