How can you develop Cybersecurity skills while working full time?
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Cybersecurity is one of the most in-demand and rewarding fields in the IT industry, but it also requires constant learning and updating of skills. If you are working full time in a different role or sector, you might wonder how you can develop cybersecurity skills without compromising your current job or personal life. In this article, we will share some tips and resources that can help you balance your time and goals, and become a more confident and competent cybersecurity professional.
Before you dive into learning new cybersecurity skills, you need to have a clear idea of where you are and where you want to go. What are your strengths and weaknesses in terms of technical knowledge, tools, and methodologies? What are the specific domains or topics that interest you the most, such as network security, malware analysis, penetration testing, or digital forensics? What are the skills and certifications that are most relevant and valuable for your desired career path or role? You can use online self-assessment tools, quizzes, or frameworks, such as the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, to help you evaluate your current level and interests.
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Dr. Mansur Hasib 🦄 CISSP, PMP, CPHIMS
Cybersecurity, Personal Branding, and Public Speaking Coach | Award-Winning Education Leader, Author, and Keynote Speaker
I earned my Doctor of Science degree in cybersecurity while working full-time as a Chief Information Officer. The key was to establish boundaries and times and make sure everyone was aware of these boundaries.
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Jeewan Singh Jalal
Senior Security Analyst at KnowBe4 | Detection and Response| Threat Intelligence | Cloud Security|
Developing cybersecurity skills while working full time is achievable through a combination of strategies. Firstly, consider enrolling in reputable online courses or certifications such as CompTIA Security+ to gain foundational knowledge. During your workday, maximize your breaks by dedicating time to quick study sessions or reading relevant materials.. Networking is crucial; attend industry events, webinars, and connect with professionals to access valuable learning opportunities and insights. and weekends for networking and attending cybersecurity events. This approach allows you to build cybersecurity skills in tandem with your job commitments.
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Once you have identified your learning objectives and priorities, you need to plan how you will allocate your time and money to achieve them. Depending on your availability and preferences, you can choose from a variety of learning formats, such as online courses, books, podcasts, webinars, or workshops. You can also look for free or low-cost resources, such as MOOCs, blogs, YouTube channels, or online communities, that offer quality content and guidance on cybersecurity topics. However, you should also be realistic and flexible about your learning schedule and budget, and avoid overcommitting or overspending. You should set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals, and track your progress and results regularly.
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Matthew Refsnider
Security Engineer | Basketball Nerd
Staying focused on a learning path that aligns to your goals and interests is key to your initial success. Breaking into cybersecurity is tough when you don't know enough to actually solve a problem. There are so many free and low-cost education options available it may seem overwhelming, but there is also helpful guidance on where to find the highest quality sources that offer a great return on your investment, whether it's financial or not. Do some OSINT analysis to discover the places the community trusts the most, it will be great practice for your future in cyber!
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Divya K 🇮🇳
PMP | National Cyber Security Scholar | CC | ISO 27001:2013 LA | ISO 27701: 2019 LI | ICOSA | ITIL 4 | ICBIS | CHFI | CCIO | CAIIB | IIT-Palakkad | IIT-Gandhinagar | Speaker | Jury | Best Volunteer of the Year Award 2023
In my own journey, I've taken a proactive approach to time management. Deleting social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram, and muting notifications on my phone, have been game-changers. By eliminating distractions, I've freed up substantial chunks of time that I can invest in enhancing my cybersecurity skills. It's amazing how much you can achieve when you regain control over your focus.
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Learning new cybersecurity skills is not enough; you also need to practice and apply them to real-world scenarios. This will help you consolidate your knowledge, test your abilities, and showcase your potential to employers or clients. You can look for opportunities to use your skills in your current job, such as by volunteering for security-related projects, tasks, or initiatives, or by suggesting improvements or solutions to existing security issues or challenges. You can also participate in external activities, such as online competitions, hackathons, or capture the flag events, that allow you to solve problems, learn from others, and network with peers or mentors.
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Joshua Copeland
Cybersecurity Director | vCISO-ish | Cybersecurity SME | Speaker | Author | Startup Advisor | Cyber and Security NPO Board Member
Using online resources for virtual and real-time "capture the flag." is a great way to demonstrate skills in real-world type environments. Doing pro-bono work with non-profits is another great way to build real-world skills.
