Starting a Cybersecurity Career

When I first stepped into the world of cybersecurity, I was completely lost. I didn’t know where to start, what to learn first, or how people even got into this field. All I knew was—I wanted to be a part of this world where people protect, investigate, and defend against digital threats. 💻⚡ At first, everything looked complicated: hacking, tools, reports, and those mysterious terms like “VAPT” and “SOC.” But slowly, I realized that becoming a cybersecurity professional isn’t about learning everything at once—it’s about building layer by layer. So here’s how the journey begins 👇 📍 Step 1: Build your base Understand the fundamentals — Computer basics, Networking, Linux, Windows, and a bit of Programming. This is your foundation. Without it, cybersecurity concepts won’t make sense. 📍 Step 2: Explore the world of security Learn about Web Security, System Security, Network Security, Cryptography, and Cybersecurity Fundamentals. Then dive deeper into areas like VAPT, Incident Response, Digital Forensics, and Cloud Security. 📍 Step 3: Play and practice This is where learning gets fun! Platforms like TryHackMe, HackTheBox, PortSwigger Academy, OverTheWire, VulnHub, and LetsDefend are your playgrounds. Each challenge you solve teaches you real-world skills. 📍 Step 4: Find your direction You can become a Security Analyst, SOC Technician, Penetration Tester, Threat Intelligence Analyst, or even a Cloud Security Associate ☁️ Each path has its own tools, techniques, and challenges. 📍 Step 5: Prepare for your career Start building projects, upload your reports to GitHub, and prepare at least three pentest reports. Add certifications like CompTIA Security+, CEH, or OSCP. And don’t forget to network on LinkedIn — it opens doors you didn’t even know existed. 🤝 🔥 My advice? Start small, stay consistent, and document everything you learn. Cybersecurity isn’t just about hacking—it’s about protecting, analyzing, and defending. 💪 So if you’re someone who’s confused, just like I was—this roadmap is your compass. Let’s build the next generation of ethical hackers and defenders together. 💣 If you’d like resume guidance, just DM me your “RESUME.” And for more such content, follow my channel: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gGAnR_UF #CyberSecurity #EthicalHacking #InfoSec #TryHackMe #HackTheBox #VAPT #PenTesting #DigitalForensics #SOC #IncidentResponse #BlueTeam #RedTeam #BugBounty #NetworkSecurity #CloudSecurity #Linux #CompTIA #CEH #OSCP #SecurityAnalyst #CyberCareer #CybersecurityCommunity #CyberAwareness #TechCareers #CyberInternship #CyberLearning #InfosecJourney

Go into GRC, it’s not technical. Last week, I spoke with someone looking to transition into cybersecurity. She mentioned she’d been advised to consider GRC because “it’s not technical.” And it got me thinking: How true is that? If you’ve spent any time in cybersecurity, you’ve probably heard it too: “If you want a non-technical path in cybersecurity, go for GRC.” There’s some element of truth there. GRC roles may not require you to write code, configure firewalls, or run penetration tests. But here’s what they don’t tell you: You still need to: 📌 Understand how systems work 📌 Know the risks tied to those systems 📌 Ask the right questions about controls, configurations, and gaps Because if you don’t understand the tech: 🔹 How do you assess the risks? 🔹 How do you know if the controls are effective? 🔹How do you translate complex technical issues into business-friendly language GRC isn’t about avoiding the technical side of cybersecurity.   It’s about connecting the dots between tech and business, which requires a solid grasp of both. So no, you won’t be writing code in GRC. But you do need to understand the environment where code runs, the risks it introduces, and how to manage it. Cybersecurity is a business issue, but technology is the engine behind it. Here is my advice: ❌ Don’t run from the tech. ✔️ Run toward understanding it. That’s what makes you a better GRC professional.

