Key Takeaways
- Cyber security is a promising career path that requires continuous learning and staying updated with industry trends.
- Cybersecurity courses provide foundational knowledge and hands-on experience to build practical skills and earn professional qualifications.
- You can learn cyber security by enrolling in coding bootcamps, online courses, and degree programs.
- Despite its challenges, learning cyber security is worth it due to the high demand for professionals and projected job growth in the field.
The Current Demand for Cybersecurity Professionals
Data breaches are on the rise, having hit their second-highest numbers since The Identity Theft Resource Center started tracking them in 2005.1 According to the World Economic Forum, “Data breaches continued at historic levels in 2024, with 3,158 data compromises tracked by the Identity Theft Resource Center.”2 In its 2025 Global Outlook Report, the World Economic Forum identified that cyber threats continue to affect the global economy.
This exemplifies the steady demand for cybersecurity professionals in today’s economy. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth outlook for 2023-2