How to Get into CyberSecurity | Step by Step Roadmap (2024)

Summary

In this informative video, Caleb, a certified cybersecurity professional, shares a clear and simple roadmap for beginners aiming to break into the cybersecurity industry. He emphasizes the importance of understanding IT fundamentals through certifications like CompTIA A+ and then advancing with cybersecurity-focused courses or certifications available on platforms like Coursera. Caleb advises viewers to identify their areas of interest within cybersecurity, align with job descriptions to acquire necessary skills, engage in practical projects, and document their experiences. He also discusses the challenges of entry-level positions and suggests starting with IT support roles to gain experience before transitioning into cybersecurity roles, reminding viewers to keep their ultimate goal in sight.

Takeaways

• 😀 Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility within a company and involves roles beyond just engineers.
• 🔐 Start with the basics: Understanding IT fundamentals like networking, hardware, software, and operating systems is crucial before specializing in cybersecurity.
• 📚 CompTIA A+ is a recommended certification for building a solid foundation in IT.
• 🎓 Cyber-focused courses or certifications, such as Microsoft's Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate or Google's Cybersecurity Professional Certificate, are valuable for advancing in the field.
• 📈 Utilize platforms like Coursera for online learning and to take advantage of their 7-day free trial.
• 📝 Job descriptions are key to understanding the specific skills and areas of cybersecurity that employers are looking for.
• 🛠️ Engage in practical projects to solidify your understanding and demonstrate your skills, ensuring they are well-documented on your CV.
• 🔎 Look for entry-level roles in IT support or related fields if you're struggling to find a direct entry into cybersecurity.
• 🚀 Use your experience in IT roles to pivot into cybersecurity, highlighting relevant skills and knowledge gained.
• 🔄 Keep learning and updating your skills in cybersecurity even while working in other IT roles to stay on track for your ultimate goal.
• 🌟 Persistence and continuous learning are essential for breaking into the cybersecurity industry and advancing your career.

Q & A

What is the speaker's name and what does he specialize in?

The speaker's name is Caleb, and he specializes in the tech industry, specifically in cyber security.

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to provide clear and simple steps for beginners to start their journey in breaking into the cyber security industry.

Why is it important to understand that cyber security is not the job of one person?

It is important because it emphasizes that cyber security is a shared responsibility within a company, involving roles beyond just the cyber security engineer or analyst.

What is the first step Caleb suggests for someone looking to break into cyber security?

The first step Caleb suggests is to learn the IT fundamentals, such as networking, hardware, software, and operating systems, through certifications like CompTIA A+.

What does Caleb recommend for practical learning of IT fundamentals?

Caleb recommends taking apart a system unit, like an old laptop, to physically understand the components like the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and optical drive while studying for CompTIA A+.

What are some of the cyber-focused courses or certifications Caleb mentions?

Caleb mentions the Microsoft Cyber Security Analyst Professional Certificate and the Google Cyber Security Professional Certificate on Coursera, as well as CompTIA Security Plus and ISC^2 Certified in Cyber Security.

What does Caleb suggest doing after completing a cyber security course or certification?

Caleb suggests figuring out the specific skills and areas of cyber security one is interested in by looking at job descriptions and learning the required skills.

How can job descriptions help someone interested in cyber security?

Job descriptions can help by providing a clear understanding of the skills and qualifications employers are looking for, which can guide further learning and training.

What is the importance of doing practical projects after learning new skills?

Practical projects are important for solidifying the understanding of new skills and providing hands-on experience, which is valuable for both the CV and interview settings.

What advice does Caleb give for someone struggling to find an entry-level cyber security role?

Caleb advises that if one is struggling to find an entry-level cyber security role, they should consider starting in an IT support role and use that experience to transition into a cyber security role later.

What is Caleb's final reminder for those starting in a non-cyber role with the ultimate goal of cyber security?

Caleb's final reminder is to keep focusing on the end goal of breaking into cyber security, continue learning in that area, and use the experience gained in the initial role to transition into the desired cyber security role.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Introduction to Cyber Security Career Path

The speaker, Caleb, introduces the video's purpose, which is to guide those interested in breaking into the cyber security industry. He shares his personal experience and emphasizes the collective responsibility of cyber security within a company, not just the duty of a single engineer. Caleb suggests that understanding the basics of IT, such as networking, hardware, and software, is crucial before specializing in cyber security. He recommends obtaining the CompTIA A+ certification as a fundamental step and suggests practical experience by disassembling a computer system to reinforce learning.

