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How to Become a Cybersecurity Analyst: The Complete Roadmap

  • Writer: Kyser Clark
    Kyser Clark
  • May 4
  • 4 min read
Cybersecurity Roadmap

If you're serious about launching a career in cybersecurity, there's a good chance the Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst or Cybersecurity Analyst role is on your radar. It’s one of the most accessible entry points into the industry, but “accessible” doesn’t mean easy.


Whether you're starting from scratch or transitioning from another IT role, this guide walks you through a proven, actionable path to landing your first job as a cybersecurity analyst and leveling up once you're in.


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Step 1: Commit to the Journey and Stay Adaptable

Getting hired as a SOC analyst is competitive. Positions are limited, and you're up against hundreds, sometimes thousands, of applicants. Your job is to outwork and outshine them.


That means:

  • Accepting that rejection is part of the game

  • Staying disciplined even when things don’t go as planned

  • Adjusting your approach based on what's working (or not) in the job market


You’ll probably have to course-correct along the way. That’s not failure. It’s the reality of working in a field that evolves daily. Adaptability is a core skill in cybersecurity.


Step 2: Build a Strong LinkedIn Presence

If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, make one. If you do, start using it properly.


Here's what works:

  • Fill out your profile completely: photo, banner, bio, experience, education, certifications

  • Post consistently: at least once a week

  • Tell stories: when you earn a certification, finish a lab, or complete a TryHackMe room, write a short post that shares:

    • Why you did it

    • What you learned

    • What surprised you

    • What tools or resources you used


This does three things:

  1. Positions you as someone who’s active and engaged

  2. Attracts recruiters (they’re watching)

  3. Builds your reputation long before your résumé hits a hiring manager’s desk


Real story: I landed my current job through LinkedIn without ever applying on a job board. I just shared my progress consistently, and someone reached out offering to forward my résumé to their company. Three weeks later, I was hired.


Step 3: Train Daily with TryHackMe and Hack The Box

Start with TryHackMe, then graduate to Hack The Box once you’ve built a strong foundation.


TryHackMe Roadmap:

  1. Cybersecurity 101

  2. Pre-Security

  3. Introduction to Cybersecurity

  4. Complete Beginner

  5. SOC Level 1

  6. Cyber Defense

  7. CompTIA Pentest+

  8. SOC Level 2


This is your daily hands-on workout. One hour a day. No excuses.


Hack The Box Roadmap:

As an analyst, skip the machines and focus on Sherlocks. These are the defensive counterparts to pentesting machines.


  • Start with "Very Easy" Sherlocks

  • Progress to Easy, then Medium, and beyond

  • Aim to complete at least one Sherlock per week once you're done with TryHackMe's learning paths


Step 4: Get the Right Foundational Certifications

Start with these:

You can skip the A+ if you’re not interested in a help desk role. A solid substitute is TCM Security’s Practical Help Desk Associate Certification (PHDA), which is free and more job-focused than the traditional A+.


If you want to diversify away from CompTIA, check out the Cisco Cybersecurity Associate as a CySA+ alternative.


These certs give you credibility and help you build the baseline knowledge you'll use in interviews and on the job.


Step 5: Apply for Jobs (Even If You're Not 100 Percent Ready)

You do not have to start at the help desk. If you’re ready and can prove it, apply directly for analyst roles.


Still, if you're struggling to get traction, entry-level IT jobs like help desk or system administration can serve as solid stepping stones.


Either way, learn how to:

  • Write a targeted resume

  • Tailor a strong cover letter

  • Prepare for technical and behavioral interviews


You can find free resources for this all over YouTube, blogs, and books.


Step 6: Learn Linux

You don’t need to become a sysadmin, but you do need to be comfortable navigating a Linux environment. If you’re doing TryHackMe and Hack The Box consistently, you’ll pick it up naturally. If not, consider taking a beginner-friendly Linux course.


Step 7: Learn to Code

Coding isn’t required for every SOC role, but it will set you apart. Python is the go-to language in cybersecurity, and it’s beginner-friendly.


If you’re not sure where to start, just pick Python and get going. Once you’re comfortable, you can branch out into Bash, PowerShell, or JavaScript depending on your interests and future goals.


Step 8: Earn a Hands-On Certification

At this point, it's time to separate yourself from the paper-chasers.


Here are my top recommendations for hands-on certs:

These certifications show that you can apply your skills, not just memorize terms. Choose a couple and give it your full attention.


Step 9: Level Up with Specialty Certifications

Already landed a SOC role? Time to level up. Consider one of these to move from SOC Analyst 1 to 2 or 3:

Each of these adds a specialized edge that employers notice.


Final Thoughts

Becoming a cybersecurity analyst doesn’t happen by luck. It happens when you make a plan, execute daily, and stay visible in the right places.


To recap:

  1. Commit to the journey and stay flexible

  2. Show up on LinkedIn and post once a week

  3. Train on TryHackMe and Hack The Box every day

  4. Earn foundational certifications

  5. Apply for jobs early and often

  6. Learn Linux

  7. Learn to code

  8. Get a hands-on cert

  9. Level up with advanced certs once you're hired


If you're curious about other roles in cybersecurity, check out my roadmap guides for Cybersecurity Engineer and Penetration Tester to compare paths.

Your journey starts today. Choose consistency. The results will come.

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