Essential Skills and Career Paths for Today’s Cybersecurity Professionals

Cybersecurity threats touch almost every organization with data to protect. As work, school, banking, and even healthcare move online, the demand for professionals who can defend systems and information has surged, and it isn’t slowing down.

Recent estimates suggest a global cybersecurity workforce gap of about 4.8 million professionals, indicating that organizations worldwide still don’t have enough people to manage their cyber risk. ISC2 In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of information security analysts to grow by nearly a third from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Tools like CyberSeek show hundreds of thousands of cybersecurity job postings nationally in a typical year.

Those are strong signals that cybersecurity can offer long-term career stability, competitive pay, and room to grow, if you build the right mix of technical skills, soft skills, and experience. This guide brings together National University’s content on cybersecurity skills, career paths, ethical hacking, education, and how to break into the field, so you can see the full picture in one place.

Key Insights for Breaking Into Cybersecurity

• Cybersecurity demand is surging: with a global workforce gap of 4.8 million and U.S. job growth projected at 29% through 2034, the field offers exceptional stability and earning potential.
• Success requires both technical and soft skills: professionals must master networking, operating systems, cloud, scripting, and security tools alongside communication, teamwork, ethics, and business awareness.
• Clear career pathways exist for beginners and career changers: starting with IT fundamentals and feeder roles, progressing to SOC analyst or junior pentester positions, and advancing to engineering, architecture, or leadership.
• Degrees and certifications complement each other: degrees build structured, comprehensive knowledge, while certifications validate specialized skills in areas like cloud, DFIR, or ethical hacking.
• Hands-on experience accelerates growth: labs, home environments, CTFs, portfolios, and real-world practice help professionals stand out and prepare for advanced specialization.

What Do Cybersecurity Professionals Actually Do?

Cybersecurity is the set of practices, tools, and policies used to protect systems, networks, devices, and data from attacks, damage, or unauthorized access. In practice, that can mean:

• Monitoring networks for suspicious activity
• Hardening systems and applications against known vulnerabilities
• Testing defenses by trying to break them (as an ethical hacker or penetration tester)
• Investigating incidents and restoring affected systems
• Advising leaders on risk, compliance, and long-term strategy

Cyberattacks can range from phishing and ransomware to large-scale data breaches and disruption of critical infrastructure. Cybersecurity professionals help organizations move from a reactive posture (“clean up after an attack”) to a proactive one (“prevent, detect, and respond early”).

You’ll find cybersecurity roles across many sectors:

• Technology and finance: banks, payment processors, fintech companies
• Healthcare: hospitals, insurers, electronic health record providers
• Government and defense: federal agencies, state and local governments, contractors
• Education, retail, and manufacturing: protecting student records, customer data, and industrial systems
• Small and mid-sized businesses: who increasingly face similar threats with fewer in-house resources

Is a Cybersecurity Career Worth It?

Information security analyst roles are projected to grow roughly 29% from 2024 to 2034, according to BLS employment data, far outpacing the average for all occupations. This rapid growth reflects a broader talent shortage, with ISC2 estimating a global gap of 4.8 million cybersecurity professionals. In the United States alone, CyberSeek reports more than 450,000 cybersecurity job postings over the past 12 months, underscoring the sustained demand for skilled workers in this field.

Competitive salaries

• Nationally, the median annual wage for information security analysts was about $124,910 in May 2024. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• In California, information security analysts earned a mean annual wage of about $140,730 as of May 2023. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Compensation varies by industry, region, and level of responsibility, but cybersecurity is generally considered a high-earning tech pathway.

Clear pathways for career changers

BLS notes that many information security analyst roles require a bachelor’s degree and less than five years of related experience, making the field especially accessible for those transitioning from IT, networking, military service, or other technical backgrounds. National University’s student stories reflect this pathway, showcasing individuals who first built IT or military experience, then strengthened their credentials with certifications, completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree in cybersecurity, and ultimately advanced into analyst, engineer, or even leadership roles.

Daily work with real impact

From the “Reasons to Consider a Career in Cybersecurity” article: this isn’t just about firewalls and passwords. Cybersecurity professionals help protect:

• Patient records and medical devices
• Financial data and payments systems
• Intellectual property and trade secrets
• Public utilities and critical infrastructure

If you want a career where your work meaningfully reduces risk and protects people, cybersecurity offers that sense of purpose.

