I did not start my career in cybersecurity.

For the first ten years of my Air Force career, I was an accountant and a warehouse manager. Cybersecurity was not my job title, but technology was always something I gravitated toward. I was tinkering with databases, writing Python scripts, and teaching myself things that had nothing to do with my official duties. At 30, I made the decision to retrain into the Air Force's 1B4 Cyber Warfare Operations career field and start over from the ground up.

That decision changed my professional life. But I want to be clear: starting over was not easy, and it did not happen overnight.

If you are reading this because you want to break into cybersecurity, this guide is for you. I will share what I have learned across more than a decade of hands-on work in defensive operations, penetration testing, CTF building, and cybersecurity education. This is not a shortcut guide. It is a practical one.

Cybersecurity Demand Is Strong, But Entry-Level Roles Still Require Proof

The numbers are genuinely encouraging. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, information security analysts earned a median annual wage of $124,910 in May 2024. Employment for the field is projected to grow 29% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average across all occupations, with roughly 16,000 openings expected each year.

A [June 2025 update from NIST/CyberSeek reported 514,359 cybersecurity job listings over the previous 12 months. That is a significant number, and it reflects real demand.

But here's the honest caveat: demand does not mean every beginner can walk straight into a six-figure cybersecurity role. The same CyberSeek update reported a 74% supply-demand ratio, which suggests a persistent gap between employer staffing needs and the available pool of cybersecurity talent. It also specifically noted the importance of employers creating realistic entry-level opportunities for aspiring cybersecurity workers.

Hiring research tells the same story from the employer side. In ISC2's 2025 Cybersecurity Hiring Trends research, hiring managers said they were more likely to consider candidates with prior IT experience alone (90%) or entry-level cybersecurity certifications alone (89%) than candidates with only an IT, cybersecurity, or computer science education (81%). The report also found that 84% of hiring managers use skills-based assessments or tests for entry- and junior-level cybersecurity applicants.

In other words, employers still expect practical skills, related IT experience, certifications, or clear evidence of hands-on learning. The gap between "cybersecurity is hiring" and "I got a cybersecurity job" is real, and it takes deliberate, sustained effort to close it.

The right mindset going in is to treat getting into cybersecurity as a skill-building process, not a shortcut to a high salary.

What Does "Getting Into Cybersecurity" Actually Mean?

One of the first things beginners need to understand is that cybersecurity is not a single job. It is an entire field with dozens of roles, each requiring a different combination of skills, mindset, and background.

This is not just my opinion. The NIST NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity was created to provide a common language for describing cybersecurity work. NIST currently groups 41 cybersecurity work roles into five broad categories: Oversight and Governance, Design and Development, Implementation and Operation, Protection and Defense, and Investigation. That matters because it shows just how broad the field really is.

Before you can plan your entry, it helps to understand what kind of work you are actually trying to do. For the sake of this blog, I’ll simplify those categories into a few practical paths beginners usually recognize:

• Defensive security roles focus on monitoring, detecting, and responding to threats. A SOC (Security Operations Center) analyst reviews alerts, investigates suspicious activity, and escalates incidents. Incident response analysts dig deeper into confirmed events and work to contain and remediate the damage. These roles line up closely with the Protection and Defense side of the NICE Framework. I spent years working in defensive operations on a Cyber Protection Team, and that experience shaped how I think about security fundamentally.
• Risk and compliance roles focus on helping organizations manage security risk, meet requirements, and build sustainable security programs. A GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) analyst may work with policies, controls, audits, risk assessments, and frameworks like NIST or ISO 27001. This type of work maps well to the Oversight and Governance side of the NICE Framework. If you have a background in audit, legal, or business, this may be your most natural entry point.
• Technical specialist roles sit at the deeper end of the spectrum. Penetration testers attempt to break into systems legally to help organizations find weaknesses before real attackers do. Cloud security engineers, application security analysts, and security architects may work across design, development, implementation, operations, and defense depending on the organization. This is the area I eventually moved into with seven years of penetration testing experience, and it is one of the most challenging and rewarding paths in the field.

The right starting point depends on your background, your strengths, and the kind of work you actually want to do.

Do You Need a Degree to Get Into Cybersecurity?

The direct answer: not always, but a degree can help.

This is a question I think about often because I have lived through both sides of it. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Information Technology while still serving in the military. The degree gave me a structured academic foundation and helped me think more broadly about computing, systems, and information management. I am genuinely glad I did it.

But when I reflect honestly, the certifications I earned had a stronger and more immediate impact on my hands-on cybersecurity growth than the degree did. Security+, GCIH, GCDA, and CISSP each tied directly to skills I needed in operational environments. They forced me to study specific technical domains, apply concrete concepts, and prove competency through exams built around real-world cybersecurity work.

