So how should one go about joining the cybersecurity field? There are multiple paths available to get you started!
(Please check back for updates as the cybersecurity field constantly evolves!)
Degree Path
If you are interested in a strong degree program in cybersecurity, I would highly recommend Western Governors University’s online degree program. In addition to rigorous Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree programs, the curriculum provides the opportunity to earn multiple industry certifications! It is self-paced, which means that a student can complete it in 4 years or less depending on their focus.
There are also other I.T. Programs available to suit your interests. To learn more, click here and select the “College of I.T.” for programs at WGU!
Certification Path
For those wishing to follow a pure certification path, Dion Training does excellent cert prep courses at a low cost via Udemy that are accompanied by a discount on exam vouchers. I would recommend attaining the following basic certifications (in order of achievement):
Once you feel ready to earn more intermediate CompTIA certifications, I would recommend the following Udemy courses by Dion Training with their accompanying voucher discounts (in order of achievement):
The following advanced certifications are highly valued in the cybersecurity field but take significant effort to achieve. They can be taken in any order:
- (ISC)2 CISSP – this certification is considered one of the most difficult to achieve and is consequently highly sought-after in the field. If you choose to take this exam, please contact me – even after passing the exam, you must be vouched for by a current holder of this certification. I have held this certification since February 2020.
- EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker – this certification is beneficial if you wish to get into ethical hacking and penetration testing.
- Offensive Security’s OSCP – this certification encompasses deep technical knowledge for penetration testing and includes a 24-hour hacking marathon where the examinee must compromise a number of systems in a lab.
- MITRE ATT&CK Defender – this is actually 5 certifications in different cybersecurity categories. I strongly recommend this one when it is time to elevate one’s understanding of threat actors to their behaviors.
Career Paths
There are several career paths in cybersecurity. Here are just a few, with brief descriptions:
- SOC Analyst – the eyes and ears that monitor for security alerts (Security Operations Center)
- Pentester – consultant that tests security systems by attempting to breach them
- Forensic Analyst – deep expertise in uncovering the footprints of threat actors after a crime/breach
- Threat Analyst – often has programming expertise, analyzes threat tools and techniques
- Incident Response – the emergency response experts that mitigate live attacks and recover business
