Should I Study Computer Science or Networking To Get Into The Cyber Security Field?

[Jimmy Two-Times™]

Like the title says; which is my best route of study to get into cyber security?

I will be most likely going back to university (via distance learning because it's way cheaper) this fall and was wondering what my best route is?

Also, if you could lay out the most useful certs that employers want for cyber security jobs I'd be very much grateful.

!!!





Edit:

I just found this IT certification roadmap which will help you to know what is expected. I can't believe I haven't seen this before it would of saved me a lot of headache.

 

[Sonny Bonds]

Go computer science

 

[MMA]

Computer Science obviously, start off in a Security Analyst internship (which I did) or Information Security then begin to get your security certifications

If anyone has their oscp hit me up with some experience (I check), need more guys involved

 

[Jimmy Two-Times™]

Computer Science obviously, start off in a Security Analyst internship (which I did) or Information Security then begin to get your security certifications

If anyone has their oscp hit me up with some experience (I check), need more guys involved

Thanks man, and that OSCP cert pays anywhere on average from £60k-£90k a year in the UK ($79k-$120k USD)

How hard is that to obtain and is it worth it?

I'm willing to put in the time but if there are easier certs to gain that pay just as well that would be appreciated if you know any combination of them.

I'm in the transition of turning my career around 360 as my current occupation isn't fulfilling.



Breh you sound like you're in the loop so are there any other things pertaining to this that you can give me for encouragement or to pass Computer Science? I sure as much need it, man.

 

[MMA]

Thanks man, and that OSCP cert pays anywhere on average from £60k-£90k a year in the UK ($79k-$120k USD)

How hard is that to obtain and is it worth it?

I'm willing to put in the time but if there are easier certs to gain that pay just as well that would be appreciated if you know any combination of them.

I'm in the transition of turning my career around 360 as my current occupation isn't fulfilling.



Breh you sound like you're in the loop so are there any other things pertaining to this that you can give me for encouragement or to pass Computer Science? I sure as much need it, man.

OSCP is hard, 3 hours a day for a few months

I suggest you get your SEC+ first then CEH and CISSP then OSCP

Once you have a good grasp start an internship, no one hiring someone off the rip in security without some good connection or school background

 

[Jimmy Two-Times™]

OSCP is hard, 3 hours a day for a few months

I suggest you get your SEC+ first then CEH and CISSP then OSCP

Once you have a good grasp start an internship, no one hiring someone off the rip in security without some good connection or school background

I can do the study time no problem, I'll just need to find what I'll likely enjoy in it first so that I can make the time "pass" quicker.


If you don't mind me asking:

1. How many years have you been in this career?
2. You said what you started off as an intern doing but what was your career trajectory? In that I mean what other jobs have you done since then until now in your current job?
3. Where do you see your career going in the near future or are you satisfied?

Thanks again 4 the tips, you've pointed me in the right direction even more so.

 

[MMA]

I can do the study time no problem, I'll just need to find what I'll likely enjoy in it first so that I can make the time "pass" quicker.


If you don't mind me asking:

1. How many years have you been in this career?
2. You said what you started off as an intern doing but what was your career trajectory? In that I mean what other jobs have you done since then until now in your current job?
3. Where do you see your career going in the near future or are you satisfied?

Thanks again 4 the tips, you've pointed me in the right direction even more so.

That's alot of questions
Just go into any cybersecurity websites, ethical hacking forum. They'll give you all the information you want. Searching reddit security or perspective certs for educational programs is a great way to begin
I've been doing this roughly 7 years professional (1 year interning,6 years of work), 1 year prior teaching myself
I like the idea of security so I chose it, learned how to programmed, learned networking learned ethical hacking, penetration testing on my own before going to school for it. Later on Cryptographic, binary exploitation, web exploitation, reverse engineering. You'll want to know Linux, Windows, all/majority of programming languages, Bash for scripting, networks, cisco
Currently a pen expert and machine learning, myself, I hope to venture off into blockchain security later this year

Be patience, you need to know your shyt if you are directly working for a security company. A school background massively helps

Your end goal is getting hired, your best bet is to look at any job listed online in a field which you want and see what they want you to know, then go out and master exactly those categories.

