Free Career Roadmap
Become a Cybersecurity Analyst
Defend the digital frontier. Think like an attacker.
Duration
12 months
Salary Range
$65k – $130k+
Difficulty
moderate
Job Demand
very high
4
Phases
18
Skills to Learn
9
Projects
6
Certifications
1
Phase 1 · Months 1–3
Security Fundamentals
Networks, Linux, and core security concepts.
Core Skills to Master
Recommended Projects
Complete 20 TryHackMe rooms
Set up home network lab
Document security analysis workflows
Industry Certifications
SANS Cyber Aces (free)
Google Cybersecurity Certificate
Key Milestones (3)
TryHackMe profile with 20+ rooms
OSI model mastery
Wireshark proficiency
2
Phase 2 · Months 4–6
SOC & Blue Team Skills
SIEM, incident response, and threat hunting.
Core Skills to Master
Recommended Projects
Home SIEM lab with Wazuh
Written incident response playbook
Threat hunting case study
Industry Certifications
CompTIA Security+ ($370)
CompTIA CySA+ ($370)
Key Milestones (3)
Security+ certified
Can analyze security logs professionally
Hands-on SIEM experience
3
Phase 3 · Months 7–9
Advanced Security Skills
Cloud security, automation, forensics, and analysis.
Core Skills to Master
Recommended Projects
Threat detection dashboard (ELK Stack)
Python security automation toolkit
Regular CTF participation
Industry Certifications
AWS Security Specialty
CISSP (optional, senior track)
Key Milestones (3)
CySA+ or equivalent
3 security portfolio projects
Active TryHackMe / HackTheBox
4
Phase 4 · Months 10–12
Land Your Security Role
Target enterprise security teams and top consultancies.
Core Skills to Master
Target Companies
Key Milestones (3)
30+ applications
Security clearance started (if applicable)
First security role offer
Job Ready — Cybersecurity Analyst
Completing this pathway equips you with verified projects, assessment scores, and the exact skills required by current hiring managers.