Cyber Security Roadmap

Step by step guide to becoming a modern Cyber Security Engineer in 2025

Step 1

Introduction to Cybersecurity

Overview of Cybersecurity

Key Concepts and Terminology

Types of Cyber Threats

Cybersecurity Principles

Legal and Ethical Issues

Cybersecurity Roles and Responsibilities

Step 2

Networking Basics

Network Fundamentals

OSI and TCP/IP Models

Network Protocols

Subnetting

Network Devices

Network Security

Step 3

Security Fundamentals

Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability (CIA)

Authentication and Authorization

Access Control Models

Security Policies

Security Architecture

Security Operations

Step 4

Cryptography

Introduction to Cryptography

Symmetric Key Cryptography

Asymmetric Key Cryptography

Hash Functions

Digital Signatures

Public Key Infrastructure

Cryptographic Attacks

Step 5

Computer Security and Privacy

Operating System Security

Application Security

Database Security

Web Security

Cloud Security

Mobile Security

Privacy Principles

Privacy Enhancing Technologies

Step 6

Incident Response and Digital Forensics

Introduction to Incident Response

Incident Handling and Management

Digital Forensics Fundamentals

Network Forensics

Disk Forensics

Memory Forensics

Malware Analysis

Reporting and Documentation

Step 7

Security Operations and Monitoring

Security Operations Center (SOC) Basics

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

Log Management

Threat Detection

Incident Response

Threat Hunting

Security Automation

Security Orchestration

Security Metrics and Reporting

Step 8

Cloud Security

Cloud Computing Concepts

Cloud Service Models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)

Cloud Security Architecture

Cloud Identity and Access Management

Cloud Encryption

Cloud Compliance

Cloud Security Monitoring

Cloud Incident Response

Cloud Security Best Practices

Step 9

Risk Management

Risk Assessment Methodologies

Risk Mitigation Strategies

Business Impact Analysis

Security Policies and Procedures

Compliance Management

Risk Monitoring and Reporting

Third-Party Risk Management

Risk Management Frameworks (ISO 27001, NIST)

Step 10

Advanced Digital Forensics

Advanced Forensic Techniques

Network Traffic Analysis

Advanced Malware Analysis

Reverse Engineering

Forensic Toolkits and Software

Legal Considerations in Digital Forensics

Case Studies in Digital Forensics

Step 11

Capstone Projects

Developing a Cybersecurity Strategy

Implementing Security Measures

Conducting a Security Audit

Incident Response Plan Creation

Risk Assessment and Mitigation

Security Policy Development

Security Awareness Training

Step 12

Threat Intelligence

Introduction to Threat Intelligence

Threat Intelligence Lifecycle

Sources of Threat Intelligence

Threat Intelligence Platforms

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)

Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) Analysis

Integration with Security Operations

Threat Intelligence Sharing

Step 13

Security Architecture and Engineering

Security Architecture Principles

Designing Secure Systems

Secure Network Architecture

Application Security Architecture

Enterprise Security Architecture

Identity and Access Management Architecture

Security Engineering Processes

Security Testing and Evaluation

Step 14

IoT Security

Introduction to IoT Security

IoT Device Security

Network Security for IoT

IoT Security Protocols

IoT Security Standards and Best Practices

IoT Vulnerabilities and Threats

Securing IoT Applications

IoT Security Testing

Step 15

Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

Introduction to Security Compliance

Regulatory Requirements (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS)

Compliance Frameworks (ISO 27001, NIST)

Auditing and Compliance Monitoring

Developing Compliance Programs

Compliance Reporting

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Third-Party Compliance Management

Step 16

Data Security and Privacy

Introduction to Data Security

Data Classification and Protection

Data Encryption Techniques

Data Masking and Tokenization

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Database Security

Privacy Laws and Regulations

Data Privacy Impact Assessments

Step 17

DevSecOps

Introduction to DevSecOps

Integrating Security into DevOps

Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

Security Automation in DevOps

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security

Container Security

Security Monitoring in DevOps

DevSecOps Best Practices

Step 18

Leadership in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Governance

Building a Security Culture

Leadership Skills for Cybersecurity Professionals

Cybersecurity Strategy Development

Managing Security Teams

Stakeholder Communication

Crisis Management and Incident Response Leadership

Security Program Management

Step 19

Cybersecurity Analytics

Introduction to Cybersecurity Analytics

Data Collection and Management

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

Big Data in Cybersecurity

Machine Learning for Threat Detection

Behavioral Analytics

Visualizing Security Data

Predictive Analytics for Cybersecurity

Step 20

Cyber-Physical Systems Security

Introduction to Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)

CPS Architecture and Components

Securing Industrial Control Systems (ICS)

SCADA Security

Critical Infrastructure Protection

Embedded Systems Security

Security for Autonomous Systems

IoT in Cyber-Physical Systems

Step 21

Mobile Device Security

Mobile Device Management (MDM)

Mobile Operating System Security

Mobile Application Security

Securing BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

Mobile Network Security

Mobile Threats and Vulnerabilities

Mobile Forensics

Mobile Security Policies

Step 22

Quantum Computing and Security

Introduction to Quantum Computing

Quantum Cryptography

Post-Quantum Cryptography

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)

Quantum Algorithms for Security

Quantum-Safe Security Protocols

Impact of Quantum Computing on Security

Future Trends in Quantum Security