Alternative Career Paths in Cybersecurity

Interested in Cybersecurity but coming from a non-technical background? Don’t underestimate the value of your existing skills. Your non-technical background can map onto Cybersecurity domains with a little help Here are some examples 👇 1 - Accounting to IT Auditing ↳ Accountants have a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of compliance and regulatory standards. These skills are crucial in IT auditing, where professionals assess the effectiveness of an organization’s IT controls and ensure compliance with laws and regulations. 2 - Legal to Cybersecurity Insurance ↳ Legal professionals are adept at understanding complex regulations and managing risk. In cybersecurity insurance, these skills help in crafting policies that mitigate cyber risks and in negotiating terms that protect clients and insurers. 3 - Project Management to Cybersecurity Project Manager ↳ Project managers excel at coordinating resources, managing timelines, and ensuring project goals are met. These skills are vital for overseeing cybersecurity projects, from implementing new security measures to managing incident response plans. 4 - Journalism to Threat Intelligence Analysis ↳ Journalists are skilled in investigating and gathering information, as well as analyzing and reporting findings. These skills are directly applicable to threat intelligence, where analysts gather data on potential threats and create actionable intelligence reports. 5 - Education to Cybersecurity Education and Training ↳ Educators are skilled in developing curriculum and teaching complex concepts in an understandable way. These skills are essential for training employees or students in cybersecurity principles and practices. 6 - Customer Service to Incident Response Coordinator ↳ Customer service representatives excel in communication and problem-solving. These skills are essential during a cybersecurity incident, where clear communication and efficient problem resolution are critical. These examples highlight how non-technical skills can be effectively mapped onto various cybersecurity roles Hope these help you to make that next step in your career !

Today I'm thankful for the people who told me I'd never make it in cybersecurity. Wait. That's not how this works. Let me try again. Today I'm thankful for the career changers. The ones who got told "you don't have the right background." The ones who applied to 200 jobs and got rejected from 199. The ones who are protecting your data RIGHT NOW... Who started as → A teacher → A kitchen hand → A TV news producer → A pharmacist → A travel agent → A humanitarian worker → A musician These aren't hypotheticals. These are real cybersecurity professionals working in the industry today. A former teacher now designs security awareness training programs. A former kitchen hand now works in threat detection. A former TV journalist is now a cybersecurity strategist at Splunk. A sociologist who did humanitarian fieldwork now works in cyber intelligence. Here's what nobody tells you 92% of cybersecurity professionals believe people from other careers can successfully transition into the field. 87% of job postings value relevant experience over direct cybersecurity experience. 82% of people who attempted career changes after age 45 did it successfully. Yet we still hear "You need 5 years of IT experience." "You need a computer science degree." "You need to start at help desk." "You're too old to switch." "Your background doesn't translate." Lies. All of it. The truth? The former pharmacist? She knew HIPAA inside and out. Understood compliance. Could read regulations like poetry. GRC teams fought over her. The journalist? Investigation skills. Source verification. Pattern recognition. Storytelling. She's now explaining threat intelligence to executives who actually listen. On this Thanksgiving, I want to say To the career changers grinding through certifications after your kids go to bed Keep going. To the veterans transitioning out who keep getting rejected for "civilian experience" Your discipline and clearance are invaluable. The right company will see it. To the 45-year-old wondering if it's too late It's not. 82% of people your age successfully changed careers. To the bootcamp grad being told you're "not technical enough" Build your home lab. Document everything. The gatekeepers are wrong. The cybersecurity industry has 4 million unfilled jobs. We don't need more of the same. We need teachers who understand human behavior. Accountants who understand compliance. Journalists who understand investigation. Veterans who understand discipline. Nurses who understand crisis response. The "non-traditional" path? That's becoming the new traditional. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who refused to let "no" be the final answer. Your persistence is protecting us all. Who do you know that made an incredible career change into cybersecurity? Tag them below. #Thanksgiving #CyberSecurity #CareerChange #Gratitude #InfoSec #CareerAdvice #NeverTooLate

There’s no “one way” into cybersecurity. *Especially* for women. A new ISC2 report found that over half of women in cybersecurity took non-traditional paths into the field. Many transitioned from roles in IT, customer service, marketing, education, and even healthcare. What’s more: 84% said their previous experience actually made them more successful in cybersecurity. This report certainly hits home for me. I didn’t start out in traditional tech. My background was in accounting and audio recording. But I was always driven by a desire to solve problems and collaborate with people—and I quickly saw how tech could be a force multiplier for both, but only if it was resilient and secure. The transition wasn’t easy. I had to learn fast, get scrappy, and find mentors who believed in me. But once I got started, I brought a different and valuable lens to every room I was in. We talk a lot about the talent gap in cybersecurity. Here’s the truth: It won’t be solved by looking in the same places we’ve always looked. We need to stop gatekeeping and start embracing skills that aren’t necessarily found on the traditional resume. Diverse experiences make our teams stronger. The future of cybersecurity depends on it.

