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A comprehensive, step-by-step guide to mastering cybersecurity from beginner to expert level with curated resources, tools, and career guidance

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N3tHawk Cybersecurity Perfect Roadmap 🔐

🚀 Your ultimate guide to becoming a cybersecurity expert — from zero to hero. Packed with curated resources, hands-on tools, labs, CTFs, certifications, and career tips. Designed for absolute beginners, students, and aspiring professionals!

📚 Table of Contents

🔥 Introduction

Welcome to the N3tHawk Cybersecurity Perfect Roadmap — a powerful, organized, and evolving roadmap tailored for anyone looking to break into the exciting field of cybersecurity. Whether you're a total newbie or looking to sharpen your skills, this roadmap is your ultimate guide! 🧑‍💻💥

🧭 How to Use This Roadmap

  1. 🔎 Explore each phase in order, based on your current knowledge level.
  2. 🎯 Set realistic goals with timeframes.
  3. 🧠 Use the curated resources, tools, and labs provided.
  4. 📈 Track your progress and grow from beginner → intermediate → expert!

🗺️ Roadmap Overview

We break cybersecurity into 4 major phases, each containing multiple skills and resource links:

  1. 🏗️ Foundation Phase – Networking, Linux, Computer Basics, etc.
  2. 🔧 Technical Skills Phase – Ethical Hacking, Web, OSINT, etc.
  3. 🎓 Specialization Phase – Red Team, Blue Team, Threat Intel, etc.
  4. 🚀 Advanced Phase – Malware Analysis, Reverse Engineering, Exploit Dev.

⚙️ Foundation Phase

1. Computer Fundamentals

2. Information Security Principles

3. Basic Security Tools

💻 Technical Skills Phase

4. Network Security

5. System Security

6. Web Application Security

  • OWASP Top 10

  • Web Application Penetration Testing

    • Burp Suite Academy
    • OWASP Juice Shop
    • HackTheBox Web Challenges
    • PentesterLab
    • Books:
      • "Mastering Modern Web Penetration Testing" by Prakhar Prasad
      • "Bug Bounty Hunting Essentials" by Shahmeer Amir
      • "Web Hacking 101" by Peter Yaworski
    • Tools:
    • Practical Exercises:
      • Perform a full web application penetration test
      • Write a detailed security report
      • Exploit and chain multiple vulnerabilities
      • Participate in bug bounty programs

  • Secure Coding Practices

    • Secure Coding in Python

    • OWASP Secure Coding Practices

    • Secure Coding in Java

    • Microsoft Secure Coding Guidelines

    • Books:

      • "Secure Coding in C and C++" by Robert C. Seacord
      • "Iron-Clad Java: Building Secure Web Applications" by Jim Manico
      • "Secure Programming Cookbook for C and C++" by John Viega

    • Tools:

      • SonarQube - Code quality and security
      • OWASP Dependency-Check - Software composition analysis
      • Snyk - Open source security platform
      • Checkmarx - Static application security testing
      • Vulert- Vulert secures software by detecting vulnerabilities in open-source dependencies—without accessing your code. It supports Js, PHP, Java, Python, and more.

    • Practical Exercises:

      • Review code for security vulnerabilities
      • Implement secure authentication and authorization
      • Secure data storage and transmission
      • Integrate security into the development lifecycle

🛠️ Specialization Phase

7. Offensive Security

8. Defensive Security

9. Cloud Security

Advanced Phase

10. Advanced Topics

11. Specialized Security Domains

Professional Development

12. Career Development

Learning Resources

Books

  • Beginner

    • "Cybersecurity for Beginners" by Raef Meeuwisse
    • "The Art of Invisibility" by Kevin Mitnick
    • "Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking" by Christopher Hadnagy
    • "Practical Malware Analysis" by Michael Sikorski and Andrew Honig
    • "Cryptography for Dummies" by Chey Cobb
    • "Computer Security: Principles and Practice" by William Stallings and Lawrie Brown
    • "Network Security Essentials" by William Stallings

  • Intermediate

    • "The Web Application Hacker's Handbook" by Dafydd Stuttard and Marcus Pinto
    • "Blue Team Handbook" by Don Murdoch
    • "Penetration Testing: A Hands-On Introduction to Hacking" by Georgia Weidman
    • "The Tangled Web: A Guide to Securing Modern Web Applications" by Michal Zalewski
    • "Threat Modeling: Designing for Security" by Adam Shostack
    • "Reversing: Secrets of Reverse Engineering" by Eldad Eilam
    • "The Hacker Playbook 3" by Peter Kim

  • Advanced

    • "The Art of Memory Forensics" by Michael Hale Ligh et al.
    • "Gray Hat Hacking: The Ethical Hacker's Handbook" by Allen Harper et al.
    • "The Shellcoder's Handbook" by Chris Anley et al.
    • "Practical Reverse Engineering" by Bruce Dang et al.
    • "Advanced Penetration Testing" by Wil Allsopp
    • "Black Hat Python" by Justin Seitz
    • "Windows Internals" by Mark Russinovich et al.

