How to start you career in cybersecurity with a non-technical background

Cybersecurity is now a major sensation, with increasing demand for jobs in cybersecurity. It may appear like some kind of highly technical skillset, but I’ll let you in on a little secret.

Almost anyone can master cybersecurity! Just dive in and begin learning regarding cybersecurity, you don’t require an IT background; anyone, irrespective of background, could learn cybersecurity. You only have to spend time learning something new! 

Within 2 short years, I progressed from not knowing anything to understanding enough to have a highly desirable position. You can, too, if I can!

How can I learn more about Cybersecurity?

It was never easier to learn more regarding cybersecurity! So many amazing tools are available to aid you to get started.

Such services include high school programs, online learning sites providing a wide range of classes and workshops, training courses for the style of classrooms, Bootcamp classes and good old-fashioned study books as well. 

Books can be one of the cheapest ways of learning, especially when you have a nearby library that maintains up to date cybersecurity books or e-books.

There are a number of online training sites that offer a large series of cybersecurity-related courses.

Most of these websites include hand-held workshops which will help you to learn the concepts that are taught and also allow you to practice until you perfect the topics.

Getting Started

Cybersecurity is similar in many ways to engineering or healthcare. From mobile phone forensics to incident response to penetration testing, network protection or security awareness, there are so many diverse pathways that you can specialize in.

In addition, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a system that lists all of various cybersecurity jobs and opportunities.

It is a good place to start exploring when you are keen to learn about some of the diverse fields and specialties that exist.

Do not even worry about which direction you will take in the first place. Give yourself plenty of time and space to experiment with all the different software choices and appreciate them. Your own desires will drive your course over time.

I’d suggest you get an outline of the basics first. Here are a few places you can continue studying, start in whichever field you feel you’d be far more interested in.

• Learn Coding – Learn the coding concepts, that can help you to understand markup language for web sites and web applications. Begin with Javascript, HTML and Python languages. Don’t know where to begin? Try online training like Code Academy, Khan Academy, or take a book for beginners.
• Systems – Gain knowledge of the fundamentals of administering a system. Linux and Windows are the two most popular systems. I suggest you to begin using Linux first and know how to manage Linux and use the Command Line Interface (CLI) rather than the Visual User Interface (GUI). Understanding how to operate a command-line Linux system, including scripting, is an incredibly powerful ability that will benefit you no matter what direction you take.
• Applications – Understand how to install, operate, and manage standard applications such as a web server, database, or DNS server.
• Applications – Understand how to install, operate, and manage standard applications such as a web server, database, or DNS server.
• Networking – A network is just a group of pcs or machines that interact with one another, including network traffic processing and analysis. Understanding how a network acts is an extremely valuable skill. You do not even realize, but you certainly have a network at home. Remember all the gadgets that are connected to your home Wi-Fi network.

Build a Lab / Hands-on Learning Environment

One of the best ways to understand all of this is to start your own laboratory at home. It is actually pretty simple because you can make multiple virtual operating systems on the very same computer, or create a cloud laboratory online, like Amazon’s AWS or Azure from Microsoft.

Do an online search. There are dozens of sites that can help you develop your laboratory correctly.

Another way is to identify all gadgets on your home Wi-Fi network. When you set up your laboratory or map your home network, interact with your various computers or devices and explore everything you can. ⠀

Record the thermostat of your network traffic and decipher which data you actually send to the Internet. The chances are infinite. 

But don’t try to hack and break stuff unless you first know the basics of how these systems operate.

Learn from Others

Another key component to begin your cyber security career is meeting and learning from others. Try to attend conferences regarding cybersecurity in your country. Every large city has many annual events. 

Can’t get it to a meeting or actively seek further interaction? Most cities have regular community meetings on cybersecurity.  Your network and resources will grow and flourish if you actively participate.

You may also be able to join online communities, but again I strongly recommend that you take part in a real event and meet people face to face. This is the easiest great way to connect.  

In addition, you can simply follow and actually learn from various cybersecurity professionals. As you tend to know which fields interest you, you find professionals in that field that you can follow

Conclusion

If you’ve always been excited about starting out in cybersecurity, don’t ever let your experience or education decide your career choice or restrict your choices.

Regardless of what your experience is, you bring towards this sector something special which we urgently need.

You are now on the right path as long as you have passion and determination to learn. Do not lose interest in learning.

So soon as you start to improve your skills and start building a network of people, believe me, there are opportunities.