Many people think they need an entry-level role to start a cybersecurity career. But that's a myth and couldn’t be further from the truth. Cybersecurity isn’t just about bits, bytes and firewalls. It’s about trust. It’s about risk, compliance, and communication. So, you don’t need a decade of IT experience to get started. And you definitely don’t need to start at the bottom either. Roles in IT/Cybersecurity Audit and GRC are built on the exact soft skills most professionals already have. If you've already worked in finance, operations, project management, or compliance, you’re already halfway there. Here are 6 job roles that can lead into the field of IT/Cybersecurity Audit and GRC, along with the transferable skills you can leverage from those roles. 1. Project Management - Project Managers already thrive in planning, organizing, and leading teams, which is exactly the kind of mindset needed in risk and compliance. 2. IT Helpdesk - IT Helpdesk professionals understand technical systems and support processes, which provides key knowledge for evaluating security controls and system access. 3. Accounting and Finance - Accounting and finance professionals are already detail-oriented and familiar with internal controls, making them a natural fit for compliance and audit. 4. Internal Audit - If you're already in internal audit, pivoting into IT audit is more about expanding your scope of knowledge than starting over. 5. Business Analysis - Business Analysts excel at translating business needs into systems and processes, and those same skills can help assess risk and ensure compliance. 6. Healthcare - Healthcare professionals understand the importance of confidentiality, compliance, and documentation, which are all critical in GRC roles. Your past experience isn't irrelevant, it's your leverage.

Non-Technical Roles in Cybersecurity "Cybersecurity is not just for techies!" Cybersecurity is a multidisciplinary field that requires a diverse range of skills and expertise. In fact, many non-technical roles are crucial to the success of any cybersecurity team. Here are some examples: 📍Cybersecurity Awareness Specialist: Responsible for educating employees and stakeholders on cybersecurity best practices. 📍Incident Response Manager: Oversees the response to cybersecurity incidents, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations. 📍Cybersecurity Policy Analyst: Develops and implements policies and procedures to ensure organizational compliance with cybersecurity regulations. 📍Cybersecurity Communications Specialist: Crafts messages and campaigns to inform stakeholders about cybersecurity threats and best practices. 📍Business Continuity Manager: Ensures that organizations can continue to operate in the event of a cybersecurity incident or disaster. These non-technical roles require skills such as: ✅Communication and interpersonal skills ✅Project management and organizational skills ✅Analytical and problem-solving skills ✅Business acumen and understanding of organizational operations If you're interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity but don't have a technical background, there are many pathways to explore. Consider taking courses or earning certifications in areas like cybersecurity management, policy, or awareness. Remember, cybersecurity is a team effort that requires diverse perspectives and skills. So, don't be afraid to join the conversation and explore the many non-technical roles available in this exciting field! P.S. What non-technical roles in cybersecurity interest you the most?

How to Break Into Cybersecurity—Even If You Don’t Have a Tech Background Most people believe cybersecurity is only for coders, IT pros, or ethical hackers. They imagine hoodie-wearing geniuses in dark rooms writing complex code. 💡 You can break into cybersecurity without knowing how to code. In fact, some of the fastest-growing roles in cybersecurity are non-technical—and they need YOU. Here’s how professionals from completely different industries are pivoting into cyber: 1. Start with Cyber Literacy, Not Certifications Don’t rush to grab a Security+ or CISSP before understanding the landscape. ↳ Begin with foundational knowledge: how threats happen, how data is protected, and how organizations manage cyber risk. ↳ Tools to start with: ↳ CISA’s Cyber Essentials ↳ CyberSeek.org career pathways ↳ NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) Start by understanding the “why” before jumping into the “how.” 2. Target Non-Technical Cyber Roles First Yes, they exist—and they’re in high demand. ↳ GRC Analyst (Governance, Risk & Compliance) ↳ Security Awareness Trainer ↳ Privacy & Compliance Specialist ↳ Risk Analyst ↳ Security Program Coordinator These roles are less about firewalls and more about frameworks, training, and strategy. 3. Leverage Your Transferable Skills Your existing experience is not a disadvantage—it’s your secret weapon. ↳ Teachers → Security Awareness or Training Roles ↳ Lawyers & Admin → Compliance, Privacy, or Policy Analyst ↳ Project Managers → Cyber Program Support, Risk Management ↳ Customer Service → Incident Response Coordination Cybersecurity needs people who understand human behavior, process, communication, and regulation. That could be YOU. 📅 Want help identifying your niche in cyber and mapping a career transition that works for you? Book a 1:1 strategy session with me—let’s position your experience for the cybersecurity space. 🔔 Follow for more tech career insights! ♻️ Repost if this was helpful!