  • Specialized

    • "Cloud Security: A Comprehensive Guide" by Chris Dotson
    • "Industrial Network Security" by Eric D. Knapp and Joel Thomas Langill
    • "iOS Application Security" by David Thiel
    • "Android Security Internals" by Nikolay Elenkov
    • "Container Security" by Liz Rice
    • "Applied Cryptography" by Bruce Schneier
    • "Intelligence-Driven Incident Response" by Scott J. Roberts and Rebekah Brown

Online Platforms

YouTube Channels

Cybersecurity Tools

Reconnaissance & Information Gathering

  • Nmap - Network discovery and security auditing
  • Shodan - Search engine for Internet-connected devices
  • Recon-ng - Web reconnaissance framework
  • theHarvester - Email, subdomain and name harvester
  • Maltego - Open source intelligence and forensics
  • SpiderFoot - OSINT automation tool
  • Amass - In-depth attack surface mapping and asset discovery
  • Sublist3r - Subdomain enumeration tool
  • OWASP Maryam - Open-source intelligence framework

Vulnerability Assessment

  • OpenVAS - Open-source vulnerability scanner
  • Nessus - Vulnerability scanner
  • Nikto - Web server scanner
  • Qualys - Cloud-based security and compliance
  • Nexpose - Vulnerability management
  • Acunetix - Web vulnerability scanner
  • Netsparker - Web application security scanner
  • Nuclei - Vulnerability scanner based on templates
  • Vulners Scanner - NSE script using Vulners.com API

Web Application Security

  • Burp Suite - Web vulnerability scanner and proxy
  • OWASP ZAP - Web application security scanner
  • Sqlmap - Automatic SQL injection tool
  • Wfuzz - Web application fuzzer
  • Dirsearch - Web path scanner
  • Nikto - Web server scanner
  • Skipfish - Active web application security reconnaissance tool
  • w3af - Web Application Attack and Audit Framework
  • Arachni - Web application security scanner framework

Exploitation

  • Metasploit - Penetration testing framework
  • BeEF - Browser Exploitation Framework
  • Empire - Post-exploitation framework
  • Cobalt Strike - Adversary simulation software
  • PowerSploit - PowerShell post-exploitation framework
  • Pupy - Cross-platform remote administration and post-exploitation tool
  • Covenant - .NET command and control framework
  • Sliver - Cross-platform adversary emulation framework

Password Attacks

Forensics & Incident Response

Defensive Tools

  • Wireshark - Network protocol analyzer
  • Snort - Intrusion detection system
  • OSSEC - Host-based intrusion detection
  • Wazuh - Security monitoring solution
  • Security Onion - Security monitoring platform
  • Suricata - Network IDS/IPS
  • Zeek - Network security monitor
  • Sysmon - Windows system monitoring
  • YARA - Pattern matching for malware detection

Cloud Security

Mobile Security

  • MobSF - Mobile security testing framework
  • Frida - Dynamic instrumentation toolkit
  • Objection - Mobile runtime exploration
  • Drozer - Android security assessment
  • QARK - Android app vulnerability scanner
  • idb - iOS app security assessment tool
  • Needle - iOS security testing framework
  • Apktool - Android APK reverse engineering
  • Jadx - Dex to Java decompiler

OSINT Tools

Certifications Guide

Entry-Level Certifications

  • CompTIA Security+ - Foundational cybersecurity certification

    • Focus Areas: Network security, threats and vulnerabilities, identity management, cryptography
    • Prerequisites: None, but Network+ and 2 years of experience recommended
    • Exam Format: 90 questions, 90 minutes, performance-based and multiple choice
    • Validity: 3 years, renewable with continuing education
    • Career Paths: Security specialist, security administrator, security consultant

