Breaking Into Cybersecurity: The Complete Guide to Career Pathways and Entry Points

4.8 million cybersecurity positions remain unfilled globally (ISC2 2024), yet entry-level candidates struggle to break in. The paradox? Organizations are reluctant to invest in training junior professionals, creating a catch-22 where experience is required for jobs that should provide experience. If you're trying to enter this field, you need a strategic approach beyond just certifications.

The Entry-Level Paradox

While there's a 29% projected growth in information security analyst jobs through 2034 (Bureau of Labor Statistics), entry-level positions actually have a 10% worker surplus relative to employer demand (Lightcast 2024). The shortage is most pronounced among experienced professionals.

This means the pathway into cybersecurity isn't direct it's strategic. The most successful entrants use adjacent roles as stepping stones, building foundational skills while positioning themselves for security-specific positions.

The Full Spectrum: Understanding All Cybersecurity Disciplines

Cybersecurity isn't a single discipline, it's an ecosystem of interconnected specializations. Some are deeply technical; others require minimal coding. Understanding the full landscape helps you find where your skills fit best.

Having worked across the cybersecurity vendor ecosystem for over two decades, I've seen firsthand that the strongest security programs aren't built by technical teams alone, they're built by diverse disciplines working together.

Example Technical Tracks

Non-Technical & Hybrid Tracks

These roles require minimal or no coding, making them accessible entry points for career changers from legal, HR, communications, education, or business backgrounds.

The Vendor Ecosystem: Business Roles at Cybersecurity Companies

Career guides often miss this: the cybersecurity industry isn't just practitioners, it's a massive ecosystem of vendors, solution providers, MSSPs, and consultancies that need every business function staffed by people who understand security. The global cybersecurity market is projected to reach $679 billion in 2024 and exceed $1 trillion by 2027 (Gartner), creating thousands of roles that combine business expertise with security domain knowledge.

If you're in sales, marketing, HR, documentation, customer success, or product management, there's a cybersecurity career path that leverages your existing skills.

Why consider vendor-side roles?

• Accelerated learning: You gain exposure to diverse customer environments and security challenges
• Industry expertise: Deep product knowledge transfers to consulting or enterprise security roles
• Clear progression: Vendor organizations often have structured career paths from individual contributor to leadership
• Networking advantage: Regular interaction with CISOs, security teams, and industry analysts builds valuable connections

Entry pathways into vendor roles:

• From general business roles: Marketing, sales, HR, and finance professionals can transition by gaining Security+ or similar foundational certifications and demonstrating passion for the space. Many cybersecurity vendors explicitly state that prior security experience isn't required, just demonstrated interest and relevant transferable skills.
• From practitioner roles: Security analysts and engineers often move vendor-side into pre-sales, product management, or customer success after 3-5 years of enterprise experience.
• The "translator" advantage: The ability to explain complex security concepts to non-technical audiences is highly valued across all vendor business functions. If you can bridge technical and business communication, you have a competitive edge.

Deep Dive: Non-Technical Career Tracks

GRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance)

GRC professionals ensure organizations align with security frameworks, manage cyber risk, and maintain regulatory compliance. This track is ideal for detail-oriented professionals who enjoy working with frameworks, documentation, and stakeholder communication.

What GRC professionals do:

• Implement security controls aligned with frameworks (SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST, PCI-DSS)
• Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies
• Manage audit processes and compliance documentation
• Report on security posture to leadership

Entry requirements: 27% of entry-level GRC job postings emphasize framework knowledge over technical expertise (Sprinto 2025). You don't need to code, you need to understand how security controls work and how to document them.

Key certifications: CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor), CRISC (Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control), CGRC (Certified in Governance, Risk and Compliance), CompTIA Security+

Salary range: GRC Analyst $70K-$100K; Senior GRC/Lead $100K-$140K; Head of GRC $150K-$245K (CyberSN/ISC2)

Privacy & Data Protection

The GDPR created an estimated 75,000+ Data Protection Officer positions globally (IAPP). Privacy professionals navigate data protection regulations, manage privacy programs, and ensure lawful data handling practices.

What privacy professionals do:

• Conduct privacy impact assessments
• Develop and maintain privacy policies
• Ensure compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and sector-specific regulations
• Advise on data handling, retention, and cross-border transfers
• Train staff on privacy practices

Entry requirements: Legal background helpful but not required. Understanding of privacy regulations and strong communication skills are essential.

Key certifications: CIPP (Certified Information Privacy Professional—regional variants for EU, US, Canada), CIPM (Certified Information Privacy Manager), CIPT (Certified Information Privacy Technologist), CDPO (Certified Data Protection Officer)

Typical pathway: 5-10 years to DPO level, often starting from legal, compliance, IT, or risk management backgrounds.

