Cybersecurity Certifications

When I first stepped into the world of cybersecurity, I was completely lost. I didn’t know where to start, what to learn first, or how people even got into this field. All I knew was—I wanted to be a part of this world where people protect, investigate, and defend against digital threats. 💻⚡ At first, everything looked complicated: hacking, tools, reports, and those mysterious terms like “VAPT” and “SOC.” But slowly, I realized that becoming a cybersecurity professional isn’t about learning everything at once—it’s about building layer by layer. So here’s how the journey begins 👇 📍 Step 1: Build your base Understand the fundamentals — Computer basics, Networking, Linux, Windows, and a bit of Programming. This is your foundation. Without it, cybersecurity concepts won’t make sense. 📍 Step 2: Explore the world of security Learn about Web Security, System Security, Network Security, Cryptography, and Cybersecurity Fundamentals. Then dive deeper into areas like VAPT, Incident Response, Digital Forensics, and Cloud Security. 📍 Step 3: Play and practice This is where learning gets fun! Platforms like TryHackMe, HackTheBox, PortSwigger Academy, OverTheWire, VulnHub, and LetsDefend are your playgrounds. Each challenge you solve teaches you real-world skills. 📍 Step 4: Find your direction You can become a Security Analyst, SOC Technician, Penetration Tester, Threat Intelligence Analyst, or even a Cloud Security Associate ☁️ Each path has its own tools, techniques, and challenges. 📍 Step 5: Prepare for your career Start building projects, upload your reports to GitHub, and prepare at least three pentest reports. Add certifications like CompTIA Security+, CEH, or OSCP. And don’t forget to network on LinkedIn — it opens doors you didn’t even know existed. 🤝 🔥 My advice? Start small, stay consistent, and document everything you learn. Cybersecurity isn’t just about hacking—it’s about protecting, analyzing, and defending. 💪 So if you’re someone who’s confused, just like I was—this roadmap is your compass. Let’s build the next generation of ethical hackers and defenders together. 💣 If you’d like resume guidance, just DM me your “RESUME.” And for more such content, follow my channel: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gGAnR_UF #CyberSecurity #EthicalHacking #InfoSec #TryHackMe #HackTheBox #VAPT #PenTesting #DigitalForensics #SOC #IncidentResponse #BlueTeam #RedTeam #BugBounty #NetworkSecurity #CloudSecurity #Linux #CompTIA #CEH #OSCP #SecurityAnalyst #CyberCareer #CybersecurityCommunity #CyberAwareness #TechCareers #CyberInternship #CyberLearning #InfosecJourney

Network Security Engineer Roadmap (Certifications + Tools) I. Start with Entry-Level Certifications *CompTIA Security+ – Basic cybersecurity knowledge *Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate – SOC and monitoring basics *CCNA – Networking foundation (important for firewall configuration) II. Intermediate Security Certifications *CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) – Learn hacking tools & methods *Fortinet NSE 1–4 – Network security basics with FortiGate *Palo Alto PCNSA – Next-gen firewall admin skills *CompTIA CySA+ – Security analytics, SIEM, threat hunting III. Advanced/Specialized Certifications *CISSP – For experienced professionals (5+ yrs) *OSCP – Offensive Security Certified Professional (hands-on pen testing) *CCNP Security – Advanced Cisco security skills *NSE 5–7, PCNSE, GIAC – Vendor-specific or advanced tracks IV. Essential Software & Tools to Master *Networking Tools Wireshark – Packet analysis Cisco Packet Tracer / EVE-NG – Network emulation GNS3 – Advanced network simulation * Security Tools Kali Linux – Penetration testing OS (with Nmap, Metasploit, etc.) Snort / Suricata – IDS/IPS engines pfSense / OPNsense – Open-source firewall platforms OpenVAS / Nessus – Vulnerability scanners * Monitoring & SIEM Splunk, ELK Stack – Security event monitoring SolarWinds, Nagios – Network monitoring.

