The Simple Path Towards Cybersecurity Expertise

There are many paths to choose from that could lead towards cybersecurity expertise. Over the years, however, I’ve found one very simple approach that is surprisingly effective:

1. Build a computer from scratch.
2. Build the smallest possible network.
3. Compile software to monitor & analyze the network.
4. Using the network you built, and the software you compiled, create simple data sets.
5. Find similar data sets, created by others.
6. Explore those data sets through the lens of the software you compiled.

At a high level, this path seems so simple. How could this possibly lead to cybersecurity expertise? I want to show the answer to this question, in depth, over the course of many blog posts. But if you want the short answer right now…

90% of cybersecurity ultimately boils down to extreme system administration and networking expertise. The other 10% is learning to think the way that hackers think.