Everyone in Cybersecurity wants “Experience”, But no one tells you how to actually get it without a job. The common advice? “Just do projects, bro.” 🤦♂️ 🚨 But here’s the problem… Most beginners do random projects that have no relevance to the industry. 🔹 Built a SIEM? Cool, but do you actually know how to use it? 🔹 Set up a honeypot? Great, but have actually used it properly? If you want to stand out and actually get hired, I'd focus on projects that align with the 5 major cybersecurity areas in demand right now. 1️⃣ SOC Analyst / Blue Teaming ↳ LetsDefend SOC Monitoring to Practice: https://lnkd.in/gUKx7njp ↳TryHackMe SOC Simulator: https://lnkd.in/gZShgdyQ ↳CyberDefenders (Blue Team Labs): https://lnkd.in/gxw84U7T 2️⃣ Network Traffic Analysis & Active Directory ↳ Hack The Box Intro to Network Traffic Analysis (HackThebox Academy): https://lnkd.in/gNT7mJwq Intro to Active Directory (HackThebox Academy): https://lnkd.in/gnyHmT2R Windows Event Logs & Finding Evil (HackTheBox Academy) https://lnkd.in/ga89NAZ8 3️⃣ Vulnerability Management (Tenable) ↳ Josh Madakor Cyber Range: https://lnkd.in/gJE2aEmq 4️⃣ GRC ↳ GRC Mastery: https://grcmastery.com 5️⃣ Cloud Security Projects ↳ Guided Projects: Security with AWS: Identity and Access Management (IAM): https://lnkd.in/gYBg8BTX Protect Azure SQL Database Data: https://lnkd.in/gpmnbPPx Utilizing IAM To Manage Permissions for S3 https://lnkd.in/gZ5XhQvP Configure AWS Network Firewall: https://lnkd.in/gEEkeAf7 Creating an IAM Role and Configuring an EC2 Instance: https://lnkd.in/gzayg7NZ 📺 Video Breakdown on how to add it to your Resume/CV → https://lnkd.in/gwdcuxfp 🔥 FREE Cyber Security Resume → https://unixguy.com/free #CyberSecurity #Infosec #GRC #CareerGrowth #UnixGuy

no cybersecurity experience? build it. trying to break in without job history? this is how you stand out: hands-on projects. certs help you learn. tryhackme + hackthebox help you practice. but if you’re not applying it— you’re missing the most important part. projects do what certs can’t: • show real proof of your skills • help you actually retain what you learn • teach you to break + fix things on your own and the best part? you don’t need fancy gear. build your experience: • for free—use virtualbox, vmware, etc. • or for cheap—grab old laptops or mini pcs need ideas? try these: • soc analyst – build a siem lab (splunk, elastic, wazuh). ingest logs. build dashboards. detect threats. • pentester – create a vuln lab. practice enum, privesc, and reporting. • security engineer – set up firewalls, segment networks, harden endpoints, write detection rules. • grc / auditor – explore nist or iso 27001. simulate a policy review or risk assessment. these projects = interview talking points, linkedin content, and portfolio gold. build your own experience. make “entry-level” irrelevant.

95% of people think the highest-paid security engineers spend most of their time writing detection rules, patching vulnerabilities, or fixing CVEs. But if you really watch how the best operate, you’ll notice something else. Here’s what top security engineers actually spend most of their time on: → Reading architecture docs, cloud configs, and infra PRs with paranoia-level attention → Asking the “stupid” questions everyone skips, surfacing risks others overlook → Sitting with DevOps, product, and compliance teams, not just to enforce, but to understand why things work the way they do → Thinking through “what could go wrong?” scenarios, before a single threat model is formalised I’ve done security and DevOps for a fair few years now, and I see this play out over and over: There are days when my entire afternoon is spent whiteboarding how a misconfigured role in Kubernetes could become a pivot point for an attacker, or how a seemingly harmless change might ripple across dozens of microservices. And when standup comes the next day, you’ll hear: “I didn’t write new detection logic yesterday; I was tracing how lateral movement could happen if IAM boundaries aren’t enforced.” The best security engineers do what helps the company stay safe. Sometimes, that’s patching or automating. But more often, it’s connecting dots, preempting the blast radius, and asking the uncomfortable questions before a breach ever becomes news. It might not look productive from the outside. But it’s what actually prevents headlines, incidents, and sleepless nights for everyone. That’s what sets great security engineers apart. Don’t wait to catch threats, see them before anyone else does. Follow saed ‎for more & subscribe to the newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eD7hgbnk