The cybersecurity certification game has changed dramatically in 2025. After reviewing hundreds of job postings and talking with hiring managers, here's what actually matters now and what's become obsolete. The Big Shifts: Cloud certifications are now commanding 15-20% salary premiums. AWS Security Specialty and Azure Security Engineer aren't optional anymore, they're expected. If you're picking one, follow the money. AWS dominates most markets, but Azure leads in government and enterprise. CISSP remains essential for leadership roles, but timing matters. Early-career professionals with CISSP often get labeled as "title hunters." Save it for when you have 5+ years experience and are eyeing management positions. The surprising winner? Specialized beats generalist every time. Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) holders are writing their own tickets. OSCP continues to destroy CEH in market value and employers want proof you can hack, not just talk about it. What's Working by Career Stage: Entry Level: Security+ remains your ticket in. Pair it with cloud fundamentals (AWS/Azure) for maximum impact. Cost: ~$400-600 total. ROI: Excellent. Early Career (1-3 years): Go deep, not broad. SOC analysts need CySA+ or GMON. Future pentesters need OSCP. Skip generalist certifications entirely. Mid-Career (3-7 years): Choose your path. Technical track? Advanced cloud security or DevSecOps certs. Leadership track? Start that CISSP journey. Senior (7+ years): CISSP + business acumen wins. Add CISM for GRC roles or maintain technical edge with architect-level cloud certifications. The Reality Check: CEH is dying. Despite appearing in job posts, hiring managers increasingly view it as outdated. Don't waste your money. SANS certifications are incredible but at $7,000+, calculate carefully. Three specialized certifications might open more doors than one premium cert. AI security certifications are mostly hype. Stick with established providers adding AI modules to existing programs. The certification landscape evolves fast, but the principle remains constant: certifications open doors, skills keep them open. Choose credentials that align with where you're going, not where you've been. What's your certification strategy for 2025? Are you going deep in a specialty or building breadth? #Cybersecurity #Certifications #CareerDevelopment #InfoSec #CloudSecurity #TechCareers

7 Lessons from Failing a Cybersecurity Certification Exam Some time ago, I took a certification exam, and as you’ve guessed from the title, I failed! But that’s not even the most interesting part. I had prepared extensively: • Watched countless YouTube videos • Used proprietary study materials • Practiced with ChatGPT • Completed tons of practice questions I was ready. Or so I thought. After clicking the final submit button on the exam, I was shocked when I saw the result. I needed just 50 more marks to meet the cut-off. Confused, I went online to dig deeper - and that’s when I realized: The exam had different sections… and I completely missed the final section. I had spent too much time on the earlier parts, thinking I was almost done. I wasn’t. That mistake cost me the pass. I had to shell out another $$, paid for another, wrote it in a week and passed. Here are the lessons I learned the hard way: 🔹 Research the exam format beforehand Know how many sections there are, how questions are distributed, and any time allocations. 🔹 Read the instructions carefully Don’t assume. Read every instruction, even if you’re excited to start. 🔹 Manage your time wisely Watch the clock. Pace yourself through each section, don’t get stuck too early. 🔹 Use elimination techniques If you’re unsure about a question, eliminate wrong options, make your best guess, and move on. 🔹 Mark and review If you’re not sure about an answer, flag it and come back if you have time. 🔹 Stay calm when you see difficult questions Panicking burns time and energy. Stay composed, breathe, and tackle it methodically. 🔹 Remember: exams are strategy + knowledge It’s not just what you know—it’s also how you navigate the test. Failing taught me more about exam strategy than any study material ever could. And if you’re preparing for any cybersecurity exam right now, learn from my mistakes. Share with your network ♻️ Follow me Jonathan Ayodele for more Cybersecurity Career Growth content. I have tons on my profile. #CyberSecurity #CybersecurityCertifications #CybersecurityCareerGrowth

This little girl is Born & raised in Ethiopia. ✨ She wanted to become a doctor as a child & played like one. ✨ She ended up going to law school & graduated with LLB degree in law, interned for an NGO & worked as a legal expert at government. ✨ 2013 - immigrated to the US from Ethiopia, 7 months pregnant with baby #2. Embraced the challenge of starting a new life. Had baby & went back to school. ✨ 2014 - First job in the US as an on-call medical interpreter & began a part-time work-study position at the same community college library where she studies her associates degree. Learned how to drive for the 1st time at 28 & got her driver’s license. ✨ 2015 - Welcomed baby #3. Discontinued interpreting gig due to childcare struggles. ✨ 2016 - Graduated with an AS degree in computer programming & transferred to a 4-year university. Simultaneously, began a part time IT internship at the local government, paving the way for her career. ✨ 2017- As an undergrad senior, she discovered her passion for #cybersecurity through a collegiate cyber defense competition, representing her university. ✨ 2018 - Certified in Network+ & Security+. After 3 IT internships, landed her first full-time job in IT/IS audit. Graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. ✨ 2019 - Certified in Cysa+ & CISA. Became a homeowner, welcomed baby #4 , & embarked on a journey to grad school specializing in cybersecurity. ✨ 2020 - Transitioned to a new job as an Information Security Engineer at state government. Promoted to a senior role within 6 months. Certified in AWS CCP. ✨ 2021 - Achieved CCSK certification & despite never owning her own children’s book taught herself to self-publish & wrote her 1st children's book, "Proud in Her Hijab." Began a new role in cloud security engineering at a Fortune 500 organization. More certifications - SANS GCLD & KCNA. Honored with 1st professional & books awards. ✨ 2022 - Published her second children's book, "Oh, No... Hacked Again!" More AWS certification. Continued to earn recognition, winning 3 more professional awards. Made her first keynote speech & shared her journey through articles, podcasts, & news media. ✨ 2023 - Graduated with a master's degree in cybersecurity from Georgia Tech University, 1st generation. Delivered her first TEDx Talk, creating her first LinkedIn Learning course. Honored as a "40 under 40" recipient as well as 3 more awards, published another bestseller, 3rd children’s book "See Yourself in Cybersecurity." She is married for nearly 15 years & a mom to 4 kids aged 13 - 4 year old. As an adult this little girl would still be awork in progress, growing everyday & a lifetime learner. She is proud of the progress she makes, the woman she becomes & competes with no one but herself! Advice to younger self - you are way more capable of accomplishing anything you aspire to be no matter how it may seem unreachable. Believe in yourself before anyone does. This little girl is ME! #thislittlegirlisme

