Pursuing a career in cybersecurity can present a rewarding challenge with the right mindset. Explore this career path in more detail to determine if it鈥檚 suitable for you.
Whether cybersecurity is difficult to learn will depend on your perspective. If you鈥檙e curious about technology, enjoy the thrill of solving complex problems, and embrace learning new things, you could find cybersecurity an engaging and worthwhile challenge to pursue.听
If you鈥檙e considering a career in the industry, it鈥檚 normal to feel intimidated by the prospect of learning (and keeping up with) the technical skills involved. Some of these skills may be challenging, but you can build a foundation for a rewarding and in-demand job with the right mentality and action plan.听
During the 糖心vlog官网观看 virtual panel, , (ISC)2 Chief Information Security Officer Jon France said:
"It not a career just for young people, it's for career changers as well, and that includes people from all walks of life."
As you build the skills you鈥檒l need for a career in cybersecurity, keep these tips in mind.
By taking a course in cybersecurity, you鈥檒l not only build foundational skills in a structured learning environment but also experience what cybersecurity is all about firsthand. Use this as an opportunity to see for yourself whether a career in information security could be a good match for your unique goals and interests.
An introductory cybersecurity course might cover topics like:
Cybersecurity tools and attack vectors
Security compliance and industry standards
Operating systems, network, and data security
Incident response
Penetration testing
Cyber threat intelligence
Start with a broad overview, and you鈥檒l have a better idea of what skills you already have, what area of cybersecurity you might want to work in, and what skills you need to build to get there.
It鈥檚 critical to remember the difference between difficult and challenging. Learning cybersecurity can be challenging, but it doesn鈥檛 have to be difficult, especially if you鈥檙e passionate about technology. Nurture a curiosity for the technologies you鈥檙e working with, and you might find that challenging skills become easier.听
Sometimes just the act of learning is enough to build enthusiasm about a topic. If you鈥檙e someone who thrives off the enthusiasm of others, getting involved in a community of other security professionals (Tip 7) could also help.
Maybe after taking a course or two, you鈥檒l discover your passions lie elsewhere. That鈥檚 okay, too. Cybersecurity can be an exciting, challenging, and well-paying profession, but it鈥檚 not for everyone.听
If you鈥檙e concerned cybersecurity is a difficult major, consider learning in smaller chunks. Building cybersecurity skills doesn鈥檛 have to mean dropping everything for a degree or full-time boot camp. A little time each day can lead to big results. Start by setting aside 15 minutes each day to focus on cybersecurity. Plan your learning time, and try to make it the same time every day.听
Besides setting aside consistent learning time, planning what you want to accomplish in each session is also a good idea. Be specific (for example, 鈥渨atch two lecture videos,鈥 鈥渢ake Lesson 3 quiz,鈥 or 鈥渞ead Chapter Four鈥).
Read more: 15 Essential Skills for Cybersecurity Analysts
One of the best ways to learn is by doing. In cybersecurity, one way to get firsthand experience using the tools and techniques of the trade is to practice ethical hacking.听
The EC-Council, provider of the popular Certified Ethical Hacker certification, defines ethical hacking as 鈥渢he process of detecting vulnerabilities in an application, system, or organization鈥檚 infrastructure that an attacker can use to exploit an individual or organization.鈥澛
In other words, ethical hacking is a legal authorization to break into a computer system, network, application, or database.
Several free websites allow you to develop your cybersecurity skill set through legal, gamified experiences. Try these to get started:
As you continue to build skills, you might look into bug bounty programs, where companies offer cash bonuses to independent security researchers who find and report security flaws. This not only allows you to test your skills in the real world but also creates opportunities to network with other security professionals. Find a list of bounties on sites like and .听
Read more: How to Become a Penetration Tester
Many cybersecurity courses include virtual labs to practice applying your skills using real security tools in simulated environments. Having these labs ready to go as part of a structured course is convenient, but you can get as much practice as you want by setting up your own virtual lab. A basic lab environment will typically include three elements:
A cloud environment to host virtual machines
A target machine to launch attacks on
An attack box or machine you will use to plan and perform attacks
For a more detailed walkthrough, check out this .