 

[kuts]

You'll end up doing both. Comp Sci is like the base for everything. Then you'll begin to specialize in Networking in order to then get to Security.

Think of these three things as a skill tree in an RPG, with Comp Sci as the base tier, Networking as the advanced tier, and Security as the expert tier. You have to gain skills in the first two before getting access to the expert tier.

 

[slikkp]

Cyber security is HUGE. You gotta figure out exactly what you want to do. You can go into pen testing, security engineering (acls n firewalls) or policy.

I'm a network engineer and do security stuff as well like Tenable scans, Forescout NAC compliance and NetScout log analysis.

Get your degree in some general shyt so if you start working in the field and dont like it you can move around easier. I have my BSEE and worked 3 years as a test engineer before getting my CCNA and starting in networking.

 

[Jimmy Two-Times™]

Cyber security is HUGE. You gotta figure out exactly what you want to do. You can go into pen testing, security engineering (acls n firewalls) or policy.

I'm a network engineer and do security stuff as well like Tenable scans, Forescout NAC compliance and NetScout log analysis.

Get your degree in some general shyt so if you start working in the field and dont like it you can move around easier. I have my BSEE and worked 3 years as a test engineer before getting my CCNA and starting in networking.

I'm still doing research now.

I haven't even made my mind up where I wanted to go but penetration testing was what attracted me in the first place but I can be swayed if something more appealing shows itself to me.

I'm in no rush but I do have until this fall so another 3-4 months to make my mind up for career aspirations.

I already have my entry level CCNA cert but I haven't practiced in years and dropped out of university because I was young and partly because I was pushed too early into further education by my family before I even knew what avenue I wanted to take from it so I got overwhelmed and dropped out. It was the worst and best decision I ever made because I would of been unhappy and clueless whereas now I have a clearer goal in mind than before and the tools along with the maturity to feel like I will do this.





For all of your comments I am appreciative.

 

[Mirin4rmfar]

Go computer science route.

 

[MF_BREW]

Go with cyber-security I got a feeling its going to be in high demand.

 

[StretfordRed]

As someone who has a BSc in CompSci, MSc in InfoSec, few GIAC certs and about 6 years in the info sec realm (longer in IT) it makes sense doing a computer science degree

You need to learn the basics of computing before you learn a subset of computer science. If you get to learn assembly and programming in your computer science class, it’ll broaden your chances in venturing into info security

Also OSCP is not an entry cert and it is a practical. You need to know python/bash, assembly, general networking and be comfortable and proficient at the command line. Also as an entry pen tester you probably won’t get more than 30-40k (trust me I know). Experience is what will get your to that pay level

Start with CEH or another multiple choice pentesting cert or just get Kali Linux and start with learning from books. Challenge HackTheBox or OverTheWire, etc

Learn tools like Wireshark, take the free Metasploit course. There’s a lot you can do

 

[MMA]

As someone who has a BSc in CompSci, MSc in InfoSec, few GIAC certs and about 6 years in the info sec realm (longer in IT) it makes sense doing a computer science degree

You need to learn the basics of computing before you learn a subset of computer science. If you get to learn assembly and programming in your computer science class, it’ll broaden your chances in venturing into info security

Also OSCP is not an entry cert and it is a practical. You need to know python/bash, assembly, general networking and be comfortable and proficient at the command line. Also as an entry pen tester you probably won’t get more than 30-40k (trust me I know). Experience is what will get your to that pay level

Start with CEH or another multiple choice pentesting cert or just get Kali Linux and start with learning from books. Challenge HackTheBox or OverTheWire, etc

Learn tools like Wireshark, take the free Metasploit course. There’s a lot you can do

Agree on everything but that salary, any pen tester accepting 15-20 dollars is a idiot

 

[StretfordRed]

Agree on everything but that salary, any pen tester accepting 15-20 dollars is a idiot

£!