Ready to start a career in #cybersecurity? Here's a Cybersecurity Career Decision Tree to guide you on your journey! Starting a career in cybersecurity can be exciting yet challenging, especially for newcomers. To navigate effectively, you need a clear roadmap. This decision tree outlines crucial steps and choices for a successful cybersecurity career. It's a valuable tool whether you're from a technical background or starting fresh. Self-Assessment: • Technical background: Explore education and certification options. • Non-technical background: Focus on foundational IT skills. Education and Certification: • Technical background: Pursue advanced certifications like CISSP or CEH. • Non-technical background: Start with CompTIA Security+ or Network+ for a strong foundation. Choose a Specialization: • Technical background: Follow your passion, whether it's network security or penetration testing. • Non-technical background: Explore cybersecurity career options and choose your interest. Hands-On Experience: • Set up a home lab for practice. • Gain practical experience through online labs and challenges. • Consider volunteer security work. Apply for Jobs: • Tailor your resume to showcase skills and certifications. • Apply for entry-level positions like Security Analyst. Career Advancement: • Consider specialized and higher-level roles like Security Engineer or Security Manager. • Target higher-level certifications like CISSP or CISM. Networking, Learning, Ethics, and Mentorship: • Connect with professionals on LinkedIn. • Stay updated with the latest trends. • Prioritize ethical practices. • Seek guidance from experienced mentors. Use this decision tree as your career guide and embark on your cybersecurity journey with confidence! If you found it helpful, please like and share to assist others. Have questions? Feel free to ask! [This originally appeared on X. Follow me there for more cybersecurity career tips: https://lnkd.in/gNY8t8Ud] #CareerAdvice #InfoSec

Here's a Complete Roadmap to Self-Learning your way into Cybersecurity. These 5 Stages can lead you straight into an awesome Career. You don't have to bury yourself in college debt to have an extremely successful career. Is college good? Absolutely. Is it required? No. If you have the ambition to self-learn, here are the 5 stages that you must go through. I'll give you two warnings though: 1. If you don't have the work ethic, you will fail. 2. If you try to skip steps, you will fail. With that out of the way, here are the 5 Stages: Stage 1 - Foundational Knowledge (Understanding the Basics) → Operating Systems (Linux and Windows fundamentals) → Networking (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, firewalls and routing) → Security Concepts (CIA Triad, threat models, malware, encryption) Stage 2 - Hands-on Skills (Practice or Forget) → TryHackMe → HacktheBox → Building your own Labs Stage 3 - Certifications (If you want proof of your work) → Security+ → Google Cybersecurity Certificate → ISC2 → CySa+ → certs for later - PNPT, CEH, OSCP and others Stage 4 - Specialization (Pick a Lane) → Penetration Testing → Blue Team / SOC Analyst → GRC / Governance, Risk & Compliance → Cloud Security → Application Security Stage 5 - Community, Projects & Branding (Get Seen, Get Hired) → Contribute to open-source security projects → Start a blog → Teach what you have learned → Join communities (discord, reddit, and others) The path to your career can start today. You can literally change your entire life by learning about a field of work that is extremely demanding. I've been in Tech / Cyber now for over 25 years. Much of what I learned has been self taught and from others. If a high school grad with average grades could succeed in this field, you certainly can. In fact, with the resources now, you'll be way more successful than I have. If you want to talk about your journey or need help, my DMs are open. Literally all you have to do is send me a message. You can also checkout my mentoring group at https://lnkd.in/gK-e_WWF #cybersecurity #careers #informationsecurity

