Cybersecurity professionals are in critical demand with a global shortage of 3.5 million workers. This free roadmap takes you from networking basics to security engineering — no prior experience needed.
Last updated: March 2026 · 6 Months plan
Here's what your week-by-week learning journey looks like
Answer 2 quick questions and get a roadmap tailored to your skill level and goals
Want a different tech stack?
e.g. "Python + React", "Java + Angular", "Go + Vue.js"
With cyberattacks growing 38% year-over-year, companies desperately need security professionals. The global cybersecurity workforce gap is 3.5 million unfilled positions. Entry-level security analysts earn $70,000-$95,000, while senior security engineers and penetration testers earn $130,000-$200,000+. The field offers incredible job security — every company with digital assets needs cybersecurity, and the demand far outpaces supply.
Month 1: Networking fundamentals — TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, firewalls, and how data moves across the internet. Month 2: Linux and system administration — command line, file permissions, processes, and shell scripting. Month 3: Security fundamentals — CIA triad, common attack types (phishing, SQL injection, XSS), OWASP Top 10, and basic cryptography. Month 4: Security tools — Wireshark for packet analysis, Nmap for scanning, Burp Suite for web testing, and SIEM basics. Month 5: Ethical hacking and penetration testing — vulnerability assessment, exploitation basics, and CTF challenges for practice. Month 6: Specialization and certification prep — choose between SOC analyst, penetration tester, or cloud security, and prepare for CompTIA Security+ or similar certification.
Cybersecurity offers diverse specializations: SOC Analyst (monitoring and incident response), Penetration Tester (offensive security), Security Engineer (building secure systems), Cloud Security Specialist, GRC Analyst (governance, risk, compliance), and Forensics Analyst. Free Class AI helps you explore these paths and builds a roadmap based on your interests and background — whether you're coming from IT, development, or a completely non-technical field.
Scroll to discover more learning paths
Get an AI-generated roadmap tailored to your experience level and goals. No credit card, no subscription — just a clear path forward.
Tell us what you want to learn and get a personalized AI roadmap — completely free.