The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Associate Security Analyst (L1)
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Mastering basic alert triage, following runbooks precisely, understanding fundamental networking and OS concepts, and clear documentation.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently closing basic tickets within SLA without supervision.
- Accurately identifying and escalating genuine security alerts.
- Demonstrating a proactive approach to learning and asking good questions.
- Showing initiative in improving small processes or documentation.
- 2
IT Support / Helpdesk Technician
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Strong troubleshooting skills, understanding user behaviour, basic networking, and a keen interest in security incidents beyond just 'fixing the user's problem'.
You're ready to move on when
- You've shown a consistent interest in security-related tickets, not just passing them on.
- You've taken the initiative to learn about common malware or phishing techniques.
- You're known for being meticulous in your troubleshooting and documentation.
- You've perhaps earned a CompTIA Security+ certification in your own time.
- 3
Network Administrator / System Administrator
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Deep understanding of network architecture, server hardening, patch management, and a desire to shift from building/maintaining to actively defending.
You're ready to move on when
- You've actively implemented security best practices in your admin role.
- You're the go-to person for firewall rules or access control lists.
- You've dealt with network-related security incidents and understand the impact.
- You're looking to specialise purely in defence rather than general IT infrastructure.