When I was starting out in cybersecurity, one thing that gave me an edge was doing practical projects I could proudly talk about. That’s why I always share this with beginners: You don’t need to wait for your first job to build experience. Start with job simulations. There’s a platform called Forage where you can do free cybersecurity job simulations from real companies like Mastercard, AIG, and Datacom. These aren’t just theory you’ll get to solve real problems and add them as projects on your resume or LinkedIn. Here are 4 I recommend (100% free and beginner-friendly): 1. Datacom Cyberattack Investigation & Risk Assessment Investigate a simulated cyberattack and perform a risk assessment. Link: https://lnkd.in/dsfz9aTd 2. Mastercard Cybersecurity Awareness Team Join Mastercard’s awareness team to identify and reduce cyber risks. Link: https://lnkd.in/dD-cWPY7 3. Tata Group IAM Developer Simulation Support a consulting team and improve identity & access management. Link: https://lnkd.in/dZjndnAA 4. AIG Ransomware Attack Response Respond to a ransomware attack using security alerts and basic Python. Link: https://lnkd.in/dVDnKKYd These helped me, and I hope they help you too. You can start building real skills today no job title required. Which one will you try first? #CybersecurityCareer #BeginnerCybersecurity #JobSimulations #Forage #Cybertalkswithjojo

How I Broke into Cybersecurity: The 3 Courses That Launched My Career: When I first set out to break into cybersecurity, I had a big question: Should I take ISC2’s Certified in Cybersecurity, Google’s Cybersecurity Professional Certificate, or Cisco’s Junior Cybersecurity Pathway? My answer? Take all three. Each of these programs gave me something different — and together, they built the strong foundation I needed to launch my cybersecurity journey. Here's what I gained from each: 1. ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) This was my entry point into the industry. The CC certification isn’t just foundational — it’s also globally recognized and connects you to ISC2’s professional network. I learned core concepts like incident response, business continuity, and disaster recovery while also gaining access to a community of professionals I wouldn’t have met otherwise. 2. Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate Hosted on Coursera, this 8-course program provided clear direction and helped me explore different areas of cybersecurity. The hands-on labs, portfolio-worthy assignments, and tools like SIEMs, Linux, and Python gave me practical skills that employers look for. 3. Cisco Junior Cybersecurity Analyst Pathway This was the most intense — over 120 hours of learning across 8 modules. I dove deep into networking, endpoint protection, GRC, and more. Using Cisco Packet Tracer made the technical concepts click in ways that theory alone couldn’t. Final thoughts? If you’re just starting out, don’t limit yourself to one course. Each of these certifications brought me closer to understanding the field and gave me the momentum to move forward. Thinking of getting into cybersecurity? These three might just be your launchpad too. Let me know if you’re currently exploring any of these or need help getting started! #Cybersecurity #CybersecurityCareers #ISC2 #GoogleCybersecurity #CiscoNetworkingAcademy #EntryLevelCybersecurity #TechJourney #CareerGrowth #BreakIntoCybersecurity

