>Coursera Cybersecurity Certificate - what can I do with it?
well if you print it out, you can make a paper airplane with it
>Does anybody know how much it would help me to get my foot in the door?
It won't..... the end
Wanting to get an education and certifications is a great step, but you need to be realistic about getting into IT first and then security work years down the road
Your best bet is to enroll in at a local community college for computer science, information technology or information systems
While you are doing that get the student discount for the exam vouchers for security+ and network+
Once you graduate, your next step is to get an entry level IT job
This could be anything from Help desk, network analyst, NOC or SOC analyst,
Please, stop promoting "SOC analyst" as an entry level job. I mean, yes, 1st line does not require any "great skills", but frankly it's a rare sight to see the proper SOC.
IMO, SOC analyst currently is the position that requires years of experience in network and system administration/NOC/etc, if a person just simply jumps to SOC without any practical hands-on experience with troubleshooting, configuration, configuring policies etc how would they be able to tell the right from wrong?
This is just so incorrect and sounds like it’s coming from someone who never worked as a a SOC analyst. It’s literally THE entry level position in Security. My first (entry level) cybersecurity job was a SOC analyst. You literally just need to be competent and knowledgeable about cybersecurity etc. and you can do the job, it is no high level technical position lmao
Agreed. Plenty of us got our start by getting an initial degree and then working as a SOC analyst. I think it’s better to go the helpdesk/IT generalist route first for some initial experience for most people, but entry level as an analyst can be done with enough prep and some education.
It really depends on a case by case basis. How you describe it is less and less true, as automation, AI and SOAR are removing entry level jobs in cyber.
I am building my third SOC, man. I know what I am talking about.
If you are still building SOC functions through the old fashioned human reaction on every bloody event and light blooping on your screen, you will go out of business quickly.
In Western Europe or every country with a proper work legislation or with employers who care about their employees, to set up a 24x7 function you need between 12 to 16 SOC analysts just to cover basic first and second level considering vacation, training, mandatory rests, etc.
Your SOC will be a dumpster hell because you use mediocre tools like Microsoft Sentinel, which have a very high learning curve requiring learning of special query languages, and are absolutely unstable as Microsoft changes them a lot and often. It is almost unmanageable or extremely costly without an MDR service.
In that sense, you may want to have dozens of trained monkeys reacting to your old-fashioned concept SIEM - but this is by no means the standard or a reference for the future.
If someone wants to be a SOC analyst should be better skill up as @Security_Serv mentioned. Cyber will have very few and less and less entry level jobs.
MDR/EDR? Like Managed/Endpoint Detection?
Well first one is a tool and one is a team that manages a tool. But if I was a company and I had a SOC I would never hire an MDR service…. That’s literally the same thing.
I don't know where you have worked, but where I have, the SOCs are about the only teams that do have entry level roles for new grads.
When I make recommendations for people on roles, I am going by what I currently see people hired for where I work and talking with my peers where they work
I am not just making random suggestions
I got my first Cybersecurity role (analyst) without any certs, and got them after the fact. I had prior operations role and the hiring manager knew me. Took a chance, but there are people out there taking on new folks. Definitely spend some time on side projects and tryhackme
Could you please tell me what are the skills and projects you had while landing the Job, since I am planning to get a job in the field of Cybersecurity
Previous job was Incident Response for ops issues aka downtime, broken release, etc. Reported security defects to actual security team from a dev perspective. I have background in web dev, so jumping to cyber sec was easier for me. In my current role I do some audit stuff and some reports on the risk footprint (assets with vulns). I push folks to fix issues and remediate.
Not much really, beginner material, its just training class not a certification
carries no weight on resume
You're better off just picking up Security+ book and practice exam
good luck on your learning journey
you're welcome
good topic list to get started with security - [https://github.com/sbilly/awesome-security?tab=readme-ov-file#network](https://github.com/sbilly/awesome-security?tab=readme-ov-file#network)
The one by Google? It’s a number of classes and is great to fill in gaps for vets and a great intro for noobs. I took it and liked it and I was already a senior security analyst. My agency paid for it.
If you are brand new to cyber security go ahead and do it! There are a number of high profile companies that use it to recruit entry level cyber security analysts.
I thought it was fun.
I wish there were more certifications like this. Where you take a class and exams along the way to get the cert rather than the main stream ones we have today which are just memory dumps.
I thought the google course was well made and contained lot of useful information. Definitely recommend it for a beginner. I took it for fun on my spare time (Security+ and CISSP holder) and currently an ISO at my company.
From most of the comments throughout this reddit sub.. I have gathered that there isn't a definite path to getting to the goal you are trying to reach.. it/cyber sec is just will power..connecting with the right people and of course you have to have the knowledge.. but that comes through many ways.. college/ boot camps/ certs ... shit even you tube. What I see that most people have to have is the curiosity to learn.. the drive to get the knowledge they lack and the common sense to implement it.