Here is how I think about the tradeoff:

A degree tells employers what you know in a broad academic sense. A certification tells them what you have studied and tested against in a specific domain. Neither one automatically proves you can do the job, but both can help when they are backed by real skill.

The research lines up with that. In ISC2's 2025 Cybersecurity Hiring Trends research, hiring managers said they were more likely to consider candidates with previous IT experience alone (90%) or an entry-level cybersecurity certification alone (89%) than candidates with only an IT, cybersecurity, or computer science education (81%). ISC2 also found that when hiring managers had to identify what was most critical, IT or cybersecurity certifications ranked slightly higher (47%) than prior IT experience (44%) and relevant education (43%).

That does not mean degrees are useless. It means a degree by itself may not be enough if the candidate cannot show practical ability. NIST's NICE career guidance points out that cybersecurity education can come from community colleges, universities, online training, bootcamps, certification providers, and apprenticeships. It also notes that CyberSeek shows many employers still prefer at least a bachelor's degree, while hands-on experience is becoming increasingly important.

That is the tension. Certifications and hands-on experience may help you prove job-ready skills faster, but a degree still carries real advantages that certifications alone cannot always replicate. It can qualify you for internships, satisfy employer requirements that some certifications will not meet, support long-term advancement into leadership or management, and provide a more comprehensive foundation in computer science or IT.

Federal and defense-sector roles are a good example of why you need to read the actual job announcement instead of relying on generic advice. The OPM qualification standard for the Information Technology Management Series, 2210 allows applicants to qualify through computer-related education or experience, depending on the grade and role. OPM's newer competency-based 2210 qualification standard also pushes agencies toward skills-based assessment instead of relying only on educational credentials.

DoD cyber roles add another layer. DoD Manual 8140.03, which incorporates and cancels the older DoD 8570.01-M manual, uses a role-based qualification model for the DoD cyberspace workforce. Depending on the work role, foundational qualification can involve education, training, personnel certification, or an experience-based alternative, and components or commands can still require stricter qualifications. In plain terms: a degree can help, certifications can matter a lot, and the exact requirement depends on the role, agency, contract, and work being performed.

If you are weighing the options, consider your target employers and whether they list a degree as required or preferred. Look at whether the program includes hands-on labs or internship opportunities. Factor in cost, timeline, and your current responsibilities. A cybersecurity, computer science, information technology, or information systems degree can all serve as a solid foundation. A master's degree may make sense if you are changing careers with a strong non-technical background and want to move into higher-level roles faster.

If a traditional degree is not the right fit right now, certifications, self-directed labs, bootcamps, and apprenticeship programs are all legitimate alternatives. The key is to pair whichever route you choose with consistent hands-on practice.
A degree may open doors. But employers still care about practical ability, communication, documentation, and sound judgment. Whichever path you take, those qualities need to be evident.

How to Get Into Cybersecurity: 7 Practical Steps

These are not rigid rules, but they reflect what I have seen work for people who make a serious, focused run at breaking into the field.

1. Learn Basic IT and Security Fundamentals

Before you start chasing advanced tools and techniques, you need to understand how systems actually work.When I retrained into cyber, my very first assignment was a month-long IT Fundamentals course. I had spent ten years in the military and was already comfortable around technology in a general sense, but I still started at the beginning. That was the right call.

Beginners need a working understanding of:

• Networking basics: DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, TCP/IP, ports, firewalls, and how data actually moves across a network
• Operating system basics: Windows and Linux file systems, user accounts, permissions, processes, and logs
• Security basics: authentication, least privilege, vulnerabilities, patching, and what happens during a real incident

You cannot defend or investigate systems you do not understand. This is not a suggestion. It is a prerequisite. Every advanced cybersecurity skill builds on this layer, and gaps here will slow you down significantly later.

Resources like CompTIA's ITF+ or the Google IT Support Certificate are solid starting points. Take your time with this step rather than rushing through it.

2. Decide Whether a Formal Degree Makes Sense

A degree is not a requirement for everyone, but it is worth evaluating seriously before deciding it is not for you.

A formal degree is likely worth pursuing if you:

• Are early in your career and want a structured, comprehensive foundation
• Are targeting employers or government roles that specifically require one
• Want to pursue long-term advancement into leadership, management, or policy
• Are interested in graduate research or highly specialized technical roles

Associate and bachelor's degrees in cybersecurity, information technology, computer science, or information systems are all viable options. A master's degree is worth considering if you are making a major career change and want to move into more advanced roles faster.