05:00

🎓 Cyber Security Education and Certifications

Caleb discusses the importance of acquiring cyber-focused courses or certifications as the second step in a cyber security career. He highlights two professional certificates available on Coursera: the Microsoft Cyber Security Analyst Professional Certificate and the Google Cyber Security Professional Certificate. Both are praised for their quality and the opportunity to start with a 7-day free trial. The Microsoft course is noted for preparing students for the SC-900 certification with a 50% discount. Caleb also mentions alternative certifications like CompTIA Security Plus and ISC^2 Certified in Cyber Security, suggesting that these can provide a solid foundation and understanding of cyber security concepts.

10:01

🔍 Identifying Interests and Skills in Cyber Security

The third step involves identifying specific interests and skills within cyber security. Caleb advises using the knowledge gained from the cyber security certification or course to understand personal preferences, such as cloud security or penetration testing. He recommends reviewing job descriptions on platforms like LinkedIn to clarify the skills and experiences employers seek. Caleb stresses the importance of learning the skills listed in job descriptions through various online courses and emphasizes the value of practical application over theoretical knowledge alone.

🛠️ Practical Experience Through Projects

Caleb outlines the fourth step as engaging in practical projects to solidify the skills identified in the previous step. He suggests taking online courses to gain a thorough understanding of the required skills and then applying them through hands-on projects. Caleb recommends documenting these projects and being able to articulate the experience in a CV and during job interviews. He also provides examples of YouTube creators who offer practical projects to enhance understanding in various cyber security areas.

🔎 Navigating the Job Search in Cyber Security

In the final paragraph, Caleb addresses the challenges of the job search in cyber security, particularly the common requirement for extensive experience. He encourages those new to the field to consider starting in an IT support role to gain relevant experience before transitioning into a cyber security position. Caleb advises maintaining a focus on the ultimate goal of a cyber security role and continuing to learn and develop skills in cyber security while working in an entry-level position. He concludes by asking viewers to like and comment on the video if they found it helpful, offering a roadmap for beginners to start their journey in cyber security.

Keywords

💡Cyber Security

Cyber Security refers to the practice of protecting internet-connected systems, including hardware, software, and data, from theft, damage, or unauthorized access. In the video's theme, it is the central focus as the speaker discusses steps for breaking into this industry. The term is used throughout the script to highlight the importance of cybersecurity in various roles within a company and as a career path.

💡CompTIA A+

CompTIA A+ is a foundational certification for IT professionals that covers basic knowledge of networking, hardware, software, and troubleshooting. In the video, it is recommended as the first step to gain a fundamental understanding of IT, which is essential before specializing in cybersecurity.

💡Fundamentals

In the context of the video, 'fundamentals' refers to the basic concepts and principles of IT, such as networking, hardware, software, and operating systems. The speaker emphasizes the importance of learning these fundamentals before advancing to cybersecurity, as they form the basis for understanding more complex topics in the field.

💡Cybersecurity Engineer

A cybersecurity engineer is a professional who specializes in designing, implementing, and maintaining security measures to protect an organization's information and systems. The script mentions this role as a potential career path for those breaking into cybersecurity, highlighting the need for specific skills and knowledge.

💡Coursera

Coursera is an online learning platform that offers a variety of courses, including those related to cybersecurity. In the video, it is mentioned as a resource for finding cybersecurity-focused courses and certifications, such as the Microsoft Cyber Security Analyst Professional Certificate and the Google Cyber Security Professional Certificate.

💡Certifications

Certifications in the video refer to professional qualifications that validate an individual's knowledge and skills in a specific area, such as cybersecurity. The speaker recommends obtaining certifications like CompTIA Security Plus and ISC^2 Certified in Cyber Security as part of the journey to become a cybersecurity professional.

💡Job Description

A job description outlines the roles, responsibilities, and requirements for a particular job. In the context of the video, the speaker advises using job descriptions to identify the skills and areas of cybersecurity that one should focus on learning and to understand what employers are looking for in candidates.

