There is no one true path to working in cyber security. People come at it from all angles – math, computer science, even history or philosophy. Yet all of them share a deep and abiding interest in how technology works. Security gurus say this is critical. You need to know exactly what you’re protecting and the reason things are insecure.

Train In General IT

To that end, many experts suggest that you begin with a job, internship or apprenticeship in IT. This will verse you in fundamentals such as administering & configuring systems, networks, database management and coding. You’ll also get a sense of IT procedures and real-world business operations.

Focus Your Interests

Because it’s impossible to be an expert in all categories, employers also suggest you focus on an area (e.g. networking security) and do it well. Think ahead 5-10 years to your "ultimate security career” then look for starter IT jobs that will supply you with the right skills. Sample career paths could include:

Exchange administrator → Email security

Network administrator → Network security, forensics, etc.

System administrator → Security administrator, forensics, etc.

Web developer → Web security, security software developer, etc.

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