Security Awareness & Human Risk Management

95% of cybersecurity breaches result from human error (IBM). Security awareness professionals transform employee behavior through training, simulations, and culture change, making this one of the fastest-growing specializations.

The role is evolving from "security awareness" to "human risk management" a more strategic function that uses data and behavioral science to reduce human-related security incidents.

What security awareness professionals do:

• Develop and deliver security training programs
• Design and run phishing simulations
• Measure training effectiveness and behavior change
• Build security culture across the organization
• Report on human risk metrics to leadership

Entry requirements: Backgrounds in HR, learning & development, communications, psychology, or education translate directly. You need strong communication skills, understanding of adult learning principles, and increasingly, data analysis capabilities.

Key certifications: SANS Security Awareness Professional (SSAP), various vendor certifications (KnowBe4, Proofpoint)

Salary ranges: Security Awareness Analyst $75K-$105K; Security Awareness Manager $90K-$130K; Human Risk Management Specialist $69K-$153K (Glassdoor/VelvetJobs)

Emerging role: Head of Human Risk a strategic position responsible for human risk strategy, behavioral analytics, and cross-functional program leadership. This represents the evolution of security awareness into a data-driven discipline.

Security Project & Program Management

Security projects require dedicated management, from SIEM implementations to compliance initiatives to security transformations. This track combines project management expertise with security domain knowledge.

What security PMs do:

• Define project scope, timelines, and budgets
• Coordinate cross-functional security initiatives
• Manage vendor relationships and procurement
• Ensure projects meet security standards and compliance requirements
• Report on project status to leadership

Entry requirements: Project management experience (PMP, Agile) combined with growing security knowledge. Technical depth is less important than management skills and security fundamentals.

Key certifications: PMP, CAPM, Security+ (for foundational security knowledge), GIAC Certified Project Manager (GCPM), Certified Security Project Manager (CSPM)

Salary range: Cybersecurity Project Manager $145K-$210K (CyberSN)

The Gateway Roles: Where Most Careers Start

IT Helpdesk & Technical Support

The most common launchpad. You learn troubleshooting, user interaction, and system fundamentals, skills that translate directly to SOC work. 56% of hiring managers say training entry-level professionals to full independence takes 4-9 months (ISC2 2025), making this foundational experience invaluable.

Network Administration

Network specialists transition naturally into security operations roles. Understanding how networks run, protocols, traffic patterns, architecture becomes essential for detecting anomalies and investigating breaches.

Software Development

Developers excel in application security. If you can write code, you can review code for vulnerabilities, understand how exploits work, and implement secure development practices.

IT Audit & Internal Audit

A non-technical gateway that's often overlooked. GRC roles don't always require deep technical skills, they require understanding frameworks, documentation, and audit processes.

HR, Learning & Development, Communications

Security awareness is increasingly staffed by professionals with backgrounds in adult learning, organizational change, and communications. If you understand how to change behavior, you have transferable skills.

Legal & Compliance

Privacy and data protection roles often attract legal professionals who want to specialize. GDPR and similar regulations created demand for professionals who understand both law and technology.

Apprenticeships: The Accelerator

In 2023, nearly 61,000 individuals participated in registered cybersecurity apprenticeship programs a 254% increase in just five years (Department of Labor). Major employers including Amazon and IBM use apprenticeships for talent development.

Apprenticeships offer paid, on-the-job training with mentorship and often lead to certifications. The Department of Labor, NIST's NICE initiative, and Apprenticeship.gov maintain directories of registered programs.

Building Your Strategic Pathway

Step 1: Identify Your Target Track

Not all cybersecurity roles suit all people:

• GRC suits those who are detail-oriented and comfortable with frameworks, documentation, and stakeholder management
• Privacy attracts those interested in the intersection of law, technology, and ethics
• Security Awareness fits communicators, educators, and those who understand behavior change
• Threat Hunting demands curiosity, pattern recognition, and deep technical skills
• Penetration Testing requires a hacker mindset and strong programming abilities

Consider which skills from the Cybersecurity Career Playbook align with your strengths.

Step 2: Build Foundational Skills

Whatever your target role, certain fundamentals apply:

• For technical tracks: Linux proficiency, networking basics (TCP/IP, DNS, protocols), and security fundamentals
• For GRC/Privacy: Framework knowledge (NIST, ISO 27001, SOC 2), risk assessment methodology, audit processes
• For Security Awareness: Adult learning principles, communication skills, metrics and measurement, behavioral psychology basics

Step 3: Get Hands-On Experience

Certifications signal competence, but practical experience demonstrates capability:

• Build a home security lab for safe practice
• Participate in CTF competitions (for technical tracks)
• Volunteer for security-related projects in your current role
• Shadow your security team or offer to help with awareness campaigns

Step 4: Consider Cybersecurity-Adjacent Roles

Positions involving some security tasks, while building broader technical skills often serve careers better than jumping straight into a pure security role. Development, software testing, systems administration, and configuration management all build foundations that make you better at security work later.