The best cybersecurity engineers I’ve met didn’t start in security. They came from IT infrastructure … and it shows. Because when someone has lived through: • DNS breaking at 2 AM • vCenter snapshot chaos • Patch Tuesdays that felt like boss battles • DHCP conflicts that made zero sense • And firewall rules labeled “TEMP-ALLOW-ALL” (still active for 2 years) They don’t just talk about risk. They understand it … systemically, practically, painfully. They don’t just say “enable Zero Trust.” They ask, “Have you seen how your VLANs are configured?” These folks get: How things actually break What normal behavior looks like Why “it’s just one open port” is a terrible sentence They don’t rely on buzzwords. They’ve been in the trenches … and they bring that operational reality into every security discussion. Curious to hear from others: Have you noticed that real world IT experience makes cybersecurity engineers 10x more effective? Or is it just me? #Infrastructure #SecurityOps #TechCareer #BlueTeam #ZeroTrust #ITCareers #Cybersecurity #KeepLearning #InfrastructureEngineering #VMware #Backup #DNS #CareerGrowth #ContinuousImprovement #LearningNeverStops #TechLeadership #SelfDevelopment #ITInfrastructure #ComfortZone

Unlocking a Career in Cybersecurity: Easier Than You Think I am often asked this question - how easy is it for technology professionals to transition into cybersecurity? In the ever-expanding landscape of cyber threats, the demand for cybersecurity experts is booming. Transitioning into this field may seem daunting, but with the right approach, it's more achievable than you might imagine. 🛠 Assess Your Tech Background: Whether you're a tech pro or not, there's a cybersecurity path for you. 🏹 If you are a pro, leverage your expertise in network security, cloud security, or application security based on your technical strengths. 🔍 Explore Diverse Roles: Not all cybersecurity roles require deep technical skills. Governance, risk management, and security training are equally vital and lucrative. Don't underestimate the impact of these roles. 💡 Develop Critical Thinking: The key to success in cybersecurity is critical thinking. Anticipate potential issues by studying past incidents. Create mental scenarios to enhance your problem-solving skills. 🎓 Upskill with Courses: Dive into free cybersecurity courses to build a solid foundation. Technical courses from industry giants like Microsoft, Google, and Palo Alto can significantly boost your chances in the job market. 🤝 Network for Success: Join professional networks on LinkedIn to stay updated and learn from industry leaders. Start as a listener, then gradually contribute to the conversation. 📈 Favorable Odds: The cybersecurity talent shortage is real, with a demand for 4 million professionals. With basic tech experience, a learning mindset, and critical thinking, your transition into cybersecurity may be smoother than you think. #Cybersecurity #TechCareer

This is the biggest problem with finding a job in cybersecurity. 👩🏻💻 I recently had a conversation with someone who told me they’ve been in the job market for a year and still haven’t been able to land a role. The biggest issue they were having was that they weren’t qualified for any of the jobs they were applying for and because of that, they just did NOT apply to them. My advice? You will never be 100% qualified for a job. And if you are, that job will not challenge you enough to help you grow in your career. 🌟 This is what you should do instead: Look at the top 3 job listings you’re interested in and find the common skills and qualifications they’re looking for. Then take the top 3-4 common skills and look for ways to incorporate them into technical projects on your resume. The best thing about cybersecurity is the fact that there are so many open-source tools or community-edition licenses that you can use for free in your personal projects. The ones who get ahead in cyber are the ones who put in the work to get hands-on. You can no longer just rely on a company to get technical experience, but with the resources that are available online, there are so many options to get the experience you need through labs, simulations, building your own SOC, etc. 💻 Even if you don’t hit all the job requirements, you’ll still be 10x more valuable as a candidate with this new experience under your belt. The next time you see a job you really want to apply for but don’t hit the qualifications, look at the skills they’re looking for and challenge yourself to get at least one of them into your toolbox. This is the best way to grow as a cybersecurity professional. 🤖 You got this! 💪 💡 You can also get my FREE Cybersecurity Beginner Roadmap Guide for anyone who’s looking for where to get started in their cybersecurity career: https://lnkd.in/eY79cbZ3 #cybersecurity #cybersecurityjobs #cybersecurityanalyst