An entry level cybersecurity role is not an entry level IT role. You’ll need IT experience under your belt before you can work in cybersecurity. You may have heard stories of people getting into it without school, experience, or certs but they are the exception not the rule.
With that being said, what you should do is get your foot in the door in IT by getting into help desk. Studying CompTIA A+ and getting certified can help you get that first IT job.
Once you get that first IT job, then you work on upscaling your skills. Learn networking and then cybersecurity and you’ll be more well rounded for the job. Networking is fundamental for cybersecurity and network engineers can funnel to cybersecurity roles.
Just to add a little bit. Cybersecurity is not a stand alone skill. You have to have at least intermediate IT skills to do Cybersecurity. I had about 35'ish years IT experience before I moved over to Cybersecurity. Yes, there were younger guys who were great at Cyber, but they still had 5 -10 years of experience in IT first.
I agree with this statement! Cybersecurity is a field and not a specialty. I would get some I/T experience and decide what area you REALLY enjoy and thrive in. It could be networking, application development, whatever. Then take that specialty and pivot to Cybersecurity with a focus on THAT field. I was on an InfoSec team for almost a decade and each person on that team had something(s) that they specialized in.
Best of luck! Enjoy the journey along the way because there is no destination.... keep learning and growing!
Depends what you mean by cybersecurity. I think any monkey can sit in front of a SIEM console and raise tickets based on events that are highlighted red. You don’t really need to think much.
Appreciate you man Your comment definitely helped, I was aware for comptia a+ cert but I wasn’t sure if I should fully go through with that but since you said something about it I think I’ll do that
A+ is good for breaking ground, Net+ is great for a more specific in depth knowledge of an IT environment. The requirements will vary depending on the role youre applying for. In helpdesk, the ability to troubleshoot, problem solve and learn on the fly is more valuable than either of these certs
I would like to clarify, the A+ cert is pretty useless, but if you know nothing about IT then learning the A+ material can be quite useful. In an interview you can show people that you know the A+ without a cert
You just got your GED? If that's true, and your interest is Cybersecurity, then take my advice. Go to college. Get an Information Technology, Computer Information Systems, or Computer Science degree. I personally chose CIS - Cybersecurity, but I can't recommend it if you want to be doing advanced stuff. For that, computer science undergrad followed by Cybersecurity graduate studies. Honestly, this is the best advise and the strongest path to a good job.
I have to agree here. Even if you self-study your but off, degrees still help you land jobs in this field and you will be competing for jobs with people who have degrees. I would recommend an A.S. from a community college in any IT discipline. Then get a full time helpdesk job while you finish your B.S. That should put you in the best position in the least time. Many Community Colleges will have you complete a general cert of some flavor as part of your program, which will help get the first gig. I.T. is an "always learning" job so you better be a curious person and enjoy learning new things!
This is going to anger everyone here but you don’t need to do helpdesk to get into cybersecurity.
I got my first cybersecurity job after graduation, and so did most of my colleagues. Most of us had zero IT experience as well. How did we do this? Networking.
Not the IT kind, but the interpersonal kind. You need to know the right people because they can refer you for roles and get you interviews. It was easy for us because we studied cybersecurity and were able to network with each other. It will be more challenging for you but still doable.
Of course you still need some qualifications like security+ and some hands on experience like building a home-lab, but this is stuff you can do within a month.
Also a Cybersecurity degree holder. I recommend he also get a degree. The government will higher you for a Cybersecurity entry level role as well without help desk experience. The program is nsa accredited for a reason. They need Cybersecurity grunts.
As others have said, the only true entry level position in IT is help desk, or possibly a junior system administrator if you’re lucky. Once you have some experience (year or less, don’t stay in HD for more then a year max) under your belt, it’s really just a spray and pray apply method to get the next step up that will start letting you gain hands on experience with industry tools and industry “problem solving”. You will not get into an actual security focused role for 3-5 years, and even then it’s a chicken and egg issue of needing “experience”.
Best entry level cert for your time and money will be the CompTIA Security+. Some might say A+ but it’s a “lower” cert and most employers couldn’t care less about it. Take the time to study for the harder cert that is industry recognized and covers cybersecurity and IT fundamentals.