Cybersecurity Career Paths and Specializations

Cybersecurity career paths can be understood along two dimensions: your level of responsibility and the technical specialization you choose to pursue. Early in your career, you might start in roles such as an information security analyst, a junior security engineer, a SOC analyst, an IT auditor with a security focus, or a junior penetration tester. As you gain experience, opportunities expand into mid-level positions like cybersecurity engineer, consultant, ethical hacker, incident responder, DFIR specialist, or cloud security engineer.

With further advancement, many professionals move into senior or leadership roles, including cybersecurity architect, director of information security, GRC leader, or even CISO. As responsibilities increase, the focus naturally shifts from hands-on technical tasks and incident response toward broader strategy, risk management, and organizational leadership.

Five major cybersecurity pathways

1. Network Security: Securing routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs, and traffic patterns while designing segmented, resilient networks that limit the spread of attacks. This pathway often involves continuous monitoring and updating of network defenses to stay ahead of evolving threats.
2. Cloud Security: Protecting workloads in AWS, Azure, and GCP by managing identities, encryption, logging, and secure configuration at scale. As organizations rapidly shift to cloud environments, specialists in this area help ensure that cloud-native architectures remain compliant and resilient.
3. Application Security: Helping developers write secure code by reviewing designs, performing code reviews, and running security testing throughout the software development lifecycle. This role emphasizes collaboration with engineering teams to prevent vulnerabilities before applications are deployed.
4. Critical Infrastructure Security: Safeguarding power grids, transport systems, water facilities, and other industrial control systems that run essential services. Professionals in this area work with both traditional IT and specialized operational technology (OT) environments, where downtime can have significant real-world consequences.
5. Internet of Things (IoT) Security: Managing the risks associated with connected devices, sensors, and “smart” equipment that often have limited built-in protections. IoT security specialists address challenges created by large-scale deployments, long device lifecycles, and complex supply chains.

Education, Degrees, and Certifications

While certifications and hands-on experience are essential, a degree still offers structure, depth, and credibility that can be difficult to replicate through self-study alone.

Why Degrees Still Matter

A degree in cybersecurity, computer science, information technology, or a related field gives students a comprehensive foundation in the technologies and concepts that underpin modern security work. Through structured coursework, you move through operating systems, networking, databases, cloud environments, and core security principles in a logical sequence, ensuring you develop a well-rounded technical skill set rather than isolated knowledge pockets. Programs also offer hands-on labs, simulations, and opportunities to practice in safe, controlled environments that mirror real-world scenarios.

Beyond technical skill-building, degree programs strengthen essential soft skills such as technical writing, communication, teamwork, and project leadership, skills that employers consistently rank among the most valuable in the cybersecurity workforce. Degrees also provide access to faculty with industry experience, academic advisors, and professional networks, all of which help students navigate career decisions and stay aligned with employer expectations. Most importantly, a degree signals to hiring managers that you have completed a vetted, comprehensive curriculum that prepares you for entry-level or mid-level cybersecurity roles.

National University’s Cybersecurity Degree Pathways

National University offers two cybersecurity degree options designed to serve students at different stages of their career journey. The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity prepares students for roles such as security analyst, network defender, and incident responder. The curriculum covers the core pillars of security work, including Windows and Linux administration, cloud computing, networking fundamentals, ethical hacking concepts, and security management. Classes emphasize applied learning, helping students build both confidence and competence through hands-on labs and real-world case studies.

For students looking to advance, the Master of Science in Cybersecurity offers the opportunity to specialize in areas such as digital forensics, network defense, and advanced threat analysis. Graduate-level coursework is designed to deepen technical expertise while also developing the strategic thinking, leadership skills, and policy awareness needed for higher-level roles such as cybersecurity engineer, security architect, or GRC leader. The program supports working professionals with flexible online formats and instructor guidance tailored to real-world challenges.

Together, these degree paths support learners whether they are entering cybersecurity for the first time, moving from IT or military backgrounds into security, or preparing for leadership roles in the field.

Certifications: Stacking Credentials Strategically

While a degree provides broad and deep knowledge, certifications offer targeted validation of specific skills. A common strategy is to approach certifications in tiers:

• Entry-level certifications like CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Linux+, and Cloud+ help new professionals demonstrate foundational competence in IT support, networking, security basics, and cloud essentials.
• Mid- to senior-level certifications such as CySA+, CASP+, CISSP, CISM, CEH, and CCSP help professionals specialize in security analysis, ethical hacking, cloud security, or leadership tracks.