  • CompTIA Network+ - Networking fundamentals

    • Focus Areas: Network concepts, infrastructure, operations, security, troubleshooting
    • Prerequisites: None, but A+ and 9-12 months of experience recommended
    • Exam Format: 90 questions, 90 minutes, performance-based and multiple choice
    • Validity: 3 years, renewable with continuing education
    • Career Paths: Network administrator, network technician, help desk technician

  • CompTIA A+ - IT fundamentals

    • Focus Areas: Hardware, operating systems, software troubleshooting, networking, security
    • Prerequisites: None, but 9-12 months of experience recommended
    • Exam Format: Two exams: Core 1 and Core 2, 90 minutes each
    • Validity: 3 years, renewable with continuing education
    • Career Paths: Help desk technician, desktop support analyst, field service technician

  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Associate - Entry-level version of CISSP

    • Focus Areas: Same as CISSP but for those without the required experience
    • Prerequisites: Pass the CISSP exam but have less than 5 years of experience
    • Exam Format: Same as CISSP
    • Validity: Indefinite until requirements for full CISSP are met
    • Career Paths: Stepping stone to security analyst, security consultant roles

Intermediate Certifications

  • CompTIA CySA+ - Cybersecurity analyst

    • Focus Areas: Threat detection, security monitoring, incident response, vulnerability management
    • Prerequisites: Network+ and Security+ recommended, 4+ years of experience
    • Exam Format: 85 questions, 165 minutes, performance-based and multiple choice
    • Validity: 3 years, renewable with continuing education
    • Career Paths: Security analyst, threat intelligence analyst, security operations center (SOC) analyst

  • CompTIA PenTest+ - Penetration testing

    • Focus Areas: Planning and scoping, information gathering, vulnerability identification, attacks and exploits, reporting
    • Prerequisites: Network+ and Security+ recommended, 3+ years of experience
    • Exam Format: 85 questions, 165 minutes, performance-based and multiple choice
    • Validity: 3 years, renewable with continuing education
    • Career Paths: Penetration tester, vulnerability assessment analyst, security consultant

  • Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) - Ethical hacking and countermeasures

    • Focus Areas: Ethical hacking methodology, tools, techniques, countermeasures
    • Prerequisites: 2 years of experience or official training
    • Exam Format: 125 questions, 4 hours, multiple choice
    • Validity: 3 years, renewable with continuing education
    • Career Paths: Ethical hacker, security analyst, penetration tester

  • GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) - Security essentials

    • Focus Areas: Security administration, risk management, cryptography, access controls
    • Prerequisites: None
    • Exam Format: 180 questions, 5 hours, multiple choice and performance-based
    • Validity: 4 years, renewable with continuing education
    • Career Paths: Security administrator, security analyst, security engineer

Advanced Certifications

  • Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) - Penetration testing with Kali Linux

    • Focus Areas: Hands-on penetration testing, exploitation, privilege escalation
    • Prerequisites: Strong understanding of networking, Linux, and scripting
    • Exam Format: 24-hour practical exam with report submission
    • Validity: Lifetime
    • Career Paths: Penetration tester, red team operator, security consultant

  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) - Security management

    • Focus Areas: Security and risk management, asset security, security architecture, network security, identity management, security assessment, security operations, software development security
    • Prerequisites: 5 years of experience in at least 2 domains
    • Exam Format: 100-150 questions, 3 hours, adaptive testing
    • Validity: 3 years, renewable with continuing education
    • Career Paths: Security manager, security architect, CISO, security consultant

  • Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) - Information security management

    • Focus Areas: Information security governance, risk management, program development, incident management
    • Prerequisites: 5 years of experience in information security management
    • Exam Format: 150 questions, 4 hours, multiple choice
    • Validity: 3 years, renewable with continuing education
    • Career Paths: Security manager, security director, CISO

  • GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) - Incident handling

    • Focus Areas: Incident handling process, computer crime investigation, hacker techniques
    • Prerequisites: None
    • Exam Format: 115 questions, 3 hours, multiple choice
    • Validity: 4 years, renewable with continuing education
    • Career Paths: Incident responder, SOC analyst, security analyst

Specialized Certifications

  • Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) - Cloud security

    • Focus Areas: Cloud concepts, architecture, design, security, operations, legal compliance
    • Prerequisites: 5 years of IT experience, 3 years in security, 1 year in cloud security
    • Exam Format: 125 questions, 3 hours, multiple choice
    • Validity: 3 years, renewable with continuing education
    • Career Paths: Cloud security architect, cloud security engineer, cloud security manager

  • GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA) - Digital forensics

    • Focus Areas: Digital forensics techniques, incident response, malware analysis
    • Prerequisites: None
    • Exam Format: 115 questions, 3 hours, multiple choice
    • Validity: 4 years, renewable with continuing education
    • Career Paths: Digital forensic analyst, incident responder, malware analyst

  • Offensive Security Certified Expert (OSCE) - Advanced penetration testing

    • Focus Areas: Advanced exploitation techniques, custom exploit development
    • Prerequisites: OSCP recommended
    • Exam Format: 48-hour practical exam with report submission
    • Validity: Lifetime
    • Career Paths: Advanced penetration tester, exploit developer, security researcher

  • Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) - Information systems auditing

    • Focus Areas: IS audit process, governance, systems acquisition, operations, protection of assets
    • Prerequisites: 5 years of experience in IS audit, control, or security
    • Exam Format: 150 questions, 4 hours, multiple choice
    • Validity: 3 years, renewable with continuing education
    • Career Paths: IS auditor, IT audit manager, compliance officer

Career Paths

Defensive Roles

  • Security Analyst

    • Responsibilities: Monitor and analyze security alerts, implement security measures, conduct vulnerability assessments
    • Skills Required: Network security, security tools, vulnerability assessment, incident response
    • Certifications: CompTIA Security+, CySA+, GIAC GSEC
    • Career Progression: Senior Security Analyst → Security Engineer → Security Architect

  • Security Engineer

    • Responsibilities: Design and implement security solutions, manage security infrastructure, conduct security assessments
    • Skills Required: Network security, security architecture, security tools, scripting
    • Certifications: CISSP, GIAC GSEC, CEH
    • Career Progression: Senior Security Engineer → Security Architect → CISO

  • SOC Analyst

    • Responsibilities: Monitor security events, analyze alerts, respond to incidents, maintain security tools
    • Skills Required: SIEM tools, incident response, network security, log analysis
    • Certifications: CompTIA Security+, CySA+, GCIH
    • Career Progression: SOC Analyst Level 2 → SOC Analyst Level 3 → SOC Manager

  • Incident Responder

    • Responsibilities: Investigate and remediate security incidents, develop incident response plans, conduct forensic analysis
    • Skills Required: Digital forensics, malware analysis, incident response, threat hunting
    • Certifications: GCIH, GCFA, GREM
    • Career Progression: Senior Incident Responder → Incident Response Manager → Security Director

  • Security Architect

    • Responsibilities: Design secure systems and networks, develop security standards, evaluate security solutions
    • Skills Required: Security architecture, risk assessment, compliance, technical leadership
    • Certifications: CISSP, CISM, SABSA
    • Career Progression: Senior Security Architect → Security Director → CISO

Offensive Roles

  • Penetration Tester

    • Responsibilities: Test systems for vulnerabilities through simulated attacks, document findings, recommend remediation
    • Skills Required: Ethical hacking, exploitation, scripting, report writing
    • Certifications: OSCP, CEH, PenTest+
    • Career Progression: Senior Penetration Tester → Red Team Lead → Security Consultant

  • Red Team Operator

    • Responsibilities: Simulate advanced adversaries to test defenses, develop custom tools, conduct long-term engagements
    • Skills Required: Advanced exploitation, social engineering, evasion techniques, custom tool development
    • Certifications: OSCP, OSCE, GXPN
    • Career Progression: Senior Red Team Operator → Red Team Lead → Director of Offensive Security

  • Vulnerability Researcher

    • Responsibilities: Discover and analyze new vulnerabilities, develop proof-of-concept exploits, research security weaknesses
    • Skills Required: Reverse engineering, exploit development, programming, vulnerability analysis
    • Certifications: OSCE, GXPN, OSEE
    • Career Progression: Senior Vulnerability Researcher → Security Research Lead → Security Director

  • Exploit Developer

    • Responsibilities: Develop exploits for vulnerabilities, create custom attack tools, research exploitation techniques
    • Skills Required: Advanced programming, reverse engineering, exploit development, assembly language
    • Certifications: OSCE, OSEE, GXPN
    • Career Progression: Senior Exploit Developer → Research Lead → Security Director

