Cybersecurity Career Master Plan: Proven techniques and effective tips to help you advance in your cybersecurity career

✍ Scribed by Dr. Gerald Auger, Jaclyn “Jax” Scott, Jonathan Helmus, Kim Nguyen

• Publisher: Packt Publishing
• Year: 2021
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 280
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Get started with cybersecurity and progress with the help of expert tips to get certified, find a job, and more

Key Features

• Learn how to follow your desired career path that results in a well-paid, rewarding job in cybersecurity
• Explore expert tips relating to career paths and certification options
• Access informative content from a panel of experienced cybersecurity experts

Book Description

Cybersecurity is an emerging career trend and will continue to become increasingly important. Despite the lucrative pay and significant career growth opportunities, many people are unsure of how to get started.

This book is designed by leading industry experts to help you enter the world of cybersecurity with confidence, covering everything from gaining the right certification to tips and tools for finding your first job. The book starts by helping you gain a foundational understanding of cybersecurity, covering cyber law, cyber policy, and frameworks. Next, you'll focus on how to choose the career field best suited to you from options such as security operations, penetration testing, and risk analysis. The book also guides you through the different certification options as well as the pros and cons of a formal college education versus formal certificate courses. Later, you'll discover the importance of defining and understanding your brand. Finally, you'll get up to speed with different career paths and learning opportunities.

By the end of this cyber book, you will have gained the knowledge you need to clearly define your career path and develop goals relating to career progression.

What you will learn

• Gain an understanding of cybersecurity essentials, including the different frameworks and laws, and specialties
• Find out how to land your first job in the cybersecurity industry
• Understand the difference between college education and certificate courses
• Build goals and timelines to encourage a work/life balance while delivering value in your job
• Understand the different types of cybersecurity jobs available and what it means to be entry-level
• Build affordable, practical labs to develop your technical skills
• Discover how to set goals and maintain momentum after landing your first cybersecurity job

Who this book is for

This book is for college graduates, military veterans transitioning from active service, individuals looking to make a mid-career switch, and aspiring IT professionals. Anyone who considers cybersecurity as a potential career field but feels intimidated, overwhelmed, or unsure of where to get started will also find this book useful.

Table of Contents

1. New Career in Cyber... “Who Dis?”
2. Which Career Field Is Best for You?
3. Different Strokes for Different Folks
4. Exploring Certifications and College
5. Getting Hands-On Experience with No Experience
6. Time to Brand Yourself – Not the Burning Type
7. How to Land a Jay-Oh-Bee!
8. Giving Back to Others and Yourself
9. Trusting the Process

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Title Page
Copyright and Credits
Dedicated
Foreword
Contributors
Table of Contents
Preface
Section 1: Getting Started with Cybersecurity
Chapter 1: New Career in Cyber… "Who Dis?"
Learning about the current state of the industry
Cyber laws and regulations
Exploring the foundations of cybersecurity
Asset, vulnerability, risk, and threat
What is the CIA Triad?
Different cybersecurity frameworks
Types of cyber attacks
Understanding the pros and cons of cyber careers
Flexible hours
Great salaries
Remote work life
Cultures vary
Large diversity of positions and specialties
Recruiters look for you
You can train yourself
Summary
Questions
Chapter 2: Which Career Field Is Best for You?
Introducing you to the cybersecurity roadmap
Understanding the top prominent cybersecurity domains
Risk Assessment and Offensive Security
Governance and GRC
Threat Intelligence – internal and external
Security Operation and Incident Response
Security Architecture and Cloud Security
Learning through education, training, and awareness
Guiding you on how to choose a career
Which cybersecurity field is the best for you?
Risk Assessment and Offensive Security
Governance and GRC
Threat Intelligence – internal and external
Security Operation and Incident Response
Security architecture and cloud security
Learning – education, training, and awareness
Career improvement opportunities
Extra resources that can help you find the right career
Summary
Questions
Section 2: Your Path into the Industry
Chapter 3: Different Strokes for Different Folks
Understanding cybersecurity pros and cons in several industry sectors
Financial services
Government (aka public sector)
Healthcare
Energy and manufacturing (cyber-physical systems/industrial control systems)
Working in the public sector versus the private sector
Introducing cloud platforms as an explosive cybersecurity opportunity growth area
Understanding the typical organizational hierarchy structures of an information security office
Summary
Further reading
Chapter 4: Exploring Certifications and College
General security certifications
CompTIA Security+
(ISC)² Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Hacking the planet – diving into the big red certifications
Exploring different vendors
Discovering each red certification
Alert! Checking out blue teaming certifications
Discovering each blue certification
Checking the box – auditing certifications
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
GRC/management certifications
CompTIA Project+
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
College of knowledge – discovering the benefits of a cyber degree
Exploring different programs
Summary
Further reading
Chapter 5: Getting Hands-On Experience with No Experience
Technical requirements
Hacking all the things
Ingredients
Recipe
Guarding all the doors
More Wireshark
Blazing your own trail
Conferences – more than just talks
Hacking an internship
Insider opportunities
Looking in the mirror
Summary
Chapter 6: Time to Brand Yourself – Not the Burning Type
Determining your brand and story
Determining your passion
Writing like an expert
What is your why? Create a why statement!
Leveraging social media like it's your personal marketing team
Exploring the different social media platforms
Twitter
Discord
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube
Clubhouse
Summary of the primary social media platforms
Considering a blog versus a podcast
Blog
Podcasts
Engaging your audience to grow brand awareness
Summary
Questions
Chapter 7: How to Land a Jay-Oh-Bee!
When and why to pivot
Understanding the cybersecurity job market
Employment platforms
Searching techniques
Ranking the searches
More searching
Preparing your résumé – tips and tricks
Keep the résumé short
Include only relevant and important information
Sometimes, unrelated work experience is acceptable
Utilize keywords
Prepare several versions of the résumé
Quantify and qualify your achievements
Be honest
Soft skills are important
Less is more
6-second test
Cover letter
Landing an interview (and acing it)
Preparing for the phone interview
Preparing for the technical interview
Preparing for the behavioral interview
Extra resources
Employment platform
Résumé preparation
Interview preparation
Job hunting
Referral services
Salary guide
Entry-level myth busting
Summary
Section 3: Now You're in; Time to Level Up!
Chapter 8: Giving Back to Others and Yourself
The "How-To" of public speaking
Introducing different conferences
Discovering topics
During the talk
What to expect after your talk
What burnout is and how to avoid it
Avoiding burnout 
Indicators of a toxic environment
Exclusion and gossip 
Toxic leadership
Recognizing lazy co-workers
High turnover – employees quitting often!
Lack of work/life balance
Summary
Further reading
Chapter 9: Trusting the Process
Understanding the SMART goalsetting framework
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-based
Learning about the mentor and mentee relationship
Relationships defined
Be accountable
Put in the work
Objective and constructive conversations
Find a mentor
Exploring different ways to network with impact
Tip #1 – find common ground
Tip #2 – it's about them, not you
Tip #3 – create depth, not width
Tip #4 – be smart when networking
Tip #5 – taking networking virtual
Tip #6 – leverage social media and brands
Tip #7 – follow up after a first meet
Summary
Assessments
About Packt
Other Books You May Enjoy
Index