How Do I Get Started in Cybersecurity? | Education
How Do I Get Started in Cybersecurity? | Education
https://www.usnews.com/education/continuing-ed/articles/how-do-i-get-started-in-cybersecurity
Publish Date: 2026-05-14 18:27:00
Source Domain: www.usnews.com
The paths that can lead to a cybersecurity career are as diverse as the job opportunities within this high-demand field.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics refers to cybersecurity professionals as information security analysts. It projects that available roles for these professionals will grow by 29% – an addition of 52,100 jobs – between 2024 and 2034.
If you think you may want to be on the front lines protecting personal data from bad actors or keeping vital digital systems afloat, where do you start? Paige Mooney, assistant director of career services at Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania, suggests exploring microcredentials and other smaller options before committing to a certificate program or pursuing professional certifications.
“A lot of those gear you up for a certificate, but it also allows you to get a grasp on those fundamentals and kind of dip your toes in the water to make sure you enjoy that type of work,” she says.
This guide explores how to get started in cybersecurity, including the skills you should have in your toolkit, what experts say is the best cybersecurity certification for beginners and some different areas of the field.
What Are Cybersecurity Jobs?
As with many other fields, cybersecurity offers a variety of roles. While it’s not a comprehensive list, the table below shows a few areas of cybersecurity where professionals can specialize.
What can you do in cybersecurity?
|
Skill or area |
What it is |
|
|---|---|---|
| Ethical hacking |
Employing hacking techniques to find vulnerabilities in a network and fix them before a bad actor takes advantage of them. Basically, the best offense is a good defense. |
|
| Incident response |
Taking action after a suspected data breach or attempt, such as a phishing scam or ransomware attack. |
|
| Network security |
Protecting an organization’s information and digital infrastructure through VPNs, firewalls and other technology and policies. |
|
| Cloud security |
Protecting… |
