Tips to Starting Your Future in Cybersecurity

Article written by: Lakkshanasre Viyasarramanujam

Article designed by: Lakkshanasre Viyasarramanujam & Palak Tiwari

The cybersecurity field is a growing field and in demand for cybersecurity professionals in various sectors. Every company, large or small, demands an online presence to reach people, and every online presence needs to have basic cybersecurity operations to keep it safe from any emerging cyberthreats. While the traditional job of computer science or IT demands attention all the time, cybersecurity is needed more than ever, and if you are considering cybersecurity as a future potential, then this article is for you!

What Can You Do as a High Schooler to Prepare Yourself?

If you are serious about studying cybersecurity, a great way to get started on building your fundamentals for this pathway is to take strong courses in math, technology, or computer sciences classes if available at your school. Cybersecurity often demands logical thinking, technical understanding, and problem-solving, starting with your core classes, which are addressed by taking these courses. 

However, it is equally important to get real hands-on experience outside of school as well. Participating in organizations like CyberPatriot is a great start. It's the premier competition that puts you right into the shoes of a defender. Consider joining another career oriented organization that focuses on management, or technology like in FBLA, DECA, or Girls Who Code, especially if they have events related to networking, coding, or cybersecurity. 

Possible Career Pathways

In college or much further into your future, there may be a wide variety of cybersecurity positions you want to explore. According to a Harvard study and research, there are six core cybersecurity career paths based on different specializations. Security Operations (SOC/Incident Response) involves the day-to-day defense, monitoring networks and quickly fixing attacks when they occur. Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing is an offensive role where professionals legally hack systems to find and report vulnerabilities. The less-technical path of Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) focuses on creating security policies, managing risk, and ensuring the organization complies with industry frameworks. DevSecOps integrates security directly into the software development process to prevent vulnerabilities from being built in.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) professionals manage and control who has authorized access to the organization’s systems and data. Finally, Network and Cloud

Security involves designing and maintaining secure architectures to protect data and infrastructure across local and cloud environments.

Yet, these are not limited, and these only take you to the core roles of cybersecurity. If you look so much more beyond this, there are many other pathways to combine with these intersections! 

Conclusion

The world of cybersecurity is vast, dynamic, and urgently needs passionate talent. Now that you've explored the diverse roles—from the defensive front lines of Incident Response to the strategic planning of GRC and the proactive offense of Ethical Hacking. Use this guide to identify the area that ignites your curiosity, gain the foundational knowledge, and remember that in this field, continuous learning and flexibility are your greatest assets for a long and successful career.

Works Cited 

Cockrille, Micki. “Three Cybersecurity Pathways for High School Students.” National Cybersecurity Center, 7 May 2021, cyber-center.org/three-cybersecurity-pathways-for-high-school-students/.

lparsons. “How to Get into Cybersecurity: Benefits, Tips, & More | Harvard Extension School.” Harvard Extension School, Nov. 2023, extension.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-get-into-cybersecurity/#Prerequisites-and-Transferable-Skills. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

Patterson, Nicholas . “What Is Cyber Security and Why Is It Important?” Www.snhu.edu, 30 Oct. 2024, www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/stem/what-is-cyber-security.