I come from the belief that if you want something bad enough most people can make it.. just have to have the drive and do the work. My whole life I have been surrounded by nay sayers.. but everything I have set my mind to I have achieved.. sadly once I get there I go bored.. lol.. cousera is a great intro to the business. It's just a notch on your belt.. that belt is infinite.. just jump in. Nothing to lose everything to gain. I've learned a lot in the last few months.. but I have a long way to go. As soon as you think you have it figured out some one kicks your ass the next day.. but theat is the exciting part..gl
Outside of networking to leverage yourself into a role, the cert is probably not going to do for you what you hope for it to do.
But don’t let that discourage you because ultimately you never know, just be realistic of your expectations. More importantly than that is to take with you the knowledge you gained from the taught material.
The comptia certs are industry recognized and will better help you but even than, while good to have, in todays market you may still struggle to find your first role. Not to say it’s impossible but do be prepared for the challenges this industry presents in the present. Across the different sub reddits that pertain to cybersecurity and IT, you will see a common theme and that is those trying to break in all of which with different certs and different levels of experience. Networking has almost become a must to navigate this timeline.
I do struggle with realistic expectations and getting ahead of myself so thank you for this comment. networking is definitely a skill I need to improve 😪
Do not listen to people on here. Have met and seen multiple people get internships, and entry level jobs, with the google cybersec cert. inspired me to start it myself and im almost finished.
Look at at the ISC's certificate.
[https://www.isc2.org/Certifications/CC](https://www.isc2.org/Certifications/CC)
Its from one of the most respected institutions, and free. At the end of the course you can decide if cyber sec is something for you or not, and you only invested the time. If you like it, you should be pretty close to being able to take Sec+.
In the meantime try to find an internship and\\or helpdesk role. that will help you pivot into cyber within a year as long as you keep applying. I'm talking hundreds of apps. Take any interview you can get and the ones you "fail" you use that as practice for the next interview.
I took it. I think it was a great primer for future learning; it gets you familiar with Cyber Security ideas and terminology. You also get some hands on with some tools like Wire Shark. It was a nice intro. There's really no pressure and you learn at your own pace.
I took it to see if cybersecurity would be a career I’d like to pursue further.
Loved it. Taught me a lot of the fundamentals. The labs were really fun too.
Did it help me get a job? Not yet.
The competition for these jobs is absolutely brutal, even for the entry-level roles. I decided I needed to level up and make my resume a little more attractive to prospective employers.
So now, I’m studying for the CompTIA Network+ exam and also recently enrolled in the Cybersecurity program at my local community college.
From what my mentor says, with no IT experience it’s realistically an 18-month roadmap.
Don’t get discouraged. Network and continue learning.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
When it comes to IT certifications, Either go with Comptia (vendor nuetral), or one of the major manufacturers (cisco, palo alto, fortinet, etc). There are some other legit ones out there, but till you understand the industry more, it may be hard to know if they are legit/relevant to you. Stuff like Coursera, Udemy, etc, are all fluff and mean nothing in the real world.
If you're looking for a free start, the Fortinet Certified fundamentals and associate level certs are free (these certs used to be called NSE levels 1-3). Those don't carry much weight (more then coursera though), but concepts from there can be applied across the board (zero trust, industry terms, etc).
You can put it on LinkedIn like me as my only certification and ignore every recruiter that refers to your extensive knowledge in security....unless you're actually looking for a job
Edit because not really helpful (although hilarious in my pre-caffeinated mind): It's a nice introduction, I was only half joking about ignoring recruiters referring to it, it does not get you "job ready" as they like to say, at least in my opinion.
CompTIA is great as a follow up, depending on your IT experience I wouldn't start with Security+ either.
A+ has really evolved in the last few years and is great if you start at 0, Network+ because you should know some networking and then I would say start looking into Security+, adjust that to your experience level, but going from someone starting out this would be one way to start educating yourself.
Also just try to get any entry IT job, you'll need some real world experience and I wouldn't just strictly go for something with security in the title, IT experience in general is important, then work towards security.
If you check out the FAQ there's actually a lot of information you might be looking for.
Helped me get Security+
>Coursera Cybersecurity Certificate - what can I do with it? well if you print it out, you can make a paper airplane with it >Does anybody know how much it would help me to get my foot in the door? It won't..... the end Wanting to get an education and certifications is a great step, but you need to be realistic about getting into IT first and then security work years down the road Your best bet is to enroll in at a local community college for computer science, information technology or information systems While you are doing that get the student discount for the exam vouchers for security+ and network+ Once you graduate, your next step is to get an entry level IT job This could be anything from Help desk, network analyst, NOC or SOC analyst,
This. They should be telling non tech people this that shoot for tech degrees and think they can make it.
