Cybersecurity Key Topics: A Field Guide

Introduction

This Field Guide introduces key topics in cybersecurity and shares resources to help students build their knowledge. The book is designed to move beyond the classroom and utilized as a professional resource throughout their career.

Experience and Background

I bring over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity and IT both in the private- and public-sector, to include publicly-traded cloud providers. Technical knowledge in systems and networks is critical in a cyber career. You must know the infrastructure to apply security planning and risk management effectively.

Career Beginnings

I started on the foundational level on help desk as an Information Systems Technician (IT) in the US Navy. I worked at every level in technology from system administration all the way through to network management. Each role built on the last, giving me a deep, hands-on understanding of systems and networks, experience that became essential as I moved into cybersecurity.

Practical Applications

For example, the knowledge I gained from systems helped me when I tested aircraft and weapon systems, performed IT audits, implemented security controls in different environments (e.g. cloud and on-premises), determined the vulnerabilities that affected environment, and so forth.

Importance of Hands-On Experience

Although it is beneficial to understand the theories and principles of security, it will be your hands-on experience that apply these theories and principles to real-world environments that fix the gaps in security.