How to Get Started in Cybersecurity 2026

I've been writing versions of this guide since 2008. The most recent big one was the 2019 update , which covers the full tactical ladder—education, building a lab, projects, bug bounties, certifications, conferences, networking—and I still stand behind most of it. But when people ask me how to get into cybersecurity now, in 2026, I find myself giving a different answer.