Management Roles

  • Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

    • Responsibilities: Executive responsible for an organization's security strategy, policies, and programs
    • Skills Required: Leadership, risk management, security governance, business acumen, communication
    • Certifications: CISSP, CISM, CGEIT
    • Career Progression: Terminal position, may move to larger organizations or consulting

  • Security Manager

    • Responsibilities: Manage security teams and operations, implement security policies, oversee security projects
    • Skills Required: Team management, security operations, project management, risk assessment
    • Certifications: CISSP, CISM, PMP
    • Career Progression: Security Director → CISO

  • Security Consultant

    • Responsibilities: Advise organizations on security matters, conduct assessments, develop security strategies
    • Skills Required: Security assessment, consulting, communication, technical expertise
    • Certifications: CISSP, CISA, CISM
    • Career Progression: Senior Consultant → Principal Consultant → Practice Lead

  • GRC (Governance, Risk, Compliance) Specialist

    • Responsibilities: Ensure compliance with regulations and standards, conduct risk assessments, develop security policies
    • Skills Required: Compliance frameworks, risk assessment, policy development, auditing
    • Certifications: CISA, CRISC, CISM
    • Career Progression: GRC Manager → Director of Compliance → CISO

Specialized Roles

  • Digital Forensic Analyst

    • Responsibilities: Investigate digital evidence, recover and analyze data, document findings for legal proceedings
    • Skills Required: Digital forensics tools, evidence handling, chain of custody, legal knowledge
    • Certifications: GCFA, EnCE, CCFE
    • Career Progression: Senior Forensic Analyst → Forensic Manager → Director of Forensics

  • Malware Analyst

    • Responsibilities: Analyze malicious software, reverse engineer malware, develop detection methods
    • Skills Required: Reverse engineering, programming, malware analysis tools, sandboxing
    • Certifications: GREM, GXPN, GCIH
    • Career Progression: Senior Malware Analyst → Threat Research Lead → Security Director

  • Cloud Security Specialist

    • Responsibilities: Secure cloud environments, implement cloud security controls, assess cloud security
    • Skills Required: Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), cloud security tools, DevSecOps
    • Certifications: CCSP, AWS Certified Security, Azure Security Engineer
    • Career Progression: Senior Cloud Security Specialist → Cloud Security Architect → CISO

  • Application Security Engineer

    • Responsibilities: Secure software applications, conduct code reviews, implement secure coding practices
    • Skills Required: Secure coding, application security testing, programming, SDLC
    • Certifications: CSSLP, GWAPT, OSWE
    • Career Progression: Senior AppSec Engineer → AppSec Architect → Director of Application Security

Cybersecurity Communities

Online Communities

Professional Organizations

  • ISACA - Information Systems Audit and Control Association
  • (ISC)² - International Information System Security Certification Consortium
  • ISSA - Information Systems Security Association
  • SANS - SysAdmin, Audit, Network, and Security Institute
  • EC-Council - International Council of E-Commerce Consultants
  • CompTIA - Computing Technology Industry Association
  • CSA - Cloud Security Alliance
  • FIRST - Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams
  • Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) - Organization for women in cybersecurity

Conferences

Capture The Flag (CTF) Competitions

Beginner-Friendly CTFs

Advanced CTFs

  • DEF CON CTF - One of the oldest and most prestigious CTFs
  • CSAW CTF - CTF competition by NYU Tandon School of Engineering
  • PlaidCTF - Annual CTF by Plaid Parliament of Pwning
  • HITCON CTF - Hacks In Taiwan Conference CTF
  • Dragon CTF - CTF by Dragon Sector team
  • RuCTF - Russian CTF
  • 0CTF/TCTF - International CTF competition
  • Hack.lu CTF - CTF during the Hack.lu conference

CTF Resources

Cybersecurity Labs and Practice Environments

Online Practice Environments

Building Your Own Lab

Lab Guides and Resources

Security Research Resources

Vulnerability Databases

Security Blogs and News

Research Papers and Publications

Security Research Tools

  • Shodan - Search engine for Internet-connected devices
  • Censys - Search engine for Internet-connected devices
  • VirusTotal - Analyze suspicious files and URLs
  • Any.Run - Interactive malware analysis
  • Hybrid Analysis - Free malware analysis service
  • Cuckoo Sandbox - Automated malware analysis
  • MITRE ATT&CK - Knowledge base of adversary tactics and techniques
  • OWASP - Open Web Application Security Project resources

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A comprehensive, step-by-step guide to mastering cybersecurity from beginner to expert level with curated resources, tools, and career guidance

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