Have you ever found yourself wondering why cybersecurity is so hard? I have and I’ve been doing this for a while. One minute you’re learning about how to add special characters to secure your passwords, the next you’re trying to decode an IP packet like you’re in the Matrix!
In all honesty, whether you’re just starting or somewhere in the messy middle, this article is here to remind you that struggling in cybersecurity is completely normal – and totally worth it.
The struggle is real
Cybersecurity changes so fast that it can often feel impossible to keep up. This is true whether you’re someone trying to learn the basics to keep your accounts safe online, you’re just starting out in your career, or even if you’ve been doing this for years.
For a non-technical user, you need to figure out the difference between 2FA and MFA, remember exceptionally long passwords, and when you think you’ve got it, suddenly there’s a data breach and you need to start all over again!
Let’s consider cybersecurity professionals for a minute. Cybersecurity has a steep learning curve. It starts out exciting: the dream of becoming a hacker, protecting people, and understanding how to spot threats before they become a massive attack. But then reality hits. You’re introduced to a universe of acronyms like DNS, VPN, 2FA, MFA, SOC, SIEM, IDS, and IPS. Your Google history suddenly fills up with frantic searches and you start wondering if the world hates you. And then you fix a vulnerability only for five more to appear!
Cybersecurity is hard but you are NOT alone
The truth about cybersecurity is that everyone struggles. Even seasoned professionals have been through the same confusion, mistakes, and technical roadblocks. Think about an expert or guru you follow on social media (hopefully us 😊). They’ve probably locked themselves out of their own account more than once. I know I have. But making mistakes and learning from it is all part of the process.
We’ve all been there and it’s ok. As long as you’re taking the right steps to improve, it will get better, and you will reach your cybersecurity goals, even though it doesn’t feel like it in the moment.
Change your mindset
Cybersecurity is less about memorizing and more about mindset. You don’t need to know everything, but you do need to be curious, determined, and willing to keep going even when it’s tough.
Think of cybersecurity like a game. In a game, you need to master the controls and actions to continue the story. You may not know what to expect, but you know what abilities your character has and can use that to figure out how to defeat the boss. The same applies to cybersecurity. If you master the basics, you’ll be prepared for whatever may come your way, including those data breaches and security incidents.
Whether it’s updating your passwords (again) or troubleshooting the next incident, stay calm and remember that you will get there.
It’s ok to take a break
There will be times when you feel overwhelmed and it’s okay. Take a break to clear your mind or go for a walk. Seriously. Cybersecurity will always have challenges and sometimes, you just need a minute to get your head in the right space.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. It takes time and stepping out of your comfort zone to grow your skills. You just need to start.
You’ve got this!
So, if you’re struggling to learn cybersecurity, keep going and don’t give up. Keep Googling. Keep asking questions. Keep trying. Every expert started exactly where you are. Before you know it, you’ll be the one helping others to secure their password or preventing the next cyberattack. You’ve got this!
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