Navigating the Cybersecurity Career Path: Insider Advice for Navigating from Your First Gig to the C-Suite

Description

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. Cover Title Page Copyright Page Contents at a Glance Contents Foreword: Navigating the Cybersecurity Career Path Introduction Part I Arriving in Security Chapter 1 How Do You Become a Security Professional? Create Your Story So, You Want to Work in Security What’s Next? Chapter 2 Why Security? What Kind of People Do Security? What Is Your Why? What’s Next? Chapter 3 Where Can I Begin? What Does It Mean to Be a Security Professional? How Can You Make Sense of It All? What’s Next? Chapter 4 What Training Should I Take? For the Traditional Student For the Nontraditional Student For the Full-Time Nonsecurity Worker Other Things to Consider What’s Next? Chapter 5 What Skills Should I Have? The Entry Point — Technology Professional Skills What’s Next? Chapter 6 Is My Résumé Okay? Linking the Résumé to the Job Posting Elements of a Résumé Digital Presence References Cover Letters What’s Next? Chapter 7 Trying with Little Success? Physical Location Your Company Get Specific Know Your Market Assess Your Efforts So Far But I’m Doing All Those Things! What’s Next? Part II Thriving in Security Chapter 8 How Do I Keep Up? Fitting It Into Your Schedule Ad Hoc and Planned Learning Take a Mini-Sabbatical Where Do I Find the Information? What’s Next? Chapter 9 How Can I Manage Security Stress? The Stress of Working in Security Managing Security Stress What’s Next? Chapter 10 How Can I Succeed as a Minority? Making Security Work for You What’s Next? Chapter 11 How Can I Progress? The Security Journey The Opportunist The Intentional Career Seeker How to Get Promoted What’s Next? Chapter 12 Should I Manage People? Leadership and Management Preparing for Your Next Role What’s Next? Chapter 13 How Can I Deal with Impostor Syndrome? Fact-Check Your Inner Monologue Know Competence and Incompetence Know When to Ask for Help Keep Learning and Know When Enough Is Enough Keep Track of Your Successes What’s Next? Chapter 14 How Can I Know If It’s Time to Move On? Are You Happy Where You Are? Have You Done All You Wanted to Do? Have You Learned All You Wanted? What Are Your Long-Term Goals? Are You Being Pigeonholed? Do You Fit Into the Culture? Job Hopping Are the Other Options Better than Your Current Job? What’s Next? Part III Leading Security Chapter 15 Where Do I Start? What’s on Fire? What Is Your Timeline to Act? Who Are Your Partners? Find the Strengths and Note the Weaknesses Draw the Business Risk Picture Do You Have a Mandate? What’s Next? Chapter 16 How Do I Manage Security Strategically? Consider Your Industry Know Your Business Priorities Be Pragmatic Address Stakeholder Pain Points Threats and Vulnerabilities Rinse and Repeat Putting It Together What’s Next? Chapter 17 How Do I Build a Team? It Is About the How Things to Consider Identify Important Things Identify Areas of Weakness Discontinuing a Function Building New Functions What’s Next? Chapter 18 How Do I Write a Job Posting? The Challenge of Job Postings What’s Next? Chapter 19 How Do I Encourage Diversity? Start with Numbers Understand Your Cultural Issues Attracting Diverse Talent Writing the Job Description and Posting The Interviewing Process Retaining Diverse Talent Promotions and Career Development Leaving the Team What’s Next? Chapter 20 How Do I Manage Up? Who Are Senior Stakeholders? Help Them Understand Security When Things Go Wrong What’s Next? Chapter 21 How Do I Fund My Program? Funding a Team Funding a Program The Big Ask What’s Next? Chapter 22 How Do I Talk About My Security Program? What Story Should I Tell? Telling Stories What’s Next? Chapter 23 What Is My Legacy? Making an Impact on the Industry Making an Impact on Your Company What’s Next? Epilogue Appendix: Resources Books Networking Organizations and Conferences Certification Organizations Podcasts Other Resources About the Author Acknowledgments Index EULA