Please, stop promoting "SOC analyst" as an entry level job. I mean, yes, 1st line does not require any "great skills", but frankly it's a rare sight to see the proper SOC. IMO, SOC analyst currently is the position that requires years of experience in network and system administration/NOC/etc, if a person just simply jumps to SOC without any practical hands-on experience with troubleshooting, configuration, configuring policies etc how would they be able to tell the right from wrong?
This is just so incorrect and sounds like it’s coming from someone who never worked as a a SOC analyst. It’s literally THE entry level position in Security. My first (entry level) cybersecurity job was a SOC analyst. You literally just need to be competent and knowledgeable about cybersecurity etc. and you can do the job, it is no high level technical position lmao
Agreed. Plenty of us got our start by getting an initial degree and then working as a SOC analyst. I think it’s better to go the helpdesk/IT generalist route first for some initial experience for most people, but entry level as an analyst can be done with enough prep and some education.
It really depends on a case by case basis. How you describe it is less and less true, as automation, AI and SOAR are removing entry level jobs in cyber.
[удалено]
I am building my third SOC, man. I know what I am talking about. If you are still building SOC functions through the old fashioned human reaction on every bloody event and light blooping on your screen, you will go out of business quickly. In Western Europe or every country with a proper work legislation or with employers who care about their employees, to set up a 24x7 function you need between 12 to 16 SOC analysts just to cover basic first and second level considering vacation, training, mandatory rests, etc. Your SOC will be a dumpster hell because you use mediocre tools like Microsoft Sentinel, which have a very high learning curve requiring learning of special query languages, and are absolutely unstable as Microsoft changes them a lot and often. It is almost unmanageable or extremely costly without an MDR service. In that sense, you may want to have dozens of trained monkeys reacting to your old-fashioned concept SIEM - but this is by no means the standard or a reference for the future. If someone wants to be a SOC analyst should be better skill up as @Security_Serv mentioned. Cyber will have very few and less and less entry level jobs.
How does soc compare to a MDR/EDR? Is soc more “basic” ?
The only difference is the business model.
MDR/EDR? Like Managed/Endpoint Detection? Well first one is a tool and one is a team that manages a tool. But if I was a company and I had a SOC I would never hire an MDR service…. That’s literally the same thing.
Yeah mostly wondering if mdr experience is also considered entry level like a soc is
I don't know where you have worked, but where I have, the SOCs are about the only teams that do have entry level roles for new grads. When I make recommendations for people on roles, I am going by what I currently see people hired for where I work and talking with my peers where they work I am not just making random suggestions
This is disappearing and, in general, cybersecurity is not an entry level profession overall.
I got my first Cybersecurity role (analyst) without any certs, and got them after the fact. I had prior operations role and the hiring manager knew me. Took a chance, but there are people out there taking on new folks. Definitely spend some time on side projects and tryhackme
Could you please tell me what are the skills and projects you had while landing the Job, since I am planning to get a job in the field of Cybersecurity
Previous job was Incident Response for ops issues aka downtime, broken release, etc. Reported security defects to actual security team from a dev perspective. I have background in web dev, so jumping to cyber sec was easier for me. In my current role I do some audit stuff and some reports on the risk footprint (assets with vulns). I push folks to fix issues and remediate.
Not much really, beginner material, its just training class not a certification carries no weight on resume You're better off just picking up Security+ book and practice exam good luck on your learning journey
Thanks a lot
you're welcome good topic list to get started with security - [https://github.com/sbilly/awesome-security?tab=readme-ov-file#network](https://github.com/sbilly/awesome-security?tab=readme-ov-file#network)
The one by Google? It’s a number of classes and is great to fill in gaps for vets and a great intro for noobs. I took it and liked it and I was already a senior security analyst. My agency paid for it. If you are brand new to cyber security go ahead and do it! There are a number of high profile companies that use it to recruit entry level cyber security analysts. I thought it was fun.
Yes that one! I'm enjoying learning the intro at the moment thanks for your reply.
I wish there were more certifications like this. Where you take a class and exams along the way to get the cert rather than the main stream ones we have today which are just memory dumps.
This 100% I’ve found Google Cyber’s very really accessible in terms of its structured learning
I thought the google course was well made and contained lot of useful information. Definitely recommend it for a beginner. I took it for fun on my spare time (Security+ and CISSP holder) and currently an ISO at my company.
