As technology evolves, cyber security threats are becoming more and more difficult to navigate and prevent. As such, companies are looking for the best skills in cybersecurity to help boost their preparedness.

This is one of the reasons why cybersecurity experts are in such high demand today. And if you are looking to join this field and wondering— is cybersecurity hard to learn? Here are our top 8 tips to help you get into the industry without struggle.

Is cybersecurity hard to learn? 8 Success Tips

You can make it in cybersecurity if you are determined to achieve success in this lucrative profession. Here are some of the success tips to get you going.

Get an introductory course to help you build a foundation

What better way to join cyber security than to first build a foundation with an introductory course? A well-structured cybersecurity course will not only help you build foundational skills in a more structured learning environment, but it will also give you a firsthand experience of what cyber security is all about.

This course will also help you evaluate whether cyber security is something of your interest and if it would help you achieve your career goals. A simple introductory cybersecurity course covers topics likely to include incident response, penetration testing, cyber threat intelligence, operating system, network, and data security and cybersecurity tools and attack vectors, security compliance, and industry standards.

Also, it is beneficial to start with a broad overview of cybersecurity to understand the skills that you already have, what you need to gain, and what area of cybersecurity gives you the most satisfaction as a career.

Really consider your passion for technology

If you are constantly asking is cybersecurity hard to learn, then you probably are one step forward.

Your perspective of cybersecurity will determine whether it proves hard or easy to learn. There is a clear-cut difference between challenging and difficult. Cybersecurity can indeed be challenging to learn, but it definitely is not difficult.

This becomes even more realistic, especially if you’re passionate about technology, and can nurture your curiosity about the technologies that you wish to work with. As you build on your curiosity for technology, you may realize that even the challenging skills become easier to learn.

Sometimes, all you need to build enthusiasm about a topic is just the simple act of starting to learn. And if you realize along the way that cyber security is not for you, this is okay as well. Cybersecurity is obviously exciting, challenging and is well-paying, but it may not be for everybody.

Make it your goal to learn a little every day

Aim at learning something little every day. It doesn’t mean that because you wish to build cybersecurity skills, you must drop everything for a full-time boot camp or degree. Take each day at a time and learn something new which will build up to the big results you so desire.

It is okay to dedicate 30 minutes each day to focus on cybersecurity. If you plan out, you’re learning very well and follow it faithfully every day, you are halfway there.

Define the goals of each session of learning and be specific.

Avail your skills for ethical hacking

There is no better way of learning cybersecurity than to avail your skills for practice and learn the tools and techniques that cybersecurity puts to use every day. Ethical hacking provides just the right environment for perfecting your cybersecurity skills.

Ethical hacking, in its simplest meaning, is the process of detecting vulnerabilities that may exist in an application, an organization’s infrastructure, or a system that attackers may use to exploit the organization or an individual.

And you don’t have to worry about any consequences as ethical hacking is a legal, authorized way to test or break into computer systems, applications, databases, or networks.

There are tons of free websites from which you to gain cybersecurity skills through legal, gamified experiences that emulate ethical hacking. These include Hack the Box, Hack.me, WebGoat, Hack This Site, etc.

As you test your skills and gain real-world experience, you may also want to look into bug bounty programs where you may earn cash rewards for identifying security flaws.

Take advantage of simulated environments to practice

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 virtual lab. A basic lab environment will typically include three elements:

As you complete cybersecurity courses, you will soon realize that some of these courses include virtual labs that provide a chance to practice your skills and use real security tools in a simulated environment.

It is important not to get too much used to these virtual labs because you can build your own that you have full control over and can use anytime. A typical virtual lab environment includes three elements— a place to host virtual machines (the cloud environment), a place to launch your attacks on (target machine) and your attack machine (an attack box). Here’s an article detailing how to build your own Cybersecurity Lab.

Actively participate in and be part of cybersecurity communities

One way of ensuring your learning journey is as enjoyable as possible is to find like-minded people who are interested in cybersecurity. And there is no better place than to join cybersecurity communities available online on different platforms like Reddit.

Forums and online communities not only provide resources and places where you can ask questions and find motivation, but you can also use these platforms to network and possibly learn about job opportunities around your area (or available on freelance)

There are several places where you can get these groups, for example on Reddit, Twitter and even by following influential cybersecurity experts on places like Facebook and LinkedIn. On Reddit, for example, groups such as  r/cyber, r/cybersecurity and r/CyberSecurityJobs provide a perfect place to start your journey.

Earn a certification. Very Important.

Preparing for a cybersecurity certification exam can double as an effective way to develop your skillset. Plus, having a certification can enhance your resume and make you more competitive as a job candidate. You might end up needing one for certain jobs, anyway. Nearly six in 10 cybersecurity job postings request a certification, according to data from Burning Glass Technologies [1].

Even as you complete cyber security courses online, do not forget to register for Cybersecurity certification. Having a cybersecurity certification does not only enhances your resume but also makes you more competitive in the job market.

Certain cybersecurity jobs would require that you have at least one or two cybersecurity certifications. Data from Burning Glass Technologies indicated that 6/10 of cybersecurity postings required at least one certification.

To start with, you can register for our cybersecurity career track training which will equip you with the right cybersecurity skills guaranteed to land you a job.

Look out for companies that provide training and apply

Just like technology is evolving, cybersecurity threats are constantly changing too. To be successful in cybersecurity, you need to make it your life goal to remain a learner and advance your skills as the threat landscape changes.

As you prepare to land your first job in cybersecurity, watch out for companies that invest in training their cybersecurity professionals. If you are lucky to land in one, you will not only save money but also personal time.

If you’re interviewing for a position and you’re presenting with time to ask questions, try to find out if the company is willing to train you. This is not selfish and can also help you demonstrate your willingness to learn.

So, is cybersecurity hard to learn? Well, I guess now you know better have at least a starting point.

Ready to learn cybersecurity from industry experts?

Join our Cybersecurity Bootcamp. Register today and get ready to earn one of the most competitive credentials in cybersecurity. The skills and training you will receive are guaranteed to secure you your first cyber security job in less than 6 months.