Students and career changers don’t need all of these credentials. Instead, the most effective approach is to choose certifications that align with your desired pathway, whether that’s cloud security, digital forensics, GRC, penetration testing, or incident response.

Hard (Technical) Skills for Cybersecurity

Succeeding in cybersecurity starts with a strong technical foundation. Whether you’re monitoring networks, responding to incidents, or designing secure systems, you’ll rely on a core set of practical, hands-on skills every day. These hard skills form the backbone of cybersecurity work and help you understand how systems operate, where vulnerabilities exist, and how threats can be prevented or contained.

1. Operating systems and system administration

• Administering Windows and Linux systems
• Understanding how operating systems manage processes, memory, and file systems
• Hardening hosts: patching, configuration baselines, access control, and logging

2. Networking and cloud computing

• TCP/IP, routing, switching, subnets, VLANs, and VPNs
• Common protocols (HTTP/S, DNS, DHCP, SMTP, etc.)
• Designing and evaluating network architectures (segmentation, DMZs, zero-trust concepts)
• Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP): identity and access management, security groups, key management, logging, and monitoring

3. Programming and scripting

You don’t have to be a full-time software engineer, but most cybersecurity professionals benefit from:

• Scripting with Python, PowerShell, or Bash
• Understanding common languages like Java, C/C++, or C# at a conceptual level
• Writing small tools to automate tasks, parse logs, or test APIs

4. Databases and data security

• Working with SQL and common database platforms
• Understanding how data is stored, encrypted, backed up, and recovered
• Implementing role-based access control and data classification

5. Security tools and platforms

• Security information and event management (SIEM) systems
• Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools
• Vulnerability scanners
• Web application firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems

6. Specialized security domains

Depending on your path, you may dive deeper into:

• Penetration testing and ethical hacking: exploit development, web app testing, red teaming
• Application security: secure software development lifecycle, code review, threat modeling
• Cloud security: cloud-native security controls, infrastructure-as-code security
• Digital forensics and incident response (DFIR): evidence collection, timeline analysis, malware analysis
• Threat intelligence and hunting: researching adversaries, detecting subtle patterns in telemetry
• Cryptography: encryption basics, key management, TLS, and certificate management
• Risk assessment and management: frameworks such as NIST CSF, ISO 27001, CIS Controls

Soft Skills Needed for Cybersecurity

While technical mastery is essential, cybersecurity is ultimately a people-driven profession. You’ll often collaborate with teams, translate complex risks for decision-makers, and make judgment calls in high-stakes situations. Soft skills, communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and ethical decision-making play a major role in shaping how effectively you can apply your technical knowledge and support an organization’s broader security goals.

1. Research and continuous learning

Cybersecurity moves quickly. New vulnerabilities, tools, and attack techniques appear constantly. You’ll need to:

• Read advisories, blogs, and threat reports
• Experiment in labs or sandboxes
• Pursue ongoing education, certifications, and micro-credentials

A sustained commitment to learning is one of the clearest predictors of long-term success in this field.

2. Communication (written and verbal)

Cybersecurity professionals regularly:

• Write reports, findings, and recommendations
• Present risk to non-technical leaders
• Collaborate with developers, IT, legal, and business units

You should be able to explain complex issues in clear, concise language and adjust your message for technical and non-technical audiences.

3. Collaboration and teamwork

Most security work is team-based. Even penetration testers and incident responders rarely operate alone. Employers value people who can:

• Work cross-functionally
• Share credit, accept feedback, and contribute to a shared mission
• Build relationships with stakeholders who may not initially prioritize security

4. Leadership and influence

You don’t need “manager” in your title to lead. Important leadership behaviors include:

• Owning incidents and seeing them through to resolution
• Influencing policy and process changes
• Mentoring junior staff or peers
• Advocating for security in planning and design discussions

Hiring managers often look for leadership potential, not just technical depth.

5. Business and risk awareness

Effective cybersecurity professionals understand:

• How their organization makes money or delivers value
• Which systems and data are most critical
• How to balance security, usability, and cost

This helps you frame security work as a business enabler rather than just a cost center.

6. Ethics and professional judgment

Especially in roles like ethical hacking, incident response, and digital forensics, you’ll handle sensitive data and powerful tools. Employers expect:

• Strong ethical standards
• Respect for privacy and data protection laws
• Careful documentation and chain-of-custody practices

How to Start a Career in Cybersecurity (Even Without Experience)

Breaking into cybersecurity is more achievable than many people realize. With the right mix of foundational knowledge, strategic role choices, and hands-on practice, you can build a strong pathway into the field, even if you’re starting from scratch. The steps below offer a practical roadmap for entering cybersecurity confidently and sustainably.