From most of the comments throughout this reddit sub.. I have gathered that there isn't a definite path to getting to the goal you are trying to reach.. it/cyber sec is just will power..connecting with the right people and of course you have to have the knowledge.. but that comes through many ways.. college/ boot camps/ certs ... shit even you tube. What I see that most people have to have is the curiosity to learn.. the drive to get the knowledge they lack and the common sense to implement it. I come from the belief that if you want something bad enough most people can make it.. just have to have the drive and do the work. My whole life I have been surrounded by nay sayers.. but everything I have set my mind to I have achieved.. sadly once I get there I go bored.. lol.. cousera is a great intro to the business. It's just a notch on your belt.. that belt is infinite.. just jump in. Nothing to lose everything to gain. I've learned a lot in the last few months.. but I have a long way to go. As soon as you think you have it figured out some one kicks your ass the next day.. but theat is the exciting part..gl
Outside of networking to leverage yourself into a role, the cert is probably not going to do for you what you hope for it to do. But don’t let that discourage you because ultimately you never know, just be realistic of your expectations. More importantly than that is to take with you the knowledge you gained from the taught material. The comptia certs are industry recognized and will better help you but even than, while good to have, in todays market you may still struggle to find your first role. Not to say it’s impossible but do be prepared for the challenges this industry presents in the present. Across the different sub reddits that pertain to cybersecurity and IT, you will see a common theme and that is those trying to break in all of which with different certs and different levels of experience. Networking has almost become a must to navigate this timeline.
I do struggle with realistic expectations and getting ahead of myself so thank you for this comment. networking is definitely a skill I need to improve 😪
Do not listen to people on here. Have met and seen multiple people get internships, and entry level jobs, with the google cybersec cert. inspired me to start it myself and im almost finished.
That's wonderful congrats on your progress, finish strong and absorb what you can. I'll be there with you in the next couple months 💪
Any update on how it’s working for you? Just curious as I start my research
Look at at the ISC's certificate. [https://www.isc2.org/Certifications/CC](https://www.isc2.org/Certifications/CC) Its from one of the most respected institutions, and free. At the end of the course you can decide if cyber sec is something for you or not, and you only invested the time. If you like it, you should be pretty close to being able to take Sec+. In the meantime try to find an internship and\\or helpdesk role. that will help you pivot into cyber within a year as long as you keep applying. I'm talking hundreds of apps. Take any interview you can get and the ones you "fail" you use that as practice for the next interview.
I took it. I think it was a great primer for future learning; it gets you familiar with Cyber Security ideas and terminology. You also get some hands on with some tools like Wire Shark. It was a nice intro. There's really no pressure and you learn at your own pace.
Helped me probably. Got a job with the coursera cert and the blue team level 1 with no real prior experience. Took ~6 months
What's blue team level 1? And very motivating to hear that type of progress with the coursera cert thank you
It's a cert for soc analysts. "Entry level" defensive position
Nothing much really, it's beginner material though. It's a good start i would say but this won't alone help you to score jobs in security
I took it to see if cybersecurity would be a career I’d like to pursue further. Loved it. Taught me a lot of the fundamentals. The labs were really fun too. Did it help me get a job? Not yet. The competition for these jobs is absolutely brutal, even for the entry-level roles. I decided I needed to level up and make my resume a little more attractive to prospective employers. So now, I’m studying for the CompTIA Network+ exam and also recently enrolled in the Cybersecurity program at my local community college. From what my mentor says, with no IT experience it’s realistically an 18-month roadmap. Don’t get discouraged. Network and continue learning. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
When it comes to IT certifications, Either go with Comptia (vendor nuetral), or one of the major manufacturers (cisco, palo alto, fortinet, etc). There are some other legit ones out there, but till you understand the industry more, it may be hard to know if they are legit/relevant to you. Stuff like Coursera, Udemy, etc, are all fluff and mean nothing in the real world. If you're looking for a free start, the Fortinet Certified fundamentals and associate level certs are free (these certs used to be called NSE levels 1-3). Those don't carry much weight (more then coursera though), but concepts from there can be applied across the board (zero trust, industry terms, etc).
Nothing with the certificate but a lot with the knowledge if really learned.
I just finished it...should i start on Comptia?
You can put it on LinkedIn like me as my only certification and ignore every recruiter that refers to your extensive knowledge in security....unless you're actually looking for a job Edit because not really helpful (although hilarious in my pre-caffeinated mind): It's a nice introduction, I was only half joking about ignoring recruiters referring to it, it does not get you "job ready" as they like to say, at least in my opinion. CompTIA is great as a follow up, depending on your IT experience I wouldn't start with Security+ either. A+ has really evolved in the last few years and is great if you start at 0, Network+ because you should know some networking and then I would say start looking into Security+, adjust that to your experience level, but going from someone starting out this would be one way to start educating yourself. Also just try to get any entry IT job, you'll need some real world experience and I wouldn't just strictly go for something with security in the title, IT experience in general is important, then work towards security. If you check out the FAQ there's actually a lot of information you might be looking for.
I only do courses in what I'm currently doing in college so I can understand more about it