Entry-Level
First professional roles in cybersecurity — SOC Analyst Tier 1, IT Support, Junior Pen Tester, Security Analyst.
Certification
A vendor-neutral or vendor-specific credential that validates skills and signals knowledge to employers.
Blue Team
Defensive security — detection, response, monitoring, and hardening. The majority of cybersecurity jobs are blue team.
Red Team
Offensive security — ethical hacking, penetration testing, and simulating real attacker techniques.

Why cybersecurity is the right career right now

Every organisation in the world — banks, hospitals, governments, startups, logistics companies — needs cybersecurity professionals. The 2017 WannaCry attack, the 2020 SolarWinds breach, and the 2023 MGM casino hack (which cost over $100 million) all demonstrate that no sector is immune. The demand is genuine, global, and not going away.

3.5M
Unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally in 2024 — a shortage that has grown every year since 2013.
~0%
Unemployment rate for qualified cybersecurity professionals — effectively zero for the past decade.
$95K+
Average cybersecurity salary globally. Senior roles, managers, and specialists regularly exceed $130–200K.

Three paths into cybersecurity

There is no single required background. People enter cybersecurity from IT support, software development, networking, the military, and entirely unrelated fields. The three most common entry routes:

  1. 1
    IT/Networking transition — The most common path. IT support, sysadmin, or networking professionals already understand infrastructure and systems. Getting a security certification (Security+, CEH, or CCNA Security) demonstrates the security specialisation needed to move into security roles.
  2. 2
    Certification-first — Pursue an industry-recognised security certification before or instead of a degree. CompTIA Security+ is the standard entry-level credential, accepted by the US Department of Defence and required for thousands of job postings worldwide. CEH v13 is the step up for those targeting penetration testing or ethical hacking roles.
  3. 3
    Degree or bootcamp — A computer science, information security, or cybersecurity degree provides comprehensive theoretical grounding. Bootcamps (intensive 3–6 month programmes) offer faster entry, focused curriculum, and career services. Employers care more about skills and certifications than the degree path.

Key entry-level certifications

Certifications signal to employers that you have verified, baseline knowledge. The two most universally respected entry-level credentials:

  • CompTIA Security+ SY0-701: The industry-standard foundation cert. Covers threats, identity management, architecture, implementation, operations, and governance. Required by thousands of employers and the US DoD. No prerequisites. Ideal first security certification.
  • CEH v13 (Certified Ethical Hacker): EC-Council's flagship offensive security credential. Covers ethical hacking methodology, penetration testing tools, and AI-powered attack techniques across 20 modules. Targets roles in penetration testing, red teams, and offensive security. Excellent for those interested in the attacking side.
Best first steps, in order: (1) Understand networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP). (2) Get Security+ — it proves foundational knowledge to any employer. (3) Build hands-on skills on platforms like TryHackMe or HackTheBox. (4) Target SOC Analyst or Junior Security Analyst roles. (5) Add specialist certs (CEH, OSCP, CISSP) as you progress.

Common entry-level roles

  • SOC Analyst (Tier 1): Monitor security dashboards, triage alerts, and escalate incidents. The most common entry role. Develops skills in SIEM, incident response, and threat analysis. Strong progression pathway.
  • Junior Penetration Tester: Assists senior testers on engagements, writes report sections, and learns offensive methodology. Often requires CEH, OSCP, or equivalent certifications.
  • Security Analyst: Reviews logs, investigates incidents, manages vulnerability scanners, and assists with compliance. Broader role than pure SOC, often found in smaller organisations.
  • IT Security Support: Manages endpoint security tools, handles phishing reports, coordinates with IT on patching. Good stepping stone for those transitioning from general IT roles.
  • GRC Analyst (Governance, Risk, Compliance): Helps organisations meet regulatory requirements (ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI-DSS). Less technical, more process-oriented. Good for those from audit or legal backgrounds.
Start your journey with VAPTIC

VAPTIC offers CEH v13 and CompTIA Security+ with live instruction, hands-on Kali Linux labs, and direct support from certified instructors — everything you need to make the transition.

Enrol Now