Cybercrime cost the global economy over $8 trillion in 2023, a figure projected to top $10 trillion by 2026. All organizations, from the smallest businesses to multinational corporations, are subject to a barrage of cyber attacks, and a shortfall of millions of unfilled jobs in the global cybersecurity workforce has resulted from demand far exceeding the available talent.

If you’ve been considering a career in cybersecurity, there’s never been a better time to enter the industry. This guide will explain exactly how to start a career, even if you’re beginning with nothing.

1. Understand the Cybersecurity Landscape

Cybersecurity is an incredibly vast and ever-changing field with numerous specialties, each requiring their own unique blend of technical skills, analytical thinking and professional experience. Before you dive in and dedicate your time to courses, certs, or hands-on training, you’ll want to learn a little bit about the primary pathways available in the world of cybersecurity. Doing so will focus your learning, prevent you from feeling overwhelmed with the number of technologies, tools and concepts out there and give you a clear objective moving forward.

Perhaps the most well-known path within the field is that of Offensive Security, also referred to as the Red Team. Professionals in this role, ranging from ethical hackers, to penetration testers and red team operators, simulate real-world attacks on organizations to find the vulnerabilities that malicious actors will inevitably find themselves, prior to an organization experiencing them. They need technical know-how in addition to sharp analytical and problem-solving skills, all of which must be used under the confines of strict ethical and legal limitations, as they essentially learn to attack just like a real malicious actor, but without intending harm. The skills of ethical hacking, finding vulnerabilities, learning and implementing the latest exploit tactics make this the perfect career path for anyone with an inquisitive and analytical mindset.

The opposite to the Red Team is the Blue Team, also known as Defensive Security. In this role, analysts will monitor their organization’s networks for any suspicious activity, investigate it, and respond appropriately, all with the ultimate goal of defending the organization from any cyber attack it faces. A large chunk of entry-level cybersecurity positions fall into the category of Blue Team work. Every single organization needs someone to stand guard, and every role involves the detection and response of any cyber attack that an organization may face. Due to the demand for professionals who will secure a business from the outside in, many aspire to be security professionals start in Defensive Security.

Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) is yet another essential facet of cybersecurity. It focuses on how organizations adhere to established regulations, industry standards and compliance frameworks like those established by ISO 27001, NIST, the GDPR, and SOC 2, rather than focusing on specific technical security controls. This path is ideal for individuals who thrive in the policy-making, risk assessment, management, and business process spaces, proving to any aspiring cybersecurity professional that not only is cybersecurity an incredibly technical discipline, it is a business one as well.

One of the fastest-growing areas within cybersecurity, Cloud Security focuses on the secure implementation of cloud technologies such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, among others. This path requires professionals to understand cloud native architecture and employ security controls to keep sensitive data safe and prevent attacks. As cloud adoption continues to grow globally, so will the number of available Cloud Security positions.

2. Build Your Technical Foundation

Regardless of which specialization within the cybersecurity industry you plan on entering, you will want to build a strong technical foundation. Every cybersecurity professional will benefit from a solid understanding of how systems, networks, applications, and users interact with one another. You will have a hard time grasping more advanced concepts without these fundamentals.

Network security fundamentals are some of the most important things to get to know. Being comfortable with concepts like TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP and HTTPS, firewalls, VPNs, routing, and subnetting will help explain how systems are able to communicate with each other and identify the vulnerabilities that may exist within that communication. Your knowledge of operating systems should also include strong command over the command line and system administration tasks of both Linux and Windows. This is important because a majority of the internet and testing environments will utilize the Linux OS, and large enterprise organizations will likely run a significant number of their systems on Windows-based software. Basic programming and scripting skills like those of Python or Bash will be essential for automation and will even increase your chances with prospective employers. Don’t forget to also cover fundamental security concepts such as the CIA Triad, authentication, encryption, risk management, and access control models. All the aforementioned certifications and courses cover each of these concepts in great detail, and all require some level of command over them.

For beginners hoping to learn from the ground up in a structured format, the CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ certs will provide a well-recognized foundation for both skillsets. Even if not always required, these two certifications hold immense value and respect from employers within enterprise, government, and MSP sectors alike. To that extent, the Cyber Security Specialist track from Classpedia is an excellent place to start for a guided path towards understanding these skills in a career-focused manner.

3. Earn Your First Security Certification

When seeking your first role within cybersecurity, certifications will hold significant weight, especially without prior professional experience. Here is the recommended order for earning initial certs:

CompTIA Security+

This certification is the most respected entry-level security cert in the world, covering basic concepts like threats, cryptography, network security, identity management, and compliance. It’s typically listed on all job descriptions for roles within government and defense agencies.

