Career in Cybersecurity: A Beginner’s Guide
by Chinyelu Philomena Karibi-Whyte
Monday 30 October 2023
I often get asked, “How do I get into cybersecurity?” So, today I want to provide a breakdown of what a career in this dynamic field entails and actionable steps to get started.
🎯 What Cybersecurity really is in simplest terms, cybersecurity is about protecting digital assets—be it networks, systems, or data—from unauthorized access and attacks. We’re the frontline warriors in the digital world, safeguarding both personal and professional realms.
📊 Key Pillars and Sub-domains for a Clearer Career Path.
1️⃣ Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) “The Council of Elders”: Information Security Governance, Risk Management, Compliance Management, Policy Management, and Audit Management.
2️⃣ Security Operations “The SWAT Team”: Incident Response, Monitoring and Detection, Forensics, Threat Hunting, and Vulnerability Management.
3️⃣ Security Architecture “The Master Builders”: Network Security, Endpoint Security, Cloud Security, Identity and Access Management (IAM), and Application Security.
📊 The Details
🛡️ Ethical Hacking: The good guys who find vulnerabilities before the bad guys do.
🌐 Network Security: Keeping the digital roads free from highway robbers.
☁️ Cloud Security: Protecting data, applications, and services hosted in cloud environments.
👑 Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC): “parental guidance” of the cybersecurity world. Ensuring adherence to industry standards.
🚨 Incident Response: The firefighter who rushes in when something’s ablaze in cyberspace.
🔍 Forensics: Sherlock with a USB drive, figuring out how the bad guys broke in so you can keep ’em out next time..
🔐 Application Security: Ensuring the software we use is as secure as possible.
🔑 Identity and Access Management: The cyber-gatekeeper who says, “You shall not pass!” unless you know the secret handshake.
👀 Monitoring and Detection: This is the “Neighborhood Watch” of the digital realm.
👩💻 Starting Out
1. Education: No one path fits all! No tech background? No problem. There are various certifications like CompTIA Security+ that can kickstart your journey.
2. Training Platforms: Like Cybrary offer excellent courses to get you started.
3. Hands-On Experience: Try your hands at real-world challenges. There are sandbox environments and hackathons to gain practical knowledge.
4. Join Online Communities: Cybersecurity forums are gold mines of information.
5. Intern or Volunteer: Small businesses or NGOs can often offer hands-on experience.
6. Never Stop Learning: Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, and continuous learning is the key to staying relevant.
📚 Soft Skills: Critical thinking, problem-solving, and attention to detail are equally important.
So there you go! Cybersecurity is a vibrant and essential field with a place for everyone.
Got questions or tips? Drop them in the comments. 🤔👇
Blogger and cyber-security specialist Chinyelu Philomena Karibi-Whyte writes from Leeds, England.