3 answers
SANJAY
Student
Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, India
5
Questions
Updated
537 views
Job about cys?
Hey Professionals?
I want to start my carrier in cybersecurity, recently I completed my "Introduction to cybersecurity" by cisco.
After this ,
what did I want to do as a next step?
what are the area I want to know and mastering it?
what are the certificates I want to gain?
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3 answers
Siva Kann
VP of Products & Technology
64
Answers
Cincinnati, Ohio
Updated
Siva’s Answer
Hello Sanjay,
Cybersecurity is a very broad field, so the first step is figuring out what type of work within cybersecurity actually interests you.
Since you mentioned you completed Cisco’s Introduction to Cybersecurity, that’s a good starting point. But before jumping into certifications, it’s important to understand your strengths and interests.
For example, ask yourself:
* Do you enjoy coding and building tools?
You might lean toward application security, security engineering, or malware analysis.
* Do you like investigating incidents and monitoring systems?
Then SOC (Security Operations Center) or incident response could be a good path.
* Do you enjoy breaking systems and finding vulnerabilities?
That aligns more with penetration testing or ethical hacking.
* Are you more interested in policy, regulations, and audits?
Then cybersecurity compliance, governance, risk, and audit (GRC) may be a better fit.
Cybersecurity includes many areas, such as:
- SOC / Blue Team
- Penetration Testing / Red Team
- Application Security
- Cloud Security
- Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
- Digital Forensics
- Security Engineering
Instead of trying to learn everything, explore a few areas first and see what excites you most. Your interests and strengths should guide your direction. Once you have a clearer direction, then you can decide on the skills and certifications that make sense for that path.
Once you figure out the path you might be able to ask the right questions to get you to the next step!
Wish you the best.
Cybersecurity is a very broad field, so the first step is figuring out what type of work within cybersecurity actually interests you.
Since you mentioned you completed Cisco’s Introduction to Cybersecurity, that’s a good starting point. But before jumping into certifications, it’s important to understand your strengths and interests.
For example, ask yourself:
* Do you enjoy coding and building tools?
You might lean toward application security, security engineering, or malware analysis.
* Do you like investigating incidents and monitoring systems?
Then SOC (Security Operations Center) or incident response could be a good path.
* Do you enjoy breaking systems and finding vulnerabilities?
That aligns more with penetration testing or ethical hacking.
* Are you more interested in policy, regulations, and audits?
Then cybersecurity compliance, governance, risk, and audit (GRC) may be a better fit.
Cybersecurity includes many areas, such as:
- SOC / Blue Team
- Penetration Testing / Red Team
- Application Security
- Cloud Security
- Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
- Digital Forensics
- Security Engineering
Instead of trying to learn everything, explore a few areas first and see what excites you most. Your interests and strengths should guide your direction. Once you have a clearer direction, then you can decide on the skills and certifications that make sense for that path.
Once you figure out the path you might be able to ask the right questions to get you to the next step!
Wish you the best.
Nani Harish Ajjan
Data Analyst
1
Answer
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Nani’s Answer
Starting with Cisco is a great move! After finishing the Introduction to Cybersecurity course, focus on strengthening your basics in networking, Linux, and security tools. Explore areas like ethical hacking, network security, SOC, and cloud security. Practice with labs and real projects to gain experience. Consider training programs like Skillogic for hands-on learning. Aim for certifications like CEH, CompTIA Security+, and CHFI to advance your career.
David Allen
Consultant
124
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
David’s Answer
After completing the Cisco Introduction to Cybersecurity course, your next step is to build a strong technical foundation by mastering Computer Networking (TCP/IP, subnets, and ports) and Operating Systems (Windows and Linux). You should aim to bridge the gap between theory and practice by setting up a Home Lab using virtual machines or joining platforms like TryHackMe and Hack The Box to participate in Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges. These areas are critical because you cannot secure a network or system without first understanding how it functions and communicates in a real-world environment.
To make your resume job-ready for 2026, the most recommended certification to pursue next is CompTIA Security+, which is considered the industry standard for entry-level roles and satisfies many government and corporate hiring requirements. If you want to specialize further, consider the CompTIA CySA+ for defensive roles like a SOC Analyst or the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) if you are interested in offensive security. Gaining these credentials will qualify you for entry-level "feeder" roles such as Help Desk Technician or Junior Cybersecurity Analyst, which provide the essential professional experience needed to advance into specialized engineering or leadership positions.
To make your resume job-ready for 2026, the most recommended certification to pursue next is CompTIA Security+, which is considered the industry standard for entry-level roles and satisfies many government and corporate hiring requirements. If you want to specialize further, consider the CompTIA CySA+ for defensive roles like a SOC Analyst or the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) if you are interested in offensive security. Gaining these credentials will qualify you for entry-level "feeder" roles such as Help Desk Technician or Junior Cybersecurity Analyst, which provide the essential professional experience needed to advance into specialized engineering or leadership positions.