What Actually Works: Real-World Lessons

Start before you're ready. Early applications give you interview practice and feedback. Entry-level roles are designed for learning on the job, waiting for "perfect" qualifications wastes time.

Depth beats breadth. Pick a specialization and go deep rather than spreading thin across every certification. Employers value expertise over generalist knowledge at entry level.

Your previous career matters. Healthcare professionals bring compliance awareness. Teachers bring communication skills. Military veterans bring crisis management. 87% of cybersecurity job postings value relevant experience over direct cybersecurity experience (ISC2). Don't discount what you already know.

Networking isn't optional. Most jobs aren't posted. Get involved in ISACA, ISSA, or ISC2 chapters. Attend BSides events. The handshake matters more than the certification in many cases.

Don't oversell. Hiring managers consistently flag candidates who list everything they've ever touched without being able to discuss it intelligently. Honesty about what you know and eagerness to learn what you don't goes further than a padded resume.

Document everything. Keep detailed notes on projects, problems solved, and lessons learned. This builds your portfolio and demonstrates communication skills that employers value, especially in GRC and awareness roles.

The Skills Mismatch

52% of cybersecurity leaders say the real deficit isn't headcount—it's skill misalignment (SANS/GIAC 2025). Organizations need specific capabilities they can't find. The in-demand skills for 2025:

• Cloud security (AWS, Azure, GCP) appears in top 3 skill demands
• Identity and access management cited in 48% of job descriptions
• Incident response and forensics required in 40%+ of mid-senior roles
• AI/ML security emerging in ~15% of cutting-edge roles
• GRC and compliance growing demand as regulations multiply
• Human risk management evolving from traditional security awareness

Focus your development on these areas, and you become the solution to the skills gap rather than another entry-level candidate competing in an oversupplied market.

Summary

The cybersecurity talent shortage is real, but breaking in requires strategy, not just qualifications. The most successful entrants recognize that:

1. Adjacent roles provide the foundation - Helpdesk, IT audit, HR, legal all can lead to security careers
2. Non-technical paths are legitimate - GRC, privacy, and awareness roles don't require coding
3. The vendor ecosystem opens doors - Sales, marketing, documentation, and customer success at security companies are valid entry points
4. Practical experience trumps certifications alone - Build, document, and demonstrate your skills
5. Targeting in-demand skills accelerates progression - Cloud security, IAM, and GRC are all growing areas
6. Networking opens doors - Community involvement often matters more than credentials

This guide is the first in a series exploring cybersecurity career development. Future articles will deep-dive into specific pathways from SOC analyst to CISO, from developer to application security engineer, from IT auditor to GRC leader.

Want to develop the skills that separate top performers? Start with the Cybersecurity Career Playbook for the 18 capabilities that accelerate career growth, then build your technical foundation with the Linux for Cybersecurity learning path.

Key Resources:

• CyberSeek Career Pathway Tool
• NIST NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework
• Apprenticeship.gov - Cybersecurity Programs
• IAPP Privacy Certifications
• SANS Security Awareness Professional (SSAP)
• Cybersecurity Marketing Society
• Palo Alto Networks Careers - Example of vendor career structure across all business functions

References:

• ISC2 (2024). "Cybersecurity Workforce Study." Global workforce data showing 4.8 million unfilled positions.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). Employment projections showing 29% growth through 2034.
• Lightcast (2024). "Quarterly Cybersecurity Talent Report Q3 2024." Analysis of supply-demand dynamics.
• Department of Labor (2024). Registered apprenticeship statistics showing 254% growth over five years.
• SANS/GIAC (2025). Workforce research on skills mismatch and hiring trends.
• Sprinto (2025). "GRC Cybersecurity Career Roadmap." Entry-level job posting analysis.
• IBM (2024). "Cost of a Data Breach Report." 95% of breaches involve human error.
• IAPP (2024). Privacy profession statistics and DPO demand projections.
• CyberSN (2025). Role-based salary data for cybersecurity positions.
• Hoxhunt/Forrester (2024). Human Risk Management market evolution.
• Gartner (2024). Cloud and cybersecurity market projections to 2027.
• PayScale (2025). Cybersecurity sales engineer salary data.
• Glassdoor (2025). Security product manager and talent acquisition specialist salary ranges.