The honest tradeoff is cost and time. If you have strong hands-on skills and the right certifications, you can break into many cybersecurity roles without a degree.

But a degree will never hurt you, and for certain roles and organizations, it will matter. Look at your specific target employers, weigh the financial and time investment against your goals, and make an informed decision rather than a reactive one.

3. Choose a Beginner-Friendly Cybersecurity Path

Your background matters more than most guides acknowledge. Not everyone should start in the same place, and trying to force a path that does not fit where you are now makes everything harder.

If you have no technical background, the most realistic starting point is usually IT support or help desk work. Get comfortable with Windows and Linux environments, build troubleshooting skills, and develop your networking fundamentals from there. Junior SOC analyst and entry-level security positions become much more accessible once you have that foundation under you.

If you already have an IT background, you are in a strong position. From a systems administration or IT support role, you can move toward SOC work, vulnerability management, identity and access management, or cloud security with a relatively focused effort. You already understand how systems work. Now you need to learn how they break and how to defend them.

If you have an audit, legal, or business background, GRC, risk management, compliance, and privacy-focused roles are your clearest entry points. The cybersecurity field genuinely needs people who can navigate regulatory frameworks, communicate risk to business leadership, and help build sustainable security programs. In those roles, your existing domain expertise can be as valuable as technical skill.

Pick a direction based on where you are starting from and where you genuinely want to go. You can always broaden later.

4. Build Hands-On Experience Before You Get Hired

The most common frustration I hear from beginners is this: "How do I get experience if I need experience to get hired?"

It is a fair frustration. The answer is that you can create your own hands-on experience before anyone hires you, and you should. This is not just motivational advice. CISA's cybersecurity training and exercises material specifically includes hands-on cyber range training for incident response, and NIST's NICE education and training resources point educators toward experiential learning projects and real-world virtualized challenges mapped to the NICE Framework. In other words, the people building cybersecurity workforce guidance already recognize that practice matters.

Build a home lab. This is the single best investment a beginner can make. You do not need expensive hardware. A few virtual machines running Windows and Linux can teach you more than many certification courses if you use them actively. Set up basic logging, practice account management, simulate system hardening tasks, and document what you learn. When something breaks, troubleshoot it rather than reinstalling. I built my own home lab years ago, and I still use it today. It taught me networking, Linux administration, Docker, VPN configuration, web application hosting, and a dozen other practical skills I use regularly.

Complete beginner-friendly CTFs and blue-team labs. Platforms like TryHackMe, Hack The Box, Blue Team Labs Online, and DEADFACE CTF (shameless plug) let you practice cybersecurity skills in legal, controlled environments designed for learning and skill development. TryHackMe focuses on browser-based, guided learning with hands-on labs and challenges. Hack The Box offers Academy content, vulnerable machines, labs, CTFs, and defensive investigations. Blue Team Labs Online focuses on defender skills like incident response, digital forensics, threat hunting, logs, packet captures, phishing emails, and other investigation artifacts.

There is research behind this approach too. A Computers & Security study on cybersecurity knowledge and skills taught in CTF challenges describes CTFs as a hands-on form of cybersecurity education where students solve practical tasks in a game-like setting. That matches what I have seen in the real world. As someone who has been building Capture the Flag competitions since 2017, including my flagship DEADFACE CTF, I can say with confidence that working through these challenges builds real skills. They force you to think, investigate, test ideas, fail a little, and apply concepts rather than just read about them.

Find supervised opportunities in your current environment. If you are already in an IT role or any organization with a security function, look for ways to get involved in security-adjacent work. Help with an MFA rollout. Assist with asset inventory. Write security documentation. Volunteer for a patching project. Small contributions add up, and they demonstrate initiative.

The best beginner projects go beyond just running a tool. They show what you did, what you found, how you reasoned through the problem, and how you documented the result. Document everything.

5. Consider Certifications Strategically

Certifications are helpful signals to employers, but they are not magic job tickets on their own.

After my IT Fundamentals course, my next step was a two-week Security+ prep course followed by the exam. It was the right first certification for where I was at the time. CompTIA Security+ gave me a solid baseline across a broad range of security concepts.

It's important to recognize that the relevant certification that best fits your needs depends on the role you are targeting. CyberSeek uses Lightcast job-posting data to track cybersecurity hiring criteria, credentials, and skills. Public summaries of CyberSeek's June 2025 certification demand data show CISSP appearing in more cybersecurity job postings overall, with Security+ also ranking near the top. That makes sense. CISSP shows up often because many employers ask for it broadly, while Security+ is still one of the most common starting points for people trying to prove baseline security knowledge.