🔐 “I want to get into cybersecurity—but which certification should I start with?” After 10+ years in the cybersecurity industry, one of the most common questions I get asked is not about firewalls or SIEM—but about certifications. The truth is: There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on the role you're aiming for. Here's a roadmap based on real-world relevance 👇 🎯 If you’re aiming for leadership: * CISO / InfoSec Manager / Risk Manager  ➤ Go for: CISSP, CISM, CRISC, CCISO  These demonstrate governance, risk, and enterprise-level security mastery. 🛡️ If you want to be in hands-on defense (Blue Team): * SOC Analyst / SIEM Engineer / Threat Analyst  ➤ Go for: CISSP, CEH, CYSA+, GCED, GCIH  These equip you with threat detection, log analysis, and incident response skills. 💣 If offense is your style (Red Team): * Penetration Tester / Vulnerability Assessor  ➤ Go for: OSCP, CEH, GWAPT, CVPA  Mastering these helps you understand attacker methodologies inside-out. 🌐 If you love code + cloud: * DevSecOps / Cloud Security Engineer / Cryptographer  ➤ Go for: GCSA, CDP, CKAD, CCSK, GDSA  These teach you to secure apps from build to deployment. 🔍 If you’re into privacy, law & compliance: * DPO / Privacy Analyst / Compliance Lead  ➤ Go for: CIPP, CIPM, CDPSE, ISO 27701  Perfect if you love GDPR, HIPAA, audits, and user data protection. 🚀 Pro Tip: Don’t just chase certs—align them with your desired role and build real-world skills through labs, projects, or freelance gigs. 💬 Comment your current role and I’ll suggest your next ideal cert! #CyberSecurity #Certifications #CareerGrowth #Infosec #BlueTeam #RedTeam #Privacy #DevSecOps #LinkedInLearning #CyberCareer #CyberSecRoles 🌐Looking to deepen your cybersecurity knowledge? Visit The Sec Master for expert insights, tutorials, and the latest trends in the cybersecurity world. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, our resources will help you stay ahead of cyber threats. 🔐 Explore Now: thesecmaster.com 📚 Stay Updated. Stay Secure TheSecMaster Arun KL

you want to break into cybersecurity but where do you begin? it’s not as complicated as it seems. here’s the roadmap i wish someone gave me earlier: 1. start with security+ it won't get u the job. but it'll get u in the door. network+ is helpful too, but not required. after that? only specialize if you know what path you’re chasing: • cysa+, sc-200 for soc roles • ejpt, oscp for red team • cisa, cissp for grc or auditing don’t collect certs like pokémon. only get the ones hr recognizes. 2. learn hands-on this is where the real growth happens. platforms like tryhackme and hackthebox let u: • build real-world skills • practice attack/defense scenarios • train your brain through repetition 3. build stuff just don’t stop at “completing rooms.” apply what you’re learning. build a lab. break things. fix them. repeat. some ideas: • siem lab (splunk/elastic/wazuh) for soc roles • vulnerable machine walkthroughs for pentesting you don’t need expensive gear virtualbox + curiosity = a solid start. 4. write it down what you did, what broke, what worked. • start a blog. • post to LinkedIn. • push scripts to GitHub. learning in public = compounding returns. ur goal isn’t to look smart. it’s to be understood by hiring managers. 5. network like it’s a job because it is. most people get hired because someone vouched for them. message with interns, engineers. not just recruiters don’t wait till you need a favor to start conversations. 6. apply smart stop hitting “apply” and praying. start being strategic. • apply to ~150 jobs/month • tailor ur resume to each job • cut fluff—highlight only what matters • write cover letters (real ones u write, not ai slop) cybersecurity isn’t just ones and zeros. it’s about taking initiative, building experience, and making connections.

🌐 Boost Your Cybersecurity Knowledge with This Comprehensive Study Guide! 🔐 Preparing for the CompTIA Security+ (701) certification or just want to deepen your understanding of cybersecurity? This guide is packed with essential notes, concepts, and actionable insights to help you excel. 🔑 What’s Inside? Core Security Concepts: Explore the CIA Triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) and cybersecurity frameworks like NIST. Understand access control, risk management, and incident response essentials. Threats and Vulnerabilities: Detailed insights into threat actors, attack surfaces, and social engineering tactics. Discover vulnerability management strategies for applications, networks, and endpoints. Identity and Access Management: Dive into authentication methods, multifactor authentication, and SSO. Learn about role-based and attribute-based access controls. Network and Application Security: Harden networks with firewalls, IDS/IPS, and VPNs. Secure cloud and web applications using best practices and tools. Incident Response and Digital Forensics: Master the steps of an incident response plan, from detection to recovery. Explore digital forensic techniques for evidence collection and analysis. Governance, Compliance, and Risk Management: Understand security policies, legal requirements, and frameworks like ISO 27001. Learn how to manage vendors, conduct audits, and assess risks effectively. 💡 Why Read This? This guide simplifies complex cybersecurity concepts into digestible notes, making it ideal for both beginners and professionals. Whether you're aiming to pass the Security+ exam or strengthen your cybersecurity foundation, this is your go-to resource. 📂 Check out the document below to start your journey toward cybersecurity mastery! #CompTIASecurityPlus #CyberSecurity #NetworkSecurity #RiskManagement #IdentityAndAccessManagement #IncidentResponse #StudyGuide #CertificationPrep