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How to be a cyber security specialist?

How is it possible to study cyber security, and what are the skills that will be required in order to achieve my dream in learning different specialization in computer science

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James Constantine’s Answer

Dear Bethel,

Guidelines for Becoming a Cyber Security Specialist

Embarking on a career as a cyber security specialist requires a systematic approach, encompassing the right education, skills, and practical experience. Here's a roadmap to guide you towards your goal:

1. Secure Appropriate Education:

Bachelor’s Degree: Kickstart your journey with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, cyber security, or a similar discipline. This lays a strong foundation in computing fundamentals.
Master’s Degree (Optional): If you wish, deepen your expertise by pursuing a master’s degree in cyber security or information assurance.

2. Acquire Pertinent Skills and Certifications:

Technical Skills: Hone technical skills in network security, cryptography, ethical hacking, risk assessment, and incident response.
Certifications: Earn respected certifications like Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CompTIA Security+, and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) to substantiate your proficiency.

3. Accumulate Hands-On Experience:

Internships and Entry-Level Roles: Apply your knowledge practically through internships or entry-level roles in IT or cyber security to gain real-world experience.
Practical Projects: Dive into hands-on projects, partake in capture the flag (CTF) contests, and contribute to open-source security projects to sharpen your practical skills.

4. Keep Up-to-Date and Network:

Continuous Learning: Stay abreast of the latest trends, threats, and technologies in cyber security through ongoing learning and professional development.
Networking: Establish a robust professional network by participating in industry events, conferences, and joining relevant online communities to interact with field experts.

5. Specialize in a Preferred Area:

Choose a Specialization: Pinpoint a cyber security area that piques your interest, such as penetration testing, digital forensics, cloud security, or secure software development.
Advanced Training: Seek advanced training or certifications tailored to your chosen specialization to become a domain expert.

By adhering to these steps meticulously and constantly upgrading your skills and knowledge, you can strive to become a proficient cyber security specialist and fulfill your ambition of mastering various specializations within computer science.

Top 3 Credible Sources Utilized:

Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): As the nation’s risk advisor, CISA collaborates with partners to counter current threats and work towards creating a more secure and resilient infrastructure for the future.

(ISC)² - International Information System Security Certification Consortium: (ISC)² is a global nonprofit membership association dedicated to fostering a safe and secure cyber world through best practices for cybersecurity professionals.

CompTIA - Cybersecurity Career Pathway: CompTIA offers invaluable insights into diverse cybersecurity career paths, along with suggested certifications and skill sets needed for each role.

GOD BLESS YOU!
JC.
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brian’s Answer

To become a cyber security specialist. I would recommend completing a post-secondary education in a relevant discipline (e.g. computer science, electrical engineering, or more specialized discipline such as "Information Security"). Once you have completed such a post secondary discipline, then identify entry level positions, that will provide you hands on experience (e.g. IT Helpdesk, Security Operations Center). Once in that entry level role, work to learn and continue education development leading to industry recognizable certifications, which your employer is willing to pay for. Finally be flexible in terms of work location, working hours and compensation.
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Edmond’s Answer

My suggestion is to first figure out if you are truly interested in cybersecurity and if you are, which field? You might be surprised how diverse the field is - find out in "Career Options" section of https://niccs.cisa.gov/education-training/cybersecurity-students.

The local chapters of cybersecurity non-profits in your area would give you an opportunity to meet professionals in the field and learn first hand about their individual fields. Most are free and/or free for students. These are ISSA (issa.org), OWASP (owasp.org), ISC2 (isc2.org) and ISACA (isaca.org). Some also organize conferences that might let you attend at little or no cost. In my experience these communities are welcoming and everyone is eager to share what they know.

ACM (acm.org) and IEEE's Computer Society (computer.org) are also professional organizations that have strong presence in cybersecurity and will most likely have representation in your college. Check them out.

Good luck!
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Davide’s Answer

Hi Bethel,
if you want to move into this exciting profession, you should be passionate about the evolving cybersecurity landscape, stay informed about ongoing and emerging threats, develop manual expertise in vulnerability systems and understand risk mitigation techniques.
There are many free courses available online, you can start from this.
I suggest you to download Kali, a Linux distribution with many interesting and useful instruments to make experience....it's really exciting !
Consider pursuing a cybersecurity concentration within your degree program. You can join internships, part-time jobs, or volunteering in cybersecurity-related roles to build practical skills....so you can start your practical experience, before apply to a cost-course for ethical hacking, for example, and get an official certification (CompTia or EC-Council or other).
Then you have to follow formal education requirements which can vary between states and industries. Some employers accept an associate degree with extensive work experience, while others prefer bachelor’s degrees in computer science, information technology or cybersecurity.
Let me know if you have other questions !
Ciao Davide
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Cawasdis’s Answer

There are many different paths to getting into Cybersecurity. Keep in mind that Cybersecurity covers a wide range of jobs. Not all of them are technical in nature.

Start with the basics. Foundational IT is important. Learn about networks and how computers communicate. Get an understanding of firewalls and what they do. Study operating systems like Windows and Linux.

Additionally, consider formal education. Colleges offer IT/Cyber degrees. There are also certifications that can help with learning such as Network+ or Security+.

This link may be helpful. https://cybersecurityguide.org/careers/security-specialist/
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