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Divya K 🇮🇳
PMP | National Cyber Security Scholar | CC | ISO 27001:2013 LA | ISO 27701: 2019 LI | ICOSA | ITIL 4 | ICBIS | CHFI | CCIO | CAIIB | IIT-Palakkad | IIT-Gandhinagar | Speaker | Jury | Best Volunteer of the Year Award 2023
Practical knowledge and hands-on experience are key in cybersecurity, and I've achieved this through Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges. CTFs provide an excellent platform to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios, enhancing my problem-solving skills and technical proficiency. Ultimately, it's about dedicating consistent, quality time to your passion. These strategies have helped me align my career goals with my cybersecurity journey, and I look forward to further growth in this ever-evolving field.
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Cybersecurity is a dynamic and evolving field, and you need to stay updated and curious about the latest trends, threats, and technologies. You can follow reputable sources of information, such as news outlets, podcasts, blogs, or newsletters, that cover cybersecurity topics and developments. You can also join online forums, groups, or social media platforms, where you can exchange ideas, opinions, or tips with other cybersecurity enthusiasts or professionals. You should also be open to learning from feedback, mistakes, or challenges, and seek to improve your skills and knowledge continuously.
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Dan Desko
Having a strong thirst for knowledge and wanting to continually learn is one of the most desired traits I look for in hiring future stars in cyber. If candidates can illustrate that "learning never stops" by showing how they have a home lab, or that they attend the local B-sides, or that they are taking online courses. To be able to stay up to date in this field means that you must TURN PRO and make it a way of life, committing fully to your craft and sneaking in learning whenever/wherever you can!
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Purav D.
Microsoft 365 Incident Responder at Citi (VP) | SC-400 | SC-200 | MS-500 | Creator of DecipheringUAL on Github | Microsoft Purview Audit/eDiscovery | MS Defender for Office 365 (MDO) | LinkedIn Top Cybersecurity Voice
People say it must take a lot to keep up with cyber outside of work but not really if you're smart about it. There is a 5 mins daily podcast by SANS called the SANS Internet Storm Center which is great to listen to in the morning on your way to work as they cover fresh news which you may get asked about in your role. When I was doing vulnerability management, I particularly found this podcast useful as they would often talk about new exploits. This is a quick and easy way to stay updated and curious on a consistent basis. It can even help spark conversation and introduce topics to non cyber folk.
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Learning new cybersecurity skills while working full time can be challenging and stressful, and you might feel isolated or overwhelmed at times. That is why you should seek guidance and support from others who can help you along your journey. You can look for mentors, coaches, or instructors, who can offer you advice, feedback, or direction on your learning goals, plans, or strategies. You can also find peers, friends, or family members, who can offer you encouragement, motivation, or accountability on your learning progress or results. You can also leverage your network, such as your colleagues, managers, or clients, to explore new opportunities, challenges, or collaborations that can enhance your cybersecurity skills and career.
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Joshua Copeland
Cybersecurity Director | vCISO-ish | Cybersecurity SME | Speaker | Author | Startup Advisor | Cyber and Security NPO Board Member
Finding mentors who are in multiple roles in areas in which you have an interest can be critical to developing a roadmap on where you want to go and just as importantly, how you plan on getting there.
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Grace Czechowski Llojaj, SHRM-CP
Senior Cybersecurity Talent Consultant @ Piper Companies | Professional Networker™
The greatest resource to me in cybersecurity has been the people! Using my network, has helped me immensely in understanding the cybersecurity landscape, keeping up-to-date on the latest tools and threats, and talking through the challenges of the field. At the end of the day, while we all may work for different firms or protect different sectors, we are all playing for the same team when it comes to defending against cyber threats. The community really supports and rallies around one another so all you have to do is ask when you need guidance, advice, or support, and people are open to having the conversation and assisting however they can.
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Ian Trimble
Seasoned Cybersecurity Authority with 15+ Years Strengthening Enterprise Defenses. Author of "Defensive Security Concepts". Proven Instructor Mentoring Next-Gen Talent. Thought Leader on Insider Threats, Risk Mitigation
One thing I've found helpful is to be able to teach the concepts we are always learning and reading about in various outlets. If there is a GitHub download it locally and attempt to try it on your own virtual machine to truly understand. The other thing is to record yourself learning a new concept like standing up a local instance of Azure Open AI, doing it and sharing to various outlets like YouTube. It's OK to leave the errors in. It shows that you aren't perfect and success in this job means you're going to make mistakes.
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Thomas Knowles
Head of Security Operations - ClearBank
You'll never be perfect, you'll never be the best, the field is too large for you to be an expert in everything. That's OK though, the field of cybersecurity requires you to understand not just core IT competencies, but then the methodology of securing those resources, the battlefield is vast. Once you have established your niche, develop an expertise in that area, usually a deep focus on one particular aspect provides a surface level understanding of everything else.
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