🔹 Security sits downstream – Before you defend a system, you have to understand how it works. Networking, operating systems, programming, scripting, cloud, AD… It’s a lot to learn first.

🔹 The stakes are high – In cybersecurity, mistakes can mean breaches, reputational damage, or costly regulatory fines. So orgs hesitate to trust true beginners.

🔹 Lack of real mentorship pipelines – Many companies don’t invest in training. They want you productive on day one.

The reality? Most “entry-level” roles expect prior IT experience – helpdesk, sysadmin, development, networking, etc.

If you’re trying to break in, I recommend the following:

Learning foundational IT skills

Building home labs (TryHackMe, HTB, virtual labs)

Getting hands-on certs (e.g., CompTIA Security+, A+/Network+)

Starting in adjacent roles and pivoting

If you’re not in cybersecurity yet but are eager to break in, remember – at the end of the day, it’s just a job. Like any role, it comes with accountability, responsibilities, deadlines, and deliverables. It’s not glamorous, and it doesn’t live up to the exaggerated hype often seen on social media. Cybersecurity is important, but it’s also routine, structured work – just like any other profession.

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