GigForge Career Roadmap

Cyber Security Learning Roadmap

A comprehensive learning path covering the fundamentals of cyber security through to advanced specializations. This roadmap guides learners from networking basics and operating systems through to ethical hacking, cloud security, and incident response. Designed for aspiring security analysts, penetration testers, and security engineers, this path balances theory with hands-on practice. By the end, learners will be equipped to pursue industry certifications and real-world security roles.

14
Steps
~1.6 years
Est. duration
2
Views
B
Shared by Brabyns·March 25, 2026

Difficulty breakdown

Beginner
3 steps
Intermediate
6 steps
Advanced
5 steps

Learning Path · 14 steps

  1. 01

    Networking Fundamentals

    Beginner1 month

    Learn TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, OSI model, subnetting, and core protocols. Understanding how networks operate is the foundation of all cyber security knowledge.

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  2. 02

    Linux & OS Fundamentals

    Beginner1 month

    Master Linux command line, file systems, permissions, and process management. Most security tools and servers run on Linux, making this an essential skill.

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  3. 03

    Security Concepts & Fundamentals

    Beginner3 weeks

    Study the CIA triad, authentication, encryption basics, common threat actors, and security terminology. This establishes the conceptual framework for all security work.

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  4. 04

    Cryptography Essentials

    Intermediate1 month

    Understand symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hashing algorithms, PKI, TLS/SSL, and digital signatures. Cryptography underpins nearly every security mechanism in use today.

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  5. 05

    Security Tools & SIEM

    Intermediate5 weeks

    Get hands-on with Wireshark, Nmap, Metasploit basics, and SIEM platforms like Splunk. Learn to monitor, capture, and analyze network traffic and security events.

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  6. 06

    Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing

    Intermediate2 months

    Learn the penetration testing lifecycle: reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation, and reporting using tools like Burp Suite, Metasploit, and Kali Linux.

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  7. 07

    Defensive Security & SOC Operations

    Intermediate6 weeks

    Study threat detection, alert triage, log analysis, and incident workflows as practiced in a Security Operations Center environment.

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  8. 08

    Web Application Security

    Intermediate2 months

    Master the OWASP Top 10, SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, broken authentication, and secure coding practices using real-world web app labs.

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  9. 09

    Digital Forensics & Incident Response

    Advanced2 months

    Learn disk and memory forensics, evidence acquisition, malware triage, and building an effective incident response plan using tools like Autopsy and Volatility.

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  10. 10

    Network Security & Firewall Management

    Intermediate6 weeks

    Configure and manage firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, and network segmentation strategies. Understand attack techniques at the network layer and how to counter them.

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  11. 11

    Cloud Security

    Advanced6 weeks

    Understand shared responsibility models, IAM policies, cloud misconfigurations, and security best practices across AWS, Azure, and GCP environments.

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  12. 12

    Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering

    Advanced2 months

    Analyze malicious software using static and dynamic techniques with tools like IDA Pro, Ghidra, and Cuckoo Sandbox to understand attacker tactics.

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  13. 13

    Security Compliance & Risk Management

    Advanced6 weeks

    Study frameworks like NIST, ISO 27001, GDPR, and SOC 2. Learn to perform risk assessments, gap analyses, and build security governance programs.

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  14. 14

    Industry Certification & Career Prep

    Advanced2 months

    Prepare for certifications such as CompTIA Security+, CEH, OSCP, or CISSP. Build a portfolio with CTF writeups, lab projects, and a professional LinkedIn profile.

    Learn more
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