Episode 153: Advice for Newcomers to IT and Cybersecurity

In episode 153 of Cybersecurity Where You Are, Sean Atkinson is joined by Jason Ashong, IT Support Specialist at the Center for Internet Security® (CIS®). Jason shares his journey from tinkering with tech as a kid to working in IT and pursuing cybersecurity research. The conversation covers education, mentorship, hands-on experience, and advice for newcomers entering the field. Here are some highlights from our episode:

• 01:10. Jason’s early days in IT of fixing devices and breaking things to learn
• 02:14. First professional IT/helpdesk experience at Dutchess Community College
• 03:48. The importance of mentors pushing you to grow
• 06:02. Jason’s advice to students of understanding foundational computing knowledge
• 08:45. The value of technical skills in networking, cryptography, and coding
• 11:00. Hands-on experience through labs, competitions, and research projects
• 16:08. Self-confidence, practice, and dedicated time as tips for navigating the job market
• 19:29. The role of attitude in opening up new opportunities
• 24:40. Jason flips the script and interviews Sean
• Mistakes to avoid when entering the field: imposter syndrome and perfectionism
• Cybersecurity as a path of continuous learning
• Opportunities for newcomers with experience in artificial intelligence and data science

Resources

• Episode 129: Embedding Cybersecurity in Project Management
• Episode 95: AI Augmentation and Its Impact on Cyber Defense
• Episode 44: A Zero Trust Framework Knows No End
• TryHackMe
• Hack The Box

If you have some feedback or an idea for an upcoming episode of Cybersecurity Where You Are, let us know by emailing [e-mail].