💡Projects

Projects, as discussed in the video, are practical applications of the skills and knowledge gained from cybersecurity courses. They are essential for gaining hands-on experience and demonstrating practical understanding, which is crucial for a cybersecurity professional's CV and interviews.

💡IT Support Engineer

An IT support engineer provides technical assistance to users, helping to resolve issues with hardware, software, and other IT-related problems. The script mentions this role as a potential entry point into the tech industry for those aiming to eventually transition into cybersecurity.

💡End Goal

In the video, 'end goal' refers to the ultimate career objective, which for the target audience, is to become a cybersecurity professional. The speaker emphasizes the importance of keeping this end goal in mind, even when starting in roles that may not be directly related to cybersecurity, such as IT support.

Highlights

Caleb shares his experience of breaking into the cyber security industry.

Cyber security is a shared responsibility within a company, not just the job of one person.

CompTIA A+ certification is recommended for understanding IT fundamentals.

Practical experience with hardware is suggested alongside studying for CompTIA A+.

Coursera offers cyber-focused courses like Microsoft Cyber Security Analyst Professional Certificate.

Google Cyber Security Professional Certificate is an alternative to Microsoft's offering on Coursera.

CompTIA Security Plus and ISC^2 Certified in Cyber Security are other notable certifications.

Identifying specific areas of interest within cyber security is crucial for career progression.

Job descriptions on platforms like LinkedIn can guide skill development.

Free resources like YouTube offer practical cyber security project tutorials.

Documenting projects and being able to discuss them is important for interviews.

The job search in cyber security can be challenging due to high experience requirements.

Starting in an IT support role can be a stepping stone to a cyber security career.

Maintaining focus on the end goal is essential when starting in a non-cyber role.

Continuing education in cyber security while working in other IT roles is advised.

Caleb encourages viewers to like the video to help others starting their cyber security journey.

Transcripts

you want to break into cyber security

but have no idea where to start I've

been working in cyber security for the

past year and a few months now and I've

gone through those steps of learning and

breaking into this industry and I can

share some really good steps that could

help you do exactly the same if you're

worried and don't know where to start in

getting into this industry in this video

I'm going to provide some clear and

simple steps for you to start your

journey in breaking into cyber please

enjoy this

video

my name is Caleb only certified I love

to make videos on the tech industry and

if you take any value from this video

please like this video to make sure that

it goes out there to as many people as

possible that need this video so yes so

I've been working in cyber security for

over a year now and I will be providing

you with some steps to start your

journey in this industry but before we

get into it there's one thing that I've

thought about that I kind of want to

mention it's important to note that

there is cyber security in so many roles

it is a common Concept in companies and

in the workplace that cyber security is

not the job of one person it's not the

job of an engineer a cybercity engineer

it is the job of everyone at the company

and this could mean simple things like

cuz you're not a cyber SEC engineer

doesn't mean that you don't protect your

data or it doesn't mean that you don't

protect your password or privileged

information and so because of this there

are loads of roles outside of being a

cyber security engineer or analyst that

have the concepts of cyber security

involved in them like even as an it

support engineer there's many aspects of

cyber security involved in your role and

even as an infrastructure engineer

there's loads of those concepts of cyber

involved in your role as well and there

are so many other examples of that and

that is an important thing to know when

you're getting into this industry and

you'll find out why I mention that later

in this video but let's get into the

steps Step One Is to learn the

fundamentals the it fundamental

networking Hardware software operating

systems the basic concepts of it before

you're able to become a cyber security

engineer these are things you need to

know and understand pretty well and you

might be thinking how do I go about this

how do I get my fundamental

understanding of it and know these basic

concepts and have a great understanding

of networking and hardware and all these

things well there are definitely many

ways of doing this but I can only say

the way that I did this I did this

through the compta A+ and I'm sure

you've heard of this certification

before compta plus is an amazing

fundamental certification

that will give you a good understanding

of all these Concepts whether it's

networking or Hardware or software or or

troubleshooting and many other things

now if you're thinking about taking the

comp A+ to get your foundations in order

there's one thing that I will mention

now when I took the compt A+ I didn't

just take this exam and study for it and

pass it with just knowing the knowledge

and information I also went about

practicing this information to make sure

I really grasp the knowledge that I was

learning for example right here I have a

system

unit and if you're taking the compt A+

and learning a lot about Hardware a

really good thing to do would be to take

this apart grab yourself a screwdriver

break this apart and start looking at

the insides find the motherboard find

the CPU find the ram find the flipping

optical drive and study all of these

things that you're learning in the

compta plus when I was taking this exam

and studying for this exam I had a

really old laptop that was sitting in

the corner I broke it apart and studied

where the CPU is where the ram is how

much RAM is in there loads and loads of

stuff like that and identified

everything that I was learning in the

CompTIA A+ courses and that is what

really helped me to fully grasp my

understanding of fundamental it now if

you see this as an option for yourself

and you want to start learning and

getting that fundamental understanding

and taking the compta A+ then I'm going

to put some links to some really good

courses for the compta A+ in the

description of this video you can go and

start your Learning Journey with the

compy A+ courses so that's step one

getting the it fundamental now step two

is a very important learning process and

I've kind of put down step two as

getting a cyber focused course or

certification and I have an amazing list

of courses and certifications that I can

go through with you guys and all of

these are pretty good and you kind of

have a few options when going into this

and my first two options are options

that you can study and go for using

corsera now corser is a learning

platform that loads of people use it's

probably one of the most popular ones

out there right now and just so you know

I'm not being sponsored by Kera I'm

actually saying this because it is a

really valuable platform and if you're

trying to get into cyber there are some

really good courses on there that could

help you start that Journey now the

first one I want to talk about is the

Microsoft cyber security analyst

professional certificate now maybe I

have a little bit of bias to Microsoft

stuff because I'm kind of a Microsoft

and is your engineer and as your focused

guy but I'm putting this as a really

good recommendation

to start this journey there is also a

competing Google certification which is

called the Google cyber security

professional certificate and both of

these courses are on corsera so if

you're interested in these go on and

start these coures one of the big things

and great things about corsera is they

have a 7-Day free trial so you can start

your Learning Journey and if at any

point you decide this isn't for me you

can cancel that and move on if at some

point you decide yeah this Cera course

is really good then you can start the

paid version and continue the learning

from there now another thing about the

Microsoft course is at the end of the

course is that the course kind of also

prepares you for the sc900 certification

and when you're taking this course you

also get 50% off taking the

certification which is amazing and very

briefly looking over some of the stuff

covered in the course there's an

introduction to computers and operating

systems there's introduction to

networking and cloud computing there's

even a lot of stuff on identity and

access management and loads and loads

more now these these are two Great

Courses I'd recommend I wouldn't

recommend one more than the other

despite my Microsoft bias so it's either

you prefer Google or you prefer

Microsoft but one of these courses is a

great place for the second step of

getting that cyber security Corso

certification done now if you're not

interested in either of these there are

other options that you can go for one of

these options is the really popular

CompTIA Security Plus certification and

another one is a certification I've

actually passed and made a video on

which is called the ISC squ certified in

cyber security Now now I haven't taken

the Security Plus so I can't say much

about the comparison between these two

certifications but what I have heard and

I can say is that the Security Plus is

slightly more Broad and practical and

probably a little bit better than the

certified in cyber security in some ways

but both of these certifications will

give you a good understanding and a

great knowledge base for cyber security

and help you to move forward into step

three now step three is to figure out

what skills and areas of cyber security

your really interested in and through

the cyber security certification or

course that you've just done this will

slightly become more and more clear to

you maybe it's going into Cloud security

maybe it's going into pen testing maybe

it's going into being a red team or a

hacker or whatever but this will become

more and more clear and how do you

solidify the skills that you need to

know to get into these roles well it's

time to bring out the job description

I'm on LinkedIn right now and I'm just

searching in a role in my area that I

would probably want to get into so cyber

security engineer now I've just found a

role as a security architect that I'm

really interested in now it's time to

look at the job description and look at

the requirements for this role this may

not be a role that you're directly going

to apply for tomorrow but the point of

this exercise is to look at the skills

and find out what skills they are

looking for in the person that will get

this role now some of the skills on here

include knowledge in a security domain

like identity and access management now

it's time to go away and from this job

description figure out how to learn this

skill it says it also wants some

experience in AWS some understanding of

security Technologies and whatever it

says on these job descriptions it's time

for you to go away and start learning

what you've seen there are so many

courses whether it's on YouTube or

flipping udemy or corera that you can

use to really learn and understand

whatever you see on the job description

and most of the time you won't even have

to pay for any of these courses you

could just go on YouTube and search for

a course on whatever you find and and

there's probably a really good course on

there for completely free I really

stress how important it is to look at

job descriptions and understand what

employers are actually looking for this

will really give you a good

understanding of your journey and how to

get to exactly where you want to be now

let's move on to step four and step four

is basically just learning and doing a

lot of projects on what you've learned

from the previous step now the skills

that you found on the job descriptions

is time to put them into practice and

and like I said go after those courses

online to get a really good

understanding of whatever is required

whatever that is and whatever skills are

required it's really important to go and

do some projects and to actually have

some practical understanding of these

things and not just a theoretical one so

to get a practical understanding

projects are required and generally

there are so many cyber security

projects out here on YouTube loads of

creators put out these projects to give

people a really good understanding of

what to do practically and I'll put some

of these up here from some of my

favorite YouTubers that really put out a

lot of content in these areas and help

people with projects to understand

things a lot better so check those

videos out and there are loads more on

YouTube now once you've done these

projects it's really important to

document what you've done and be able to

speak about these things in an interview

so make sure that these projects are

really well represented in your CV

exactly what you've done explained in a

few short sentences give a hiring

manager a good understanding that you've

actually gone through this and have a

good practical understanding of this

thing that you'll probably be working on

if you get the job they're interviewing

you for so making sure this is well

represented on a CV and also being able

to discuss this thing in an interview

setting is really important step five is

the job search and this is a really

interesting thing because when we talk

about the job search for cyber security

there's loads of things we could say

there's a lot of talk about how much

experience you have now a lot of the

time you look at cyber security roles

online and they'll be asking for 5 years

experience 10 years experience 7 years

experience and whatever the case may be

and loads of times this is really really

discouraged how are you going to get a

job to get experience when all the jobs

are requiring loads of experience it

doesn't make sense now a lot of people

say there is no way you can get a cyber

security role as your first role and

although that's not true you can get a

first role in cyber security a lot of

the times it can be really difficult and

there's not as many entry-level roles in

cyber as there are in other areas of

tech like an IT support engineer on the

help disk is a first role that loads and

loads of

go through and if you're struggling to

find roles that will take on entry level

cyber security Engineers or or analysts

then it's a great idea to go into an IT

support role as your first role and once

you have a bit of experience in it

support then you can start to look and

move on to the cyber security roles now

like I said at the beginning roles like

it support or even infrastructure

engineering or many other roles have a

lot of concepts of cyber security within

them so if you happen to get a first

role that is not in cyber and cyber is

your ultimate goal when you are moving

on into cyber security do use your

understanding that you've gained for

your previous role to get that cyber

security role be able to speak about the

aspects of cyber security that you

covered in your current role and this

will really help now another big thing

that I will say is that loads of people

get stuck in that first role especially

when we talk about it support people go

into it support and they get locked in

and are not able to find the way out out

to their end goal which is either cyber

or maybe it's cloud or maybe it's some

other area but once you get stuck in

that role you either get super

comfortable and forget to move on and

this part of the video is just a

reminder to focus on the end goal if

your end goal is to get into cyber

security and to break in as a cyber

security engineer if your first job is

in the is at the help desk or maybe some

other role make sure you're seeing this

as a way to get experience to reach that

role as you're working in these roles

keep your learning going in cyber and

cyber security areas and that will

really help you to focus on that end

goal and eventually after gaining the

experience you need moving on into the

role that you really want to be guys I

hope this video has been really really

good in helping some beginners to

understand the way that they can get

into cyber security and guys if you

found any value from this video please

leave a like below I want to get this

video out to as many people that are

starting their Journeys in cyber

security so they can have a great road

map that they can use to get started and

if this has really impacted you or

helped you to go further in your career

please leave a comment and let me know

how this has helped thank you guys for

watching and I'll see you in the next

[Music]

video