CompTIA CySA+

This next tier cert is for blue team focused roles and builds on the information from the Security+ certification. It will focus specifically on behavioral analytics, incident response, and detection and response for the threats your organization might be facing.

CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)

For the more offensively minded candidate, the Certified Ethical Hacker from EC-Council covers hacking techniques, security tools, and countermeasures against attack. It is globally recognized and a common requirement for jobs in penetration testing.

4. Gain Hands-on Experience with a Lab Environment

Cybersecurity is a practical discipline, and theoretical knowledge alone is rarely enough to secure a job. Employers want candidates who can apply concepts in realistic situations, troubleshoot problems, and demonstrate hands-on experience with security tools and techniques. Fortunately, several platforms provide safe and legal environments where beginners can build these skills without risking real-world systems.

TryHackMe is one of the most beginner-friendly platforms available and is often recommended as a starting point for newcomers. Its guided learning paths introduce networking, Linux, web security, penetration testing, and defensive security concepts through structured exercises and interactive labs. As learners become more comfortable, platforms such as Hack The Box offer increasingly challenging scenarios that simulate real-world systems and security challenges. These exercises help develop problem-solving abilities and practical technical skills that are difficult to acquire through reading alone.

For individuals interested in web application security, PortSwigger’s Web Security Academy is widely regarded as one of the best free resources available. The platform provides detailed lessons and hands-on labs covering common vulnerabilities, attack techniques, and remediation strategies. Another valuable resource is OWASP WebGoat, a deliberately vulnerable application designed to teach secure coding and web application security concepts through practical experimentation. Consistent practice across these environments helps bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and real-world capability, which is exactly what employers look for when evaluating entry-level cybersecurity candidates.

5. Build a Home Lab

Set up a virtual lab environment using VirtualBox or VMware on your personal computer. Run Kali Linux (the primary penetration testing OS), deploy a deliberately vulnerable target machine like Metasploitable, and practice attacking and defending within your own isolated network. Document your lab work — the process of write-ups and notes accelerates your learning and becomes portfolio material.

6. Target Your First Entry-Level Role

When you start applying for cybersecurity positions, it’s crucial to focus on positions designed to help you build foundational experience, rather than immediate highly specialized roles. The majority of security professionals today begin their careers in entry-level positions that provide hands-on experience in security operations, monitoring, incident response, compliance, and infrastructure management.These positions give you an initial hands-on experience with the security environment while allowing you to discover which sub-specialties interest you the most.

One of the most sought after entry-level roles is the SOC Analyst Level 1 position. Professionals in this role monitor security alerts, investigate suspicious activities, triage incidents and escalate threats to the appropriate teams. The role gives candidates excellent exposure to security tools, threat detection capabilities and incident response workflows. Another potential entry-level path to cybersecurity is Junior Penetration Tester. These professionals work alongside experienced security experts to support vulnerability assessments and penetration tests. While less common for complete beginners, these positions are attainable with strong, hands-on skills learned through labs and certifications.

Other entry-level jobs include Information Security Analyst and IT Security Administrator. Information Security Analyst roles are often found in large enterprises and involve supporting compliance initiatives, implementing security policies, conducting risk assessments, and assisting with security awareness training. IT Security Administrator roles are responsible for access control, security tool management, security patch deployment and the overall security infrastructure of an organization. The primary focus of your first role in cybersecurity, no matter the position, should be acquiring real-world experience to help build technical skills, expand your network, and build a base for future career growth.

Conclusion

The path to a career in cybersecurity may seem daunting, but remember that every security professional started at the beginning, and the fundamentals are the same. By understanding the potential career paths, building a solid technical foundation, gaining hands-on experience in a practical environment, and aiming for appropriate entry-level roles, you will be well on your way to establishing yourself in one of the most in-demand industries today.

Regardless of your passions-ethical hacking, threat detection, cloud security, compliance, risk management, security leadership, or any number of others-the field of cybersecurity has a place for you. The focus of your path should be on learning as much as you can, both through theoretical knowledge and practical application, gradually building upon your expertise instead of trying to become a jack-of-all-trades.

If you are interested in a clear, well-structured path that will guide you through the available skills, tools, certifications and careers available in this field, Classpedia’s Cyber Security Specialist program is designed for those just starting out and aiming for a career in cybersecurity. With the right focus and determination, this can be a career for you that will be both rewarding and future-proof.