White Belt: Basic Computer Skills

Basics of computer hardware and software: Spend a few weeks getting familiar with how computers work, both in terms of hardware and software. Free resources like Khan Academy’s Computer Science course can be a great starting point.

Time Investment: 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 2 weeks.

Operating Systems: Learn about both Windows and Linux operating systems. The Linux Journey website offers free lessons.

Time Investment: 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks.

White Belt Test:
Make a bootable USB drive and load the Windows operating system from scratch using only Google Search as a guide.

Make a bootable USB drive and load the Kali Linux operating system from scratch using only Google Search as a guide.

Blue Belt: Networking and Cybersecurity Fundamentals

Networking: Learn the basics of networking – IP addressing, routers and switches, TCP/IP model etc. Cisco’s Networking Academy provides a free Introduction to Networks course.

Time Investment: 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks.

Cybersecurity basics: Start learning about cybersecurity principles and practices with Cybrary’s free beginner courses.

Time Investment: 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks.

Blue Belt Test: Obtain the CompTIA A+ Certification: This will validate your understanding of IT infrastructure, networking and cybersecurity. Time Investment: 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks.

Purple Belt: Advanced Cybersecurity Skills and Coding

Obtain the CompTIA Network+ Certification: This certification will prove your networking skills, including troubleshooting, configuring, and managing networks.

Time Investment: 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks.

Brown Belt: Coding Basics

Learn PowerShell and Python, which are widely used in cybersecurity. Websites like YouTube, Codecademy, SoloLearn offer free courses.

Time Investment: 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks.

Black Belt: CompTIA Security+ Certification

This certification will validate your baseline skills to perform core security functions. This is the minimum certification necessary to obtain an entry level position in the field of Cybersecurity. However, you must have mastered the prior belts first otherwise this exam will make little sense for you.

Time Investment: 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks.

You should begin to practice cybersecurity with gamified sites like TryHackMe to apply what you’ve learned.

At this stage you can build your own lab environment, building computers or virtual machines to “hack” so that you can learn how to defend against the hacks. Like a person playing chess against themselves.

Time Investment: 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week for ongoing practice.

Master Cycle: Networking and Job Hunting

You are now ready to practice some reflex development and start rubbing elbows. Follow people on LinkedIN and Twitter. Join Cybersecurity Groups. Join online forums and communities such as Information Security Stack Exchange, CyberSec Forum, and subreddits like r/cybersecurity and r/netsec. Learn the lingo and language, ask for advice, and never quit.

After you have landed your first job in cybersecurity, your journey has JUST BEGUN. After your first year, you can choose a specialization and focus to earn your first stripe.

Black Belt Stripe 1: Specialization and Hands-on Experience

Specialization: Choose an area in cybersecurity to specialize in (for example, ethical hacking, forensics, audits). Cybrary, Udemy, and YouTube have free and paid courses.

Time Investment: 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 6-8 weeks.

Continuous Learning

Cybersecurity is like Jiu Jitzu in many ways. First, your enemy is always advancing their skills, so you must not become complacent. You will become a life-long student of the craft. People will pay you good money to keep their systems safe. Second, if you do not practice often, you will forget your skills. Don’t start this unless you can finish it.

Count the Costs

If you add up all the time from each belt, you are looking at a year of studying and learning before you would be ready to apply to your first entry level position in cybersecurity. The best things in life are never easy. If you are passionate about this field, the rewards will be tremendous.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?” – Luke 14:28-31