How do I enter Cybersecurity as a fresher?

Reality check: most security roles are not entry-level, but SOC analyst roles genuinely are.

Recommended learning path

1. Networking fundamentals (CCNA level). Security without networking is guesswork.
2. Operating systems: Linux and Windows administration, logs, permissions, processes.
3. Security fundamentals: CIA triad, cryptography basics, authentication, common attack classes, OWASP Top 10.
4. Tooling: one firewall (Palo Alto or Fortinet) and one SIEM (Splunk, Wazuh or Microsoft Sentinel).

Hands-on projects Build a small home SOC: a Wazuh or ELK stack, a vulnerable VM, generate alerts and write incident reports. Documented investigations impress interviewers far more than certificates alone.

Certifications that help CCNA, CompTIA Security+, then a vendor firewall or SIEM certification.

Entry roles SOC Analyst L1, Security Operations Support, IT Support with a security focus, GRC Analyst.

Note: learn offensive techniques only in your own lab or authorised platforms.

Next step: commit to 4-6 months of fundamentals plus one documented lab project before applying.