For most beginners, here is a practical way to think about certification sequencing:

• CompTIA Security+ is a reasonable first cybersecurity certification for most beginners because it validates core security concepts, risk, architecture, operations, and incident response fundamentals.
• CompTIA Network+ or Cisco CCNA are valuable if your networking fundamentals need reinforcement. Network+ is vendor-neutral. CCNA goes deeper into Cisco networking and covers network fundamentals, IP connectivity, security fundamentals, and automation.
• CompTIA CySA+ is worth considering if you are targeting SOC analyst, detection, incident response, vulnerability management, or other blue-team roles.
• Cloud security certifications make more sense once you have a cloud direction. For AWS, look at AWS Certified Security - Specialty or the current AWS exam guide. For Azure, look at Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate, but check the Microsoft page first because that certification is scheduled to retire on August 31, 2026. For Google Cloud, look at Professional Cloud Security Engineer.

The best certification for you depends on your background and your target role. Before spending money, search job postings for the roles you actually want and write down which certifications show up repeatedly. Do not chase certifications without building the underlying skills through labs and practice. A certification backed by real hands-on experience carries significantly more weight than one that does not.

Certifications are strongest when they are paired with labs, projects, internships, formal education, or IT work experience. Think of them as proof markers on top of a foundation you are actively building.

6. Build a Resume Around Proof, Not Just Interest

Hiring managers reviewing entry-level cybersecurity resumes see many candidates who list tools they have heard of and courses they have started. What stands out is evidence that you have actually done the work.

Your resume should demonstrate:

• Completed coursework, degree programs, certifications, or structured bootcamps
• Hands-on lab projects and portfolio writeups that show what you built, what you found, and how you approached the problem
• Transferable experience from IT support, help desk, software development, audit, military, or operations roles

A few examples of resume bullets that show proof rather than just intent:

"Built a home lab using Windows and Linux virtual machines to practice account management, system logging, and basic hardening configurations."

"Configured a beginner SIEM lab to capture and review failed authentication events and documented investigation steps in a formal writeup."

"Completed a vulnerability scan in a controlled lab environment and produced a short remediation report prioritizing findings by risk level."

Notice what each of those has in common: a specific action, a result, and evidence of professional thinking. That is what separates beginner resumes that get interviews from those that do not.

7. Apply for Both Cybersecurity and Adjacent Roles

This is one of the most practical pieces of advice I can offer: do not limit your job search to roles with the word "cybersecurity" in the title.

Many successful cybersecurity professionals started in help desk, IT support, systems administration, or network technician roles. Those positions teach you how systems actually work in business environments. They give you exposure to the tools, processes, and problems that security teams deal with daily. And they often include opportunities to take on security-adjacent responsibilities that build directly toward a full security role.

If you are already in a position that touches IT, look actively for ways to get involved in security work. Access reviews, patching cycles, MFA deployment, security documentation, and internal awareness programs all count. Every bit of real-world experience in those areas shortens the path to a dedicated security role.

The entry-level cybersecurity roles worth targeting include SOC analyst, junior security analyst, and GRC analyst. But adjacent roles in IT support, systems administration, and network operations can put you in a position to make the move into cybersecurity faster than most guides suggest.

Best Entry-Level Cybersecurity Jobs to Consider

Here is a practical look at some of the most realistic starting roles for beginners:

There are many other cybersecurity roles beyond these four, and the field will continue expanding. But these represent realistic entry points based on actual hiring patterns and the paths I have seen work for people breaking in from different backgrounds.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

I have made a few of these myself, and I have watched many others make them too.

Starting with advanced offensive security before learning the fundamentals. Ethical hacking and penetration testing are exciting areas, and I understand the pull toward them. But if you do not yet understand how networks route traffic, how operating systems manage users, or how logs are generated and structured, you are going to struggle to make meaningful sense of what you are doing. Learn the fundamentals first. The advanced content will make much more sense when you have the foundation under you.

Collecting certifications without building hands-on projects. A list of certifications looks impressive at first glance. But if you cannot walk through a real scenario, troubleshoot a problem, or explain what a tool actually does and why, the credentials alone will not carry you far in an interview or on the job. Build something. Break something. Document what happened and what you learned from it.

Applying only to jobs with "cybersecurity" in the title. Adjacent IT roles are not consolation prizes. They are legitimate and well-established stepping stones into the field. Ignoring them significantly narrows your options at exactly the point when you need to build real experience.

The goal is not to collect every course, tool, and credential available. The goal is to build enough practical ability to contribute meaningfully in a real environment.

