How to Get Started in Cybersecurity: 2025 Roadmap

Want to Become a Cybersecurity Professional in 2025?

Are you interested in cybersecurity but don’t know where to start? In this post, I’ll clearly and simply explain everything you need to know to take your first steps and get a big-picture view of this exciting industry.

What Is Cybersecurity?

In simple terms, cybersecurity is the set of tools and techniques that protect computer systems against threats and attacks.

In a world where technology rapidly evolves, risks grow alongside it. Demand for cybersecurity professionals is on the rise:
📊 According to ISC2’s 2024 study, there’s a global shortfall of 4.8 million cybersecurity professionals—a 19% increase over last year.

Why Is a Cybersecurity Professional Important?

Today, all our information lives on digital platforms—social media, banking apps, government portals, cloud services… While this convenience improves our lives, it also opens the door to risks and vulnerabilities.

No system is 100% secure. That’s why the role of a cybersecurity professional is crucial: to protect these digital environments and minimize risk. We become guardians of the digital world, ensuring data is safe and that, if an attack occurs, it’s detected and addressed quickly.

Plus, because threats evolve daily, staying up to date is essential.

Where Do I Start?

I created this step-by-step roadmap so you’ll know exactly where to begin and how to progress based on your interests. Before diving into general skills, let’s look at the main areas within cybersecurity so you can choose the path that excites you most.

Main Cybersecurity Areas

🔵 Blue Team — Defense
The Blue Team defends systems and responds to incidents. One well-known role here is the SOC Analyst (Security Operations Center Analyst), who monitors a company’s network 24/7 and reacts to any threat. This team uses specialized tools to detect anomalies, log events, block attacks, and keep the network safe. ⚠️ Not every organization has a SOC, but Blue Team roles are fundamental wherever you need to safeguard information.

🔴 Red Team — Ethical Hacking
The Red Team simulates attacks to uncover vulnerabilities before real hackers do. They perform penetration tests (pentesting) and report weaknesses to the Blue Team along with remediation recommendations. This team thinks like attackers—but constructively—to make systems more secure before it’s too late.

Together, Blue Team and Red Team are the two pillars of cybersecurity. Later, we’ll explore their sub-roles, tools, and specific learning paths.

Core Skills

Before specializing, you need a solid foundation in certain key concepts. You don’t have to master everything, but you should build a strong base—think of it as the foundation of your cybersecurity career.

Basic Networking Knowledge

Everything on the Internet travels over networks. If you can read this blog, it’s thanks to a network. As a cybersecurity professional, understanding how data flows, how devices communicate, and which protocols exist is essential. Learn about:

• OSI and TCP/IP models

• IP addressing (public vs. private)

• Key protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, FTP, SSH, etc.

• Subnetting and network segmentation

Operating Systems

You must know both Windows and Linux. Windows dominates enterprise desktops, while Linux powers servers and many ethical-hacking tools. Learn to:

• Navigate the command line

• Manage files and processes

• Understand permissions and directory structures

• Use tools like top, netstat, ping, nmap, and Wireshark

Programming Basics

You don’t need to be a software engineer, but understanding scripting and automation gives you a big advantage. Focus on:

• Programming logic

• Basic Python syntax

• Task automation

• Writing simple scripts for log analysis, port scanning, etc.

Python is widely used in cybersecurity due to its ease and power.

Key Cybersecurity Concepts

Learning cybersecurity isn’t just about tools—it’s about understanding what happens under the hood. Get familiar with:

• The CIA Triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability)

• Malware types (virus, trojan, ransomware, etc.)

• Attack types (phishing, XSS, DoS, etc.)

• Core defenses: firewalls, IDS, SIEM, etc.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity is a constantly evolving field full of opportunities for those who train and stay current. Whether you specialize in Blue Team defense or Red Team offensive testing, the possibilities are vast and demand continues to grow.

To start, build foundational skills in networking, operating systems, and basic programming—this foundation will prepare you for more complex cybersecurity challenges. If you’re passionate about this industry, 2025 is a key year to act and begin your journey toward a rewarding future.

Remember: there’s no single path into cybersecurity. The important thing is to start and keep learning every day!