Navigating the Cybersecurity Career Path

Land the perfect cybersecurity role—and move up the ladder—with this insightful resource Finding the right position in cybersecurity is challenging. Being successful in the profession takes a lot of work. And becoming a cybersecurity leader responsible for a security team is even more difficult. In Navigating the Cybersecurity Career Path, decorated Chief Information Security Officer Helen Patton delivers a practical and insightful discussion designed to assist aspiring cybersecurity professionals entering the industry and help those already in the industry advance their careers and lead their first security teams. In this book, readers will find: Explanations of why and how the cybersecurity industry is unique and how to use this knowledge to succeed Discussions of how to progress from an entry-level position in the industry to a position leading security teams and programs Advice for every stage of the cybersecurity career arc Instructions on how to move from single contributor to team leader, and how to build a security program from scratch Guidance on how to apply the insights included in this book to the reader's own situation and where to look for personalized help A unique perspective based on the personal experiences of a cybersecurity leader with an extensive security background Perfect for aspiring and practicing cybersecurity professionals at any level of their career, Navigating the Cybersecurity Career Path is an essential, one-stop resource that includes everything readers need to know about thriving in the cybersecurity industry.

Table of Contents:
Foreword: Navigating the Cybersecurity Career Path xv Introduction xvii Part I Arriving in Security 1 Chapter 1 How Do You Become a Security Professional? 3 Create Your Story 8 So, You Want to Work in Security 13 What’s Next? 16 Chapter 2 Why Security? 19 What Kind of People Do Security? 21 What Is Your Why? 24 What’s Next? 28 Chapter 3 Where Can I Begin? 29 What Does It Mean to Be a Security Professional? 32 How Can You Make Sense of It All? 35 What’s Next? 39 Chapter 4 What Training Should I Take? 41 For the Traditional Student 43 For the Nontraditional Student 44 For the Full- Time Nonsecurity Worker 45 Other Things to Consider 46 What’s Next? 51 Chapter 5 What Skills Should I Have? 53 The Entry Point — Technology 55 Professional Skills 59 What’s Next? 66 Chapter 6 Is My Résumé Okay? 67 Linking the Résumé to the Job Posting 70 Elements of a Résumé 71 Digital Presence 77 References 78 Cover Letters 79 What’s Next? 80 Chapter 7 Trying with Little Success? 81 Physical Location 85 Your Company 85 Get Specific 86 Know Your Market 88 Assess Your Efforts So Far 89 But I’m Doing All Those Things! 91 What’s Next? 92 Part II Thriving in Security 93 Chapter 8 How Do I Keep Up? 97 Fitting It Into Your Schedule 99 Ad Hoc and Planned Learning 102 Take a Mini- Sabbatical 103 Where Do I Find the Information? 103 What’s Next? 105 Chapter 9 How Can I Manage Security Stress? 107 The Stress of Working in Security 109 Managing Security Stress 113 What’s Next? 118 Chapter 10 How Can I Succeed as a Minority? 119 Making Security Work for You 124 What’s Next? 128 Chapter 11 How Can I Progress? 129 The Security Journey 131 The Opportunist 132 The Intentional Career Seeker 136 How to Get Promoted 139 What’s Next? 141 Chapter 12 Should I Manage People? 143 Leadership and Management 145 Preparing for Your Next Role 150 What’s Next? 152 Chapter 13 How Can I Deal with Impostor Syndrome? 153 Fact- Check Your Inner Monologue 157 Know Competence and Incompetence 158 Know When to Ask for Help 159 Keep Learning and Know When Enough Is Enough 160 Keep Track of Your Successes 161 What’s Next? 162 Chapter 14 How Can I Know If It’s Time to Move On? 163 Are You Happy Where You Are? 165 Have You Done All You Wanted to Do? 166 Have You Learned All You Wanted? 167 What Are Your Long- Term Goals? 168 Are You Being Pigeon holed? 169 Do You Fit Into the Culture? 170 Job Hopping 171 Are the Other Options Better than Your Current Job? 172 What’s Next? 173 Part III Leading Security 175 Chapter 15 Where Do I Start? 179 What’s on Fire? 180 What Is Your Timeline to Act? 181 Who Are Your Partners? 182 Find the Strengths and Note the Weaknesses 183 Draw the Business Risk Picture 184 Do You Have a Mandate? 185 What’s Next? 186 Chapter 16 How Do I Manage Security Strategically? 187 Consider Your Industry 190 Know Your Business Priorities 191 Be Pragmatic 193 Address Stakeholder Pain Points 194 Threats and Vulnerabilities 195 Rinse and Repeat 197 Putting It Together 198 What’s Next? 200 Chapter 17 How Do I Build a Team? 201 It Is About the How 203 Things to Consider 207 Identify Important Things 209 Identify Areas of Weakness 211 Discontinuing a Function 212 Building New Functions 213 What’s Next? 215 Chapter 18 How Do I Write a Job Posting? 217 The Challenge of Job Postings 220 What’s Next? 225 Chapter 19 How Do I Encourage Diversity? 227 Start with Numbers 229 Understand Your Cultural Issues 230 Attracting Diverse Talent 232 Writing the Job Description and Posting 234 The Interviewing Process 235 Retaining Diverse Talent 236 Promotions and Career Development 237 Leaving the Team 239 What’s Next? 239 Chapter 20 How Do I Manage Up? 241 Who Are Senior Stakeholders? 242 Help Them Understand Security 246 When Things Go Wrong 250 What’s Next? 251 Chapter 21 How Do I Fund My Program? 253 Funding a Team 255 Funding a Program 256 The Big Ask 260 What’s Next? 261 Chapter 22 How Do I Talk About My Security Program? 263 What Story Should I Tell? 264 Telling Stories 271 What’s Next? 273 Chapter 23 What Is My Legacy? 275 Making an Impact on the Industry 277 Making an Impact on Your Company 281 What’s Next? 283 Epilogue 285 Appendix: Resources 287 About the Author 291 Acknowledgments 293 Index 295