If you need a break from technical skill-building, spend some time working on your workplace skills.听
As a cybersecurity expert, you鈥檒l often need to communicate complex concepts to people who might not have a technical background. You may also work cross-functionally with other legal or public relations teams. Many cybersecurity roles involve making key decisions on the spot. This means hiring managers look for candidates with critical thinking skills.
You鈥檒l find plenty of resources for improving workplace skills, from books to blogs to podcasts. If you鈥檙e looking for a structured approach, explore some courses to get you started:
You might find it energizing to join a group of people who are also interested in cybersecurity. Joining a forum or other online community also doubles as a resource where you can ask questions, find motivation, network, and possibly learn about job opportunities. Reddit might be a good place to start if you鈥檙e not yet ready to join a professional organization. Some of the more popular subreddits:
for staying current with global cybersecurity news
for general cybersecurity topics and Mentorship Monday
for job listings and job discussions
Preparing for a cybersecurity certification exam can double as an effective way to develop your skill set. Plus, having a certification can enhance your resume and make you more competitive as a job candidate. A 2023 survey conducted by Certification Magazine reveals that more than 75 percent of those surveyed experienced increased demand for their skills after certification [].
These are the 8 cybersecurity certifications that showed up most frequently in job listings (as of October 2024).
Cybersecurity threats and technologies are always changing. Successful cybersecurity professionals are often lifetime learners, evolving their own skills as the threat landscape evolves.听
As you look toward getting a job in cybersecurity, consider companies that invest in ongoing training. This could save you not only money but also personal time. When ongoing training is part of your role, it could be at the company鈥檚 expense and on work time.
This is a good thing to ask when it鈥檚 your turn to ask questions during an interview, as it can demonstrate your willingness to learn.
How hard is cybersecurity? In truth, the answer is subjective and will likely depend on your skills and knowledge. Start building job-ready skills in cybersecurity with the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate on 糖心vlog官网观看. Get hands-on experience with industry tools and examine real-world case studies at your own pace. Upon completion, you鈥檒l have a certificate for your resume and be prepared to explore job titles like security analyst, SOC (security operations center) analyst, and more.
Cybersecurity is generally not considered a particularly math-heavy career. Some cybersecurity degree programs may have some higher-level math requirements, but on the job, you鈥檒l likely need a basic understanding of binary math and mathematical logic. Exceptions include roles involving cryptography, which may require more advanced mathematical ability. 鈥
Cybersecurity as a field typically has more open jobs than qualified candidates to fill them. More than a quarter of million cybersecurity job openings in the US seek certified candidates and nearly half a million cybersecurity jobs available overall at the time of writing, according to Cyberseek [2]. These jobs also tend to be well-paid. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median salary of $120,360 for information security analysts in the US [3].
Read more: 5 Cybersecurity Career Paths (and How to Get Started) 鈥
Cybersecurity degree programs tend to have fewer higher-level math and science requirements than computer science and other STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) degrees. This means that you might not have to take classes like calculus and chemistry, often considered among the most challenging for college students. While some courses require labs, these are generally not research-based. On the other hand, you can expect courses to get increasingly challenging as you move through a cybersecurity program. The material can also be quite technical and challenging to read. 鈥 鈥
Cybersecurity isn鈥檛 objectively harder or easier than computer science. It depends on your own strengths and interests. If you鈥檙e interested in how computers work and enjoy writing code, computer science may be a better fit. If you enjoy the challenge of working through a problem analytically in a fast-paced environment and are curious about the ethics of modern technology, cybersecurity could be a good fit. 鈥 鈥
Certification Magazine. 鈥, https://www.certmag.com/articles/salary-survey-2023-certification-attractive-to-employers-improves-job-performance." Accessed October 4, 2024.
Cyber Seek. ", https://www.cyberseek.org/heatmap.html." Accessed October 4, 2024.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. ", https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm." Accessed October 4, 2024.听
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.