Cybersecurity Roadmaps

This is a general roadmap for learning about cybersecurity. It covers a wide range of topics, from foundational concepts to advanced techniques.

Foundational Topics of Study

• Networking protocols

  • OSI and TCP/IP Model

  • IP addressing and subnetting

  • Basics of switching and routing

  • Networking protocols

• Operating Systems and Security

  • Windows Security policies and features

  • Linux security mechanisms

  • Permissions (User, group, etc.)

  • Secure boot and File Integrity monitoring

  • Host-based Firewalls

  • Antivirus and endpoint security

• Cryptography and Encryption

  • Symmetric Encryption

  • Asymmetric Encryption

  • Hash functions/algorithms

  • Digital signatures, Certificates and Public Key Infrastructure

• Cyber Threats and Attacks

  • Malware Types (Ransomware, Trojans, Worms, Viruses)

  • Social Engineering Attacks (Phishing, smishing, etc.)

  • Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed DoS

Intermediate Topics of Study

• Network Security

  • Firewalls, configuration and management

  • Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

  • Network Access Control (NAC)

  • Web Application Security

    • OWASP Top 10, CWE/SANS Top 25

    • Input validation and encoding

    • Secure Session Management

• System Hardening and Best Practices

  • Server Hardening Techniques

  • Patch Management

  • Configuration Management

  • Principle of least privilege (PoLP)

• Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR)

  • Incident Handling and Response processes

  • Evidence Collection and Preservation

  • Chain of Custody and other Legal considerations

  • Forensic Tools and Techniques

Specialized Topics of Study

• Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing

  • Methodologies (OSSTMM, PTES)

  • Recon and Footprinting

  • Exploitation Techniques

  • Reporting

• Cloud Security

  • Security challenges of cloud computing

  • How to protect cloud-based data and applications

  • Cloud security best practices

• DevSecOps

  • Relatively new field that focuses on integrating security into the software development lifecycle

  • Helps to ensure that security is built into software from the start, rather than being an afterthought

• Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Cybersecurity

  • Cutting-edge field that is rapidly changing the way that cybersecurity is conducted

  • Helps to stay ahead of the curve and protect organizations from the latest threats

• Security Leadership

  • If you aspire to a leadership role in cybersecurity, it is important to develop your skills in security leadership

  • Includes topics such as strategic planning for cybersecurity, managing security teams, communicating security risks to management and stakeholders, building a security culture within an organization

• Security Awareness and Training

  • This is important for all employees, regardless of their role in the organization. Security awareness training can help employees to understand the risks of cyberattacks and to take steps to protect themselves and their organization.

• Security Compliance

  • Many organizations are required to comply with specific security regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). By understanding the security regulations that apply to your organization, you can help to ensure compliance and protect your organization from legal liability.

• Security Research

  • This is a great way to stay ahead of the curve and learn about the latest threats and trends in cybersecurity. There are many different security research organizations and conferences that you can follow to learn about the latest research.

• Security Career Development

  • As you progress in your cybersecurity career, it is important to continue to develop your skills and knowledge. There are many different ways to do this, such as taking courses, attending conferences, and getting certified.

• Incident Response and Forensics

  • This is a critical topic for any cybersecurity professional. Incident response is the process of responding to and recovering from a cyberattack. Forensics is the process of collecting and analyzing evidence from a cyberattack.

• Software Security

  • This is a growing field as more and more organizations move their applications to the cloud. Software security is the practice of designing, developing, and deploying software in a way that minimizes the risk of cyberattacks.

• Threat Modeling

  • This is a process of identifying and assessing the threats to an organization's systems and data. Threat modeling can help organizations to prioritize their security efforts and to develop effective security controls.