Activity is not progress. Capability is.

How Long Does It Take to Get Into Cybersecurity?

There is no single honest answer, so I will offer a few realistic framings instead.

If you have no technical background, becoming genuinely competitive for entry-level cybersecurity roles typically takes several months to more than a year of deliberate, focused study and hands-on practice. A lot depends on how consistently you invest time and how effectively you combine learning with practical work.

If you already have IT, software, cloud, audit, or military experience, the transition can move significantly faster. You are not starting from zero. You are redirecting existing skills and professional context toward a security-focused role.

A 90-day plan can build real momentum and produce meaningful skills. But it will not make every person job-ready for every cybersecurity role in 90 days. Be honest with yourself about where you are starting from and what you still need to build.

The most important thing is to start, stay consistent, and focus on building demonstrated proof rather than just checking boxes.

Final Advice From a Cybersecurity Professional

I retrained into cybersecurity at 30 with no formal cyber background. I started with a month of IT fundamentals, passed Security+, worked through technical training, and eventually found my way into defensive operations, CTF building, a home lab, and seven years of penetration testing experience. That path was not linear, and it was not fast. But it was deliberate and consistent.

Here is what I would tell someone starting today:

Learn the fundamentals first. Networking, operating systems, and security basics are the foundation that everything else builds on. Do not skip this.

Pick a direction and stay focused. Choose a path based on your background and interests. Stay flexible enough to adjust as you learn more, but avoid the trap of pursuing everything at once and mastering nothing.

Build proof through projects and documentation. Labs, writeups, and demonstrated work speak louder than a list of courses. Show what you built, what you found, and how you thought through it.

Consider formal education if it fits your goals, but do not treat it as the only route. Certifications, hands-on labs, and practical experience can carry equal or greater weight depending on the role and the employer.

Stay ethical. Only test systems you own or have explicit permission to test. This is not a legal technicality. It is a professional standard that defines the entire field.

Apply before you feel completely ready. Waiting until you feel 100% ready means waiting too long. Get into the process, learn from it, and keep improving.

Keep learning after you land the first role. The field moves fast, and curiosity paired with consistency is what separates people who grow throughout a long career from those who plateau early.

Getting into cybersecurity is not easy. But for the right person who is willing to put in the work, it is absolutely worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start a career in cybersecurity?

Start by building your networking and operating system fundamentals. Then decide on a direction based on your background and interests. From there, build hands-on experience through home labs and beginner-friendly platforms, earn a foundational certification like Security+, and apply broadly to both entry-level cybersecurity and adjacent IT roles. Treat the process as a skill-building journey, not a single destination.

Can I get into cybersecurity without a degree?

Yes. Many cybersecurity professionals, including some of the most skilled practitioners I know, do not have traditional degrees. Certifications, hands-on labs, and demonstrated experience can substitute for formal education in many roles. That said, some employers and some roles do require or strongly prefer a degree, so it is worth understanding what your target employers actually expect before deciding either way.

What is the best first cybersecurity job?

For most beginners, a SOC analyst role is the most accessible technical starting point. For people coming from business, audit, or compliance backgrounds, a GRC analyst role may be a better fit. For those already in IT support or systems administration, moving into an IT security specialist or vulnerability management analyst role is often the most natural next step.

What skills do I need for cybersecurity?

At the entry level, you need a working understanding of networking concepts (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, ports, firewalls), operating systems (Windows and Linux), and security fundamentals (authentication, patching, vulnerability management, and basic incident investigation). Strong written communication and the ability to document your work clearly are also underrated but genuinely important skills in almost every cybersecurity role.

Do I need to learn programming for cybersecurity?

Not necessarily, depending on the role you are targeting. A SOC analyst or GRC analyst can be highly effective without writing code. Penetration testers, application security analysts, and security engineers benefit significantly from scripting skills in Python, Bash, or PowerShell. Learning basic scripting is a worthwhile investment over time, but it does not need to be your first priority when you are just getting started.

Is cybersecurity hard to get into?

It depends on how you approach it. Entry-level roles require proof of skill, not just enthusiasm. Beginners who build hands-on experience, earn relevant certifications, and apply broadly to both cybersecurity and adjacent IT roles consistently have the best outcomes. The path is real, but it requires patience, consistency, and a willingness to put in the work before expecting the reward.

Jason Scott is a cybersecurity professional, penetration tester, CTF builder, and retired United States Air Force Cyber Warfare Operator. He holds Security+, GCIH, GCDA, and CISSP certifications and a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology. Since 2017, he has built Capture the Flag competitions and cybersecurity labs, including his flagship event, DEADFACE CTF.