Step 1: Build IT fundamentals

A successful cybersecurity career starts with understanding how computers, networks, and operating systems actually work. Building this foundation helps you recognize vulnerabilities and understand the systems you’ll eventually be responsible for protecting.

• Computer hardware and operating systems
• Networking (at least to the level of Network+)
• Scripting fundamentals (Python or PowerShell)

You can develop these skills through self-study, online training, certifications, or a structured degree program.

Step 2: Consider feeder roles

Many cybersecurity professionals begin in closely related IT positions. These “feeder roles” give you real-world experience with systems, troubleshooting, and organizational workflows, skills that directly translate into security work.

• Help desk or desktop support
• Networking (network administrator, network engineer)
• Systems engineering (Windows or Linux admin)
• Software development
• Financial and risk analysis
• Security intelligence and operations roles

These jobs help you understand how technology operates day to day, making your transition into cybersecurity smoother and more effective.

Step 3: Target entry-level cybersecurity roles

Once you have the basics, you can start pursuing early-career security positions. These roles introduce you to monitoring, triage, and hands-on defense work while letting you learn from experienced analysts and engineers.

• Security / SOC Analyst
• Junior Penetration Tester
• IT Auditor (with a security focus)
• Junior Cloud or Network Security Engineer

Pairing your experience with one or two entry-level certifications, such as Security+, Network+, or a beginner cloud certification, helps demonstrate that you’re ready for these roles.

Step 4: Build a portfolio and practice environment

Employers love to see proof that you can apply skills in the real world. Creating a portfolio or lab environment shows initiative and gives you space to experiment, problem-solve, and document what you’ve learned.

• A home lab or virtual lab environment
• Participation in CTFs, hackathons, or security competitions
• Write-ups of vulnerabilities you’ve safely tested in legal practice environments
• Contributions to open-source security tools or documentation

These examples signal practical ability and distinguish you from other candidates with similar credentials.

Step 5: Specialize and level up

As you gain experience, the next step is to narrow your focus to an area that aligns with your interests and strengths. Specializing allows you to develop deeper expertise and move into more advanced, higher-impact roles.

• Focus on an area that interests you (cloud, appsec, DFIR, ethical hacking, GRC)
• Pursue mid-level certifications aligned to that path (e.g., CySA+, CISSP, CEH, CCSP)
• Seek projects that stretch your skills (incident response, architecture reviews, red-team assessments, compliance initiatives)

Specialization is where many professionals begin shaping long-term career trajectories, from technical leadership to niche security domains.

What Makes a Good Cybersecurity Professional?

Succeeding in cybersecurity requires more than technical skill; it demands curiosity, discipline, and the ability to translate complex problems into clear, actionable insights. The strongest professionals blend deep technical understanding with sound judgment, ethical awareness, and the communication skills needed to influence decisions across an organization. When these qualities come together, they form the foundation of a resilient and effective cybersecurity career.

• Master the essentials: networking, operating systems, scripting, security tools
• Communicates clearly: to executives, peers, and non-technical colleagues
• Thinks like both attacker and defender: understanding how systems can be misused and how to reinforce them
• Keeps learning: adopting new tools, frameworks, and threat intelligence
• Acts ethically: handling sensitive data and powerful access responsibly
• Connects security to business goals: making the case for investments in a way leaders understand

Formal education, such as National University’s bachelor’s and master’s programs in cybersecurity, can accelerate that journey by combining technical depth, hands-on labs, and soft-skill development, while flexible online formats help working professionals and career changers stay on track.

Considering Your Next Step

No matter your background or starting point, there is a clear path into cybersecurity. Whether you’re exploring your first career, transitioning from IT or military service, or looking to elevate your professional impact, the field offers opportunities at every level. With strong demand, diverse specializations, and flexible ways to gain skills, now is an ideal time to plan your next move in cybersecurity.

Your next step might be:

• Taking a foundational security course
• Enrolling in an online cybersecurity degree program
• Earning your first certification
• Building a small home lab
• Talking with an advisor about how your prior experience and education can transfer

Whichever path you choose, combining hard skills, soft skills, and real-world practice will help you thrive in a field where demand is high, the work is meaningful, and the learning never stops.