Road Map - Cyber Security

 

🛡️ Ultimate Cybersecurity Roadmap (2025)

Beginner → Intermediate → Advanced → Job-Ready Professional

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🟢 Stage 1: Cybersecurity Fundamentals (Beginner Level)

Build a strong understanding of security basics, computer systems, and networks.

📘 Topics to Learn:

• What is Cybersecurity?

• Types of Threats: Malware, Phishing, DDoS, Social Engineering

• CIA Triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability)

• Operating System Basics (Linux & Windows)

• Computer Networks:

  • OSI Model, TCP/IP, IP, DNS, NAT

• Firewalls, VPNs, Proxies

🧰 Tools & IDEs:

• OS: Windows 10, Kali Linux, Ubuntu

• Networking: Wireshark, Packet Tracer

• Terminal/IDE: Command Prompt, Linux Terminal, VS Code

• Virtualization: VirtualBox or VMware Workstation

🧪 Projects:

• Set up Kali Linux in VirtualBox

• Basic Network Scanning with Nmap

• Simulate phishing attack using SET (safe lab)

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🟡 Stage 2: Intermediate Cybersecurity & Ethical Hacking

Understand vulnerabilities, reconnaissance, exploitation, and protection.

📘 Topics:

• Ethical Hacking Phases:

  • Reconnaissance, Scanning, Gaining Access, Maintaining Access, Clearing Tracks

• Vulnerability Scanning (Nessus, OpenVAS)

• Web Security: OWASP Top 10 (SQLi, XSS, CSRF, etc.)

• Cryptography Basics: Hashing, Encryption (AES, RSA)

• Linux Security: Permissions, Sudo, IPTables

• Windows Security: Event Logs, Group Policy, PowerShell

🧰 Tools:

• Scanning: Nmap, Nessus, Nikto

• Exploitation: Metasploit, Burp Suite, SQLMap

• Web Testing: OWASP ZAP, Dirb, Wappalyzer

• Crypto: GPG, Hashcat, CyberChef

🧪 Projects:

• Exploit DVWA or OWASP Juice Shop

• Capture the Flag (CTF) from TryHackMe or Hack The Box

• Hash cracking with Hashcat (MD5/SHA)

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🟠 Stage 3: Advanced Cybersecurity & Defensive Security

Dive into blue teaming, incident response, and securing infrastructure.

📘 Topics:

• Security Information & Event Management (SIEM)

• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) & IPS

• Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)

• Incident Response & Threat Hunting

• Network Security Monitoring

• Secure SDLC & DevSecOps Basics

• SOC (Security Operations Center) Practices

🧰 Tools:

• SIEM: Splunk, ELK Stack

• Monitoring: Snort, Zeek (Bro), Suricata

• Threat Intelligence: VirusTotal, AbuseIPDB

• Forensics: Autopsy, FTK Imager, Volatility

🧪 Projects:

• Setup a SIEM Lab with ELK

• Detect brute force attacks on SSH using Zeek

• Simulate Incident Response from a log file breach

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🔴 Stage 4: Cybersecurity Specialization Tracks

Pick a focused path based on your interests and career goals.

Track	Skills	Tools
🧠 Penetration Tester	Exploitation, Reverse Engineering	Metasploit, Burp Suite, Wireshark
🛡️ SOC Analyst	Monitoring, Triage, SIEM	Splunk, Suricata, ELK
🔐 Security Engineer	Infrastructure, Hardening, DevSecOps	Docker, Terraform, Ansible
🔍 Digital Forensics Expert	Evidence Recovery, Chain of Custody	Autopsy, Volatility, FTK Imager
⚠️ Threat Hunter	Adversary Emulation, MITRE ATT&CK	MITRE Caldera, Sigma Rules

📁 6–12 Month Study Plan

Month	Focus Areas
1–2	Basics of Networking, Linux, Cyber Threats
3–4	Ethical Hacking Tools, OWASP, Cryptography
5–6	CTFs, Vulnerability Scanning, SIEM
7–9	Incident Response, SOC, Threat Intelligence
10–12	Specialization + Certifications + Portfolio

📚 Recommended Resources

Free Learning:

• TryHackMe – Beginner to Advanced Labs

• OverTheWire – Linux war games

• Cybersecurity Path – freeCodeCamp

• OWASP Top 10 Documentation

Paid Platforms:

• Hack The Box – Intermediate to Pro CTFs

• INE Cybersecurity Paths

• Udemy Courses:

  • “Learn Ethical Hacking from Scratch” – Zaid Sabih

  • “Complete Cyber Security Course” – Nathan House

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🎓 Recommended Certifications (Optional but Valuable)

Level	Certification	Provider
Beginner	Google Cybersecurity Certificate	Coursera
Intermediate	CompTIA Security+	CompTIA
Intermediate	CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)	EC-Council
Advanced	OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional)	Offensive Security
Advanced	CISSP	ISC²
Analyst	IBM Cybersecurity Analyst	Coursera/IBM

💼 Career Roles in Cybersecurity

Role	Focus
Cybersecurity Analyst	Monitor, Detect, Respond
SOC Analyst	Security Events & SIEM Tools
Penetration Tester	Ethical Hacking & Testing
Security Engineer	Infrastructure & Systems Hardening
Information Security Manager	Policies, Audits, Leadership
Threat Intelligence Analyst	Threat Research & TTPs

🔧 Portfolio & Practice

Task	Platform
CTFs	TryHackMe, Hack The Box, Root-Me
Labs	VirtualBox, Kali Linux, Metasploitable
Open Source	GitHub - SIEM rules, Detection scripts
Practice	PicoCTF, PentesterLab, AttackDefense