The Beginning Journey into the World of Cyber Security

Embarking on the journey into cybersecurity can seem daunting for many. One of my initial questions was: where do I start? Having already earned a degree in visual communications from a college that closed due to dishonest practices, my existing degree felt worthless. Despite having an associate's degree in multimedia design and the burden of college loans, returning to college was not feasible. This led me to explore certifications as a viable path forward. Deciding on which certifications to pursue was guided by industry standards and employer expectations. Ultimately, I chose to pursue the CompTIA Security+ certification, which I believed aligned well with these considerations.

Start by setting up a game plan. You need to build your own educational path, or at least that’s what I had to do. I started with cybersecurity theory, specifically studying the CompTIA Security+ book. This involved an hour and a half of reading and note-taking each day, using both paper and pencil, as well as the Notion app.   Once that study session is done I will move to a cyber security project using "try hack me"  or a virtualization project ex. Active directory. This typically involves alternating weeks dedicated to various projects. I have found that this approach best balances my work week while allowing me to learn new skills. I firmly believe that with Google and YouTube at your fingertips, there are no excuses not to learn something new. I have used these resources extensively to explore new topics and continue to do so.