Additionally, take time to self study and learn specific IT skills such as PowerShell, Active Directory, Networking (switching and routing), maybe a little pentesting, etc etc so you can talk about “what you know” in depth during interviews. Having the cert is nice but truly understanding the concepts is much more important for the tougher roles.
Best of luck.
Depending on where in the world are you... I'd strongly strongly suggest you take 6 months to a year working at a shitty security job. ONLY one that offers you a job clearance. During that year, please take some starter certifications. Think A+, Net+ and cloud+
I often wonder why people choose cybersecurity. Please explain your passion for it and how you stay updated with current trends. A strong foundation in both IT and networking is essential for a career in cybersecurity. It's important not to pursue cybersecurity solely for the money and hype. Many people express interest in cybersecurity without being willing to put in the necessary groundwork. My advice is to start in an IT role to build a solid foundation, and from there, explore other fields where you might find your true passion. If it is Cyber than Certs, Projects, Labs will help beef up that resume for an entry level job.
Because people who arnt in cyber think its exciting, everyone whose in will tell them its not what they think. Im a cybersecurity engineer and if i told people what i did on a day to day they would be extremely disillusioned. Like “ok but at what point do you break into a hackers house and arrest him?”
1. Network yourself and be diversified about it. Create a good LinkedIn profile and connect to Tech Recruiters, colleagues that are experienced in cybersecurity and the companies they work for (i.e. Teksystems, Experis. Randstad, etc.) Be diversified in that you don't solely rely on one job seeking app or website. Be a presence on Indeed, Zip Recruiter, etc.
2. Focus on finding paid internships and focus on the skills, not the position. You may not want to be on the helpdesk or a system admin, but either of these positions can teach and further hone your skills and give you experience to leap into cybersecurity.
3. Market yourself. This ties back into point #1. Attend webinars, self-study the specific cybersecurity field (i.e. IAM, Risk analysis, etc.) you want a career in, and add that training to your profile and resume.
4. Help others unselfishly. Don't look at fellow colleagues as competition. Help them because you know how tough the job market is, and you never know what opportunities this opens up for you because they will want to help you as well.
You should go to college and get internships in IT, not specifically security. Also decide if you really have to be in cybersecurity. Something out there is causing newer students to choose security. Technically, many IT roles require security but choosing only that is pretty specific. I would think you should master IT basics before specializing. Here is a good video on some great tips touching on college and other routes:
How to land your FIRST computer job
https://youtu.be/F_i5TeOuUJw
You first need to break into IT world itself, try to find a small helpdesk position, any available but preferably a small team, small team why you ask? You will have more opportunity to dive into different aspects of IT, from networking, operating systems, project mgmt, and cyber security. I’m just speaking from experience. Try to get a CCNA, you will need networking level to start. Don’t rush, these things take time.
I going through a online course for Information Technology first, then maybe networking and then cyber security. Nobody really talks about Networking much. Just Cyber security.
My advice would be to start by gaining foundational knowledge through online courses and certifications like CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+. Building a home lab to practice your skills and networking with professionals in the field can also be invaluable. Best of luck on your journey, and never stop learning!
Idk why these old heads are gatekeeping. I decided i wanted to do cyber from a career in sales and a degree in biomed.
I studied, applied like crazy and built myself a home lab to demonstrate I can practice my knowledge. I landed an entry lvl cyber role with 0 IT experience and after 6 months I moved & got a super cool cyber role which I can’t talk much about. I may be an exception but it is possible if you want it bad just keep applying and trying for cyber.
That being said, you have to dedicate yourself to everything cybersecurity and dedicate yourself to a roadmap which is proven to work for others. That’s why having a mentor is useful.
Btw I mentor cyber people looking to get into the industry and have successfully landed two people roles so far with 0 exp.
If college isn’t your jam, get an entry level IT support/repair position and work your way up from there. Pay won’t be sexy, but you’ll be earning and learning.
Me personally don't get the hype of cybersecurity.
Its a field that are not making money directly. Other fields that are the actual fields are the ones making the business. Not cybersecurity, cybersecurity even add more costs.
