How to Get a Job in Cyber Security? - Cyvoryn

How to Easily Get a Job in Cyber Security?

Cyber security is an important technology field, that focuses on protecting computer hardware, networks, websites, applications, cloud services, devices and data from unauthorized intrusions and cyber-attacks. Companies rely on cyber security to protect their digital presence and information.

For aspiring individuals, the path to cyber security jobs may look challenging. However, a well-structured learning path, experience and a professional portfolio can help you get through.

What is Cyber Security?

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computer systems, networks and data from digital threats such as malware, ransomware, phishing, data-theft, unauthorized access and software vulnerabilities.

A cyber security expert may work on securing a company network, analyzing security alerts, testing applications, investigating incidents, responding to threats and improving software security.

Career Paths in Cyber Security

Cyber security has a variety of career paths, including the following cyber security jobs:

Cyber Security Analyst, SOC Analyst, Security Engineer, Penetration Tester, Ethical Hacker, Vulnerability Analyst, Incident Response Analyst, Digital Forensic Analyst, Cloud Security Engineer, Application Security Engineer, Threat Intelligence Analyst and GRC Analyst.

The good news is that you can choose the cyber security career path that suits your preferences. If you are fond of finding weaknesses, penetration testing could be a good fit. If you enjoy surveillance and investigation, maybe SOC or Incident Response Analyst is a good fit for you. Similarly, if you are a developer, you can consider application security or DevSecOps.

How to Get a Job in Cyber Security?

Landing cyber security jobs requires knowledge, practical skills, cool stuff and a professional attitude. Let’s first talk about the required theory and practical skills.

Computer and Networking Fundamentals

Start learning computer and networking fundamentals. You will need a good background in networking (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, authentication, encryption, firewalls), and operating systems (Linux, Windows, databases, web technologies, and programming).

From there, pick one career path, master the concepts and tools used in the domain. To gain the required expertise in your preferred domain, start with the concepts first, and then learn the tools.

Bachelor Degree in Cyber Security

While it doesn't guarantee you a cyber security job, a Bachelor’s degree in Cyber Security, Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or Networking can be a plus point.

A degree serves as proof that you have mastered concepts such as programming languages, operating systems, databases, networking and more.

However, if you lack a degree, it doesn’t mean you can’t make a career in cyber security. Experience, skills, certifications, and a solid portfolio will get you a long way in land cyber security jobs.

Learning Cyber Security

Learning cyber security should start with fundamentals. You should master computer networks and system security concepts such as TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, authentication, encryption, and firewalls. You should also learn Linux and Windows Fundamentals and common system vulnerabilities.

Next, you can start learning Python or another scripting language of your choice to start doing some cool hacking stuff.

Also, develop a good understanding of web security, cloud security, system security or security operations depending on your preferred career path.

To learn theory, use online courses, documentation, and legal practice platforms. Never use a live website or network to practice hacking or security-related stuff. Always use authorized systems such as virtual machines. With that said, let’s talk about practical work.

Practical Work

Practical experience is vital if you want to learn how to protect computer systems and networks while being able to land a cyber security job.

Start by setting up a home lab (use virtual machines) and practice the concepts you have learned. At this point, you should be able to do things such as analyze logs, detect and respond to threats, monitor networks and systems for vulnerabilities, configure and secure systems, and test networks and systems.

Document everything you do and try to explain what you learned. This way, you will gain a wealth of practical knowledge that will greatly help you throughout your career.

Building High Level Projects

Once you have mastered the basics, start building interesting projects.

Some good project ideas include Security Monitoring Dashboard, Vulnerability Scanner (for your local lab), Phishing-Awareness Simulator, Secure Authentication System, Log Analyzer, Threat Intelligence Dashboard or Security Reporting Dashboard. A good project should address a specific problem.

Make sure to explain the problem, the approach, tools used, and other relevant details. Good project portfolios impress potential employers because they demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and abilities.

Building Portfolio

Create a cyber security portfolio using GitHub, a personal website, or both. A portfolio is a good way to demonstrate your practical skills and work ethic to potential employers.

You can showcase your projects, lab work, scripts, and other relevant work. Make sure to describe each item you are adding to your portfolio. Avoid sharing sensitive information such as passwords, or private data.

On the other hand, a good portfolio can help convince employers of your skills and practical knowledge.

Applying For Jobs

Apply for internships, apprenticeships, grad schemes, junior SOC jobs, security analyst roles, and entry-level IT jobs with a security focus. Always tailor your CV according to the job description. Similarly, make sure to keep your LinkedIn resume up to date.

Connect with security professionals on LinkedIn and always engage with the right content. When preparing for interviews, make sure to practice technical questions and practical assessments. Practice explaining what you know and always be honest during interviews.

If you get rejected, view it as a learning opportunity, improve your weaknesses, and move on.

Conclusion

Getting a job in cyber security is a challenging but rewarding experience. While a degree can give you a solid foundation in cyber security concepts, it is not a requirement. The good news is that you can supplement your knowledge with practical experience, portfolio, and other relevant skills.

Choose a cyber security career path, master the relevant concepts and tools, get some hands-on practice experience, build some cool projects and apply for jobs. Using these tips, you will be able to land a cyber security job with confidence.