Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on
Pursuing a career in cybersecurity can present a rewarding challenge with the right mindset.
Whether cybersecurity is difficult to learn will depend on your perspective. If you’re curious about technology, enjoy the thrill of solving complex problems, and embrace learning new things, you could find cybersecurity an engaging and worthwhile challenge to pursue.
If you’re considering a career in the industry, it’s normal to feel intimidated by the prospect of learning (and keeping up with) the technical skills involved. Some of these skills may be challenging, but with the right mentality and action plan, you can build a foundation for a rewarding and in-demand job.
During the Coursera virtual panel, "How can online learning accelerate cybersecurity careers and talent?", (ISC)2 Chief Information Security Officer Jon France said:
"It not a career just for young people, it's for career changers as well, and that includes people from all walks of life."
As you build the skills you’ll need for a career in cybersecurity, keep these tips in mind.
1. Build a foundation with an introductory course.
By taking a course in cybersecurity, you’ll not only build foundational skills in a structured learning environment, you’ll also get to experience what cybersecurity is all about firsthand. Use this as an opportunity to see for yourself whether a career in information security could be a good match for your unique goals and interests.
An introductory cybersecurity course might cover topics like:
Cybersecurity tools and attack vectors
Security compliance and industry standards
Operating system, network, and data security
Incident response
Penetration testing
Cyber threat intelligence
Start with a broad overview, and you’ll have a better idea of what skills you already have, what area of cybersecurity you might want to work in, and what skills you need to build to get there.
2. Evaluate your passion for technology.
There’s a difference between difficult and challenging. Learning cybersecurity can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be difficult, especially if you’re passionate about technology. Nurture a curiosity for the technologies you’re working with, and you might find that challenging skills become easier.
Sometimes just the act of learning is enough to build enthusiasm about a topic. If you’re someone who thrives off the enthusiasm of others, getting involved in a community of other security professionals (Tip 7) could also help.
Maybe after taking a course or two, you’ll discover that your passions lie elsewhere. That’s okay too. Cybersecurity can be an exciting, challenging, and well-paying profession, but it’s not for everyone.
3. Learn a little every day.
Building cybersecurity skills doesn’t have to mean dropping everything for a degree or full-time bootcamp. A little time each day can lead to big results. Start by setting aside 15 minutes each day to focus on cybersecurity. Plan out your learning time, and try to make it the same time every day.
Besides setting aside a consistent time to learn, it’s also a good idea to plan what you want to accomplish in each session. Be specific (for example “watch two lecture videos,” “take Lesson 3 quiz,” or “read Chapter Four”).
Read more: 15 Essential Skills for Cybersecurity Analysts
4. Become an ethical hacker.
One of the best ways to learn is by doing. In cybersecurity, one way to get firsthand experience using the tools and techniques of the trade is to practice ethical hacking.
What is ethical hacking?
The EC-Council, provider of the popular Certified Ethical Hacker certification, defines ethical hacking as “the process of detecting vulnerabilities in an application, system, or organization’s infrastructure that an attacker can use to exploit an individual or organization.”
In other works, ethical hacking is a legal, authorized to break into a computer system, network, application, or database.
Several free websites allow you to develop your cybersecurity skill set through legal, gamified experiences. Try these to get started:
As you continue to build skills, you might look into bug bounty programs, where companies offer cash bonuses to independent security researchers who find and report security flaws. This not only allows you to test your skills in the real world, but also creates opportunities to network with other security professionals. Find a list of bounties on sites like Bugcrowd and HackerOne.
Read more: How to Become a Penetration Tester: Career Guide
5. Practice in simulated environments.
Many cybersecurity courses include virtual labs where you can practice applying your skills using real security tools in simulated environments. It’s convenient to have these labs ready to go as part of a structured course, but you can get as much practice as you want by setting up your own virtual lab. A basic lab environment will typically include three elements:
A cloud environment to host virtual machines
A target machine to launch attacks on
An attack box, or machine you will use to plan and perform attacks
For a more detailed walkthrough, here’s a guide to setting up your own cybersecurity lab.
6. Mix it up with workplace skills.
If you need a break from technical skill-building, spend some time working on your workplace skills.
As a cybersecurity expert, you’ll often need to communicate complex concepts to people who might not have a technical background. You may also work cross-functionally with other teams, like legal or public relations. Many cybersecurity roles involve making key decisions on the spot. This means hiring managers look for candidates with critical thinking skills.
You’ll find plenty of resources out there for improving workplace skills, from books to blogs to podcasts. If you’re looking for a structured approach, here are some courses to get you started:
7. Get involved in the cybersecurity community.
You might find it energizing to join a group of people who are also interested in cybersecurity. Joining a forum or other online community also doubles as a resource where you can ask questions, find motivation, network, and possibly learn about job opportunities. If you’re not yet ready to join a professional organization, Reddit might be a good place to start. Here are some of the more popular subreddits:
r/cyber for staying current with global cybersecurity news
r/cybersecurity for general cybersecurity topics and Mentorship Monday
r/CyberSecurityJobs for job listings and job discussions
8. Earn a certification.
Preparing for a cybersecurity certification exam can double as an effective way to develop your skill set. Plus, having a certification can enhance your resume and make you more competitive as a job candidate. HR Dive reports that 67 percent of IT employers request industry certifications [1].
These are the 10 cybersecurity certifications that showed up most frequently in job listings (as of June 2023).
9. Apply to companies that provide training.
Cybersecurity threats and technologies are always changing. Successful cybersecurity professionals are often lifetime learners, evolving their own skills as the threat landscape evolves.
As you look toward getting a job in cybersecurity, consider companies that invest in ongoing training. This could not only save you money, but also personal time. When ongoing training is part of your role, it could be at the company’s expense and on work time.
This is a good thing to ask when it’s your turn to ask questions during an interview, as it can demonstrate your willingness to learn.
Get started in cybersecurity
Start building job-ready skills in cybersecurity with the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate on Coursera. Get hands-on experience with industry tools and examine real-world case studies, all at your own pace. Upon completion, you’ll have a certificate for your resume and be prepared to explore job titles like security analyst, SOC (security operations center) analyst, and more.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Cybersecurity is generally not considered a particularly math-heavy career. Some cybersecurity degree programs may have some higher-level math requirements, but on the job, you’ll likely need a basic understanding of binary math and mathematical logic. Exceptions include roles involving cryptography, which may require more advanced mathematical ability.
Cybersecurity as a field typically has more open jobs than there are qualified candidates to fill them. There are over half a million cybersecurity job openings in the US at the time of writing, according to Cyber Seek [2]. These jobs also tend to be well-paid. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median salary of $112,000 for information security analysts in the US [3].
Read more: 5 Cybersecurity Career Paths (and How to Get Started)
Cybersecurity degree programs tend to have fewer higher-level math and science requirements than computer science and other STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) degrees. This means that you might not have to take classes like calculus and chemistry, often considered among the most challenging for college students. While some courses require labs, these are generally not research-based.
On the other hand, you can expect courses to get increasingly challenging as you move through a cybersecurity program. The material can also be quite technical and challenging to read.
Cybersecurity isn’t objectively harder or easier than computer science. It depends on your own strengths and interests. If you’re interested in how computers work and enjoy writing code, computer science may be a better fit. If you enjoy the challenge of working through a problem analytically in a fast-paced environment and are curious about the ethics of modern technology, cybersecurity could be a good fit.
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