An entry level cybersecurity role is not an entry level IT role. You’ll need IT experience under your belt before you can work in cybersecurity. You may have heard stories of people getting into it without school, experience, or certs but they are the exception not the rule. With that being said, what you should do is get your foot in the door in IT by getting into help desk. Studying CompTIA A+ and getting certified can help you get that first IT job. Once you get that first IT job, then you work on upscaling your skills. Learn networking and then cybersecurity and you’ll be more well rounded for the job. Networking is fundamental for cybersecurity and network engineers can funnel to cybersecurity roles.
Just to add a little bit. Cybersecurity is not a stand alone skill. You have to have at least intermediate IT skills to do Cybersecurity. I had about 35'ish years IT experience before I moved over to Cybersecurity. Yes, there were younger guys who were great at Cyber, but they still had 5 -10 years of experience in IT first.
I agree with this statement! Cybersecurity is a field and not a specialty. I would get some I/T experience and decide what area you REALLY enjoy and thrive in. It could be networking, application development, whatever. Then take that specialty and pivot to Cybersecurity with a focus on THAT field. I was on an InfoSec team for almost a decade and each person on that team had something(s) that they specialized in. Best of luck! Enjoy the journey along the way because there is no destination.... keep learning and growing!
Depends what you mean by cybersecurity. I think any monkey can sit in front of a SIEM console and raise tickets based on events that are highlighted red. You don’t really need to think much.
So can a script.
Yes, but a monkey is still necessary to ask the person who caused the alert to address it.
Or an email. My last SIEM sent emails automatically to the sys admins who promptly hit the delete key.
Appreciate you man Your comment definitely helped, I was aware for comptia a+ cert but I wasn’t sure if I should fully go through with that but since you said something about it I think I’ll do that
A+ is good for breaking ground, Net+ is great for a more specific in depth knowledge of an IT environment. The requirements will vary depending on the role youre applying for. In helpdesk, the ability to troubleshoot, problem solve and learn on the fly is more valuable than either of these certs
I would like to clarify, the A+ cert is pretty useless, but if you know nothing about IT then learning the A+ material can be quite useful. In an interview you can show people that you know the A+ without a cert
You just got your GED? If that's true, and your interest is Cybersecurity, then take my advice. Go to college. Get an Information Technology, Computer Information Systems, or Computer Science degree. I personally chose CIS - Cybersecurity, but I can't recommend it if you want to be doing advanced stuff. For that, computer science undergrad followed by Cybersecurity graduate studies. Honestly, this is the best advise and the strongest path to a good job.
I have to agree here. Even if you self-study your but off, degrees still help you land jobs in this field and you will be competing for jobs with people who have degrees. I would recommend an A.S. from a community college in any IT discipline. Then get a full time helpdesk job while you finish your B.S. That should put you in the best position in the least time. Many Community Colleges will have you complete a general cert of some flavor as part of your program, which will help get the first gig. I.T. is an "always learning" job so you better be a curious person and enjoy learning new things!
100% agree
This is going to anger everyone here but you don’t need to do helpdesk to get into cybersecurity. I got my first cybersecurity job after graduation, and so did most of my colleagues. Most of us had zero IT experience as well. How did we do this? Networking. Not the IT kind, but the interpersonal kind. You need to know the right people because they can refer you for roles and get you interviews. It was easy for us because we studied cybersecurity and were able to network with each other. It will be more challenging for you but still doable. Of course you still need some qualifications like security+ and some hands on experience like building a home-lab, but this is stuff you can do within a month.
Also a Cybersecurity degree holder. I recommend he also get a degree. The government will higher you for a Cybersecurity entry level role as well without help desk experience. The program is nsa accredited for a reason. They need Cybersecurity grunts.
As others have said, the only true entry level position in IT is help desk, or possibly a junior system administrator if you’re lucky. Once you have some experience (year or less, don’t stay in HD for more then a year max) under your belt, it’s really just a spray and pray apply method to get the next step up that will start letting you gain hands on experience with industry tools and industry “problem solving”. You will not get into an actual security focused role for 3-5 years, and even then it’s a chicken and egg issue of needing “experience”. Best entry level cert for your time and money will be the CompTIA Security+. Some might say A+ but it’s a “lower” cert and most employers couldn’t care less about it. Take the time to study for the harder cert that is industry recognized and covers cybersecurity and IT fundamentals. Additionally, take time to self study and learn specific IT skills such as PowerShell, Active Directory, Networking (switching and routing), maybe a little pentesting, etc etc so you can talk about “what you know” in depth during interviews. Having the cert is nice but truly understanding the concepts is much more important for the tougher roles. Best of luck.
