The trend of online cybersecurity courses is slowly picking up pace in this modern technology-driven world. If you are having trouble guiding your career in the right direction, below are some tips that can help you get on the right track.
Passion and Evaluation
Many people tend to see the difference between something that is challenging and something that is difficult. Learning cyber skills can be a bit of a challenge but it doesn’t necessarily have to be difficult, especially when you are crazy about technology.
Be curious about the technologies that you are working with and chances are that you might find the challenging skill easy to master. Often, the simple act of learning is more than enough to be enthusiastic about the topic in question. If you are the individual who is driven by enthusiasm, interacting with a specific community that includes other security professionals can be the perfect head start for you.
Start with an Introductory Cybersecurity Course
When you choose to opt for a course in cybersecurity, you give yourself the opportunity to build fundamental skills while living in a structured learning environment, which further implies that you will get to experience everything about the subject in a detailed manner.
This might be a perfect opportunity to see for yourself whether having a career in information and security is the ideal path to achieving your goals.
A basic cybersecurity course includes the following;
- Penetration testing
- Incident response
- Cyber threat intelligence
- Operating system, network, and data security
- Security compliance and industry standards
- Cybersecurity tools and attack vectors
Begin with a simple overview, and it will give you a better understanding of the skills that you have, and also the area of cybersecurity that you might be interested in, along with the skills required to get there.
Enter the Simulation World
There are many different cybersecurity courses online that offer significant virtual labs where you can practice the application of your skills with the use of real security tools in a simulated environment. This setting is pretty convenient as the labs are ready to go and are an important part of the whole structured course, further implying that you can get as much practice as you want by setting up a virtual lab on your own. A basic lab includes three major elements;
- The presence of a target machine to launch attacks on
- A machine or an attack box that can be used to perform attacks
- Cloud environment to host virtual machines
Ethical Hacking
The best way to learn more about anything is by practically applying it somewhere. The best way to get a firsthand experience is by making use of the tools and techniques in the practice of ethical hacking. There are plenty of free websites that allow individuals to develop their cybersecurity skill set via legal, and limitless experiences.
In the quest to build your skills, chances are that you might look into bug bounty programs, where firms generally offer cash bonuses to freelancers and independent security researchers who offer to find flaws and bugs in security reports. Not only does this allow the individual to practice their skills in the real world, but it also comes up as a door for different opportunities via networking with other security professionals.
Little steps for the win
Trying to learn about cybersecurity skills doesn’t mean that you have to drop everything else and get into a full-time degree for a period. Taking a bit of time daily can get you the results that you want. Try starting with 15 minutes every day to focus on your skills. Plan the day according to the learning time, and try to make sure that you can follow up with the same schedule everyday.
Apart from being consistent and taking out the time to learn, planning what you want to accomplish with that particular session can also be of help. Try to be as specific as you can.
Mix your Cybersecurity skills with the Workplace
Too tired of all the learning that you have been doing recently? Try spending some time using your skills in a proper workplace. Being a cybersecurity expert, you might have to explain complex concepts to people who don’t have a technical background.
You might also get the opportunity to work cross-functionally with other teams, including the likes of public relations or the legal team. Different roles include having to come up with key decisions on the spot, something that requires decisiveness. This further means that hiring managers are on the lookout for people who can think on their feet.
You can find a plethora of resources that can be used for the improvement of workplace skills, be it with the help of books, blogs, and even podcasts. If you are on the hunt for a more structured approach, search for some courses that make sense to you.
Cybersecurity Certifications
Apart from adding another feather to your cap with a certificate to improve your resume, preparing for a cybersecurity-certified exam can also be an effective way to improve your skill set.
There might be chances that you need one for a specific job. According to statistics, 6 out of every 10 job postings make certification mandatory.
Find a Place in the Community
It might change the whole scenario for you when you find yourself in the company of like-minded individuals who are into cybersecurity. Finding a forum or online community related to cybersecurity can also increase the resources and opportunities since you get to ask around a lot more, find networks, motivation, and quite possibly great job opportunities.
If you feel skeptical about joining a professional organization, Reddit can be the perfect place for you to begin your search.
Start from scratch and work your way up the ranks to make a respectable career in the field.