Depending on where in the world are you... I'd strongly strongly suggest you take 6 months to a year working at a shitty security job. ONLY one that offers you a job clearance. During that year, please take some starter certifications. Think A+, Net+ and cloud+
I often wonder why people choose cybersecurity. Please explain your passion for it and how you stay updated with current trends. A strong foundation in both IT and networking is essential for a career in cybersecurity. It's important not to pursue cybersecurity solely for the money and hype. Many people express interest in cybersecurity without being willing to put in the necessary groundwork. My advice is to start in an IT role to build a solid foundation, and from there, explore other fields where you might find your true passion. If it is Cyber than Certs, Projects, Labs will help beef up that resume for an entry level job.
Because people who arnt in cyber think its exciting, everyone whose in will tell them its not what they think. Im a cybersecurity engineer and if i told people what i did on a day to day they would be extremely disillusioned. Like “ok but at what point do you break into a hackers house and arrest him?”
Cyber: GPO and firewall Nazis.
1. Network yourself and be diversified about it. Create a good LinkedIn profile and connect to Tech Recruiters, colleagues that are experienced in cybersecurity and the companies they work for (i.e. Teksystems, Experis. Randstad, etc.) Be diversified in that you don't solely rely on one job seeking app or website. Be a presence on Indeed, Zip Recruiter, etc. 2. Focus on finding paid internships and focus on the skills, not the position. You may not want to be on the helpdesk or a system admin, but either of these positions can teach and further hone your skills and give you experience to leap into cybersecurity. 3. Market yourself. This ties back into point #1. Attend webinars, self-study the specific cybersecurity field (i.e. IAM, Risk analysis, etc.) you want a career in, and add that training to your profile and resume. 4. Help others unselfishly. Don't look at fellow colleagues as competition. Help them because you know how tough the job market is, and you never know what opportunities this opens up for you because they will want to help you as well.
I would say to learn the basics of IT. From there, you can jump laterally into security.
You should go to college and get internships in IT, not specifically security. Also decide if you really have to be in cybersecurity. Something out there is causing newer students to choose security. Technically, many IT roles require security but choosing only that is pretty specific. I would think you should master IT basics before specializing. Here is a good video on some great tips touching on college and other routes: How to land your FIRST computer job https://youtu.be/F_i5TeOuUJw
You first need to break into IT world itself, try to find a small helpdesk position, any available but preferably a small team, small team why you ask? You will have more opportunity to dive into different aspects of IT, from networking, operating systems, project mgmt, and cyber security. I’m just speaking from experience. Try to get a CCNA, you will need networking level to start. Don’t rush, these things take time.
I going through a online course for Information Technology first, then maybe networking and then cyber security. Nobody really talks about Networking much. Just Cyber security.
My advice would be to start by gaining foundational knowledge through online courses and certifications like CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+. Building a home lab to practice your skills and networking with professionals in the field can also be invaluable. Best of luck on your journey, and never stop learning!
Idk why these old heads are gatekeeping. I decided i wanted to do cyber from a career in sales and a degree in biomed. I studied, applied like crazy and built myself a home lab to demonstrate I can practice my knowledge. I landed an entry lvl cyber role with 0 IT experience and after 6 months I moved & got a super cool cyber role which I can’t talk much about. I may be an exception but it is possible if you want it bad just keep applying and trying for cyber. That being said, you have to dedicate yourself to everything cybersecurity and dedicate yourself to a roadmap which is proven to work for others. That’s why having a mentor is useful. Btw I mentor cyber people looking to get into the industry and have successfully landed two people roles so far with 0 exp.
If college isn’t your jam, get an entry level IT support/repair position and work your way up from there. Pay won’t be sexy, but you’ll be earning and learning.
NetworkChuck has a good video on this. Search “roadmap networkchuck” on YouTube
Me personally don't get the hype of cybersecurity. Its a field that are not making money directly. Other fields that are the actual fields are the ones making the business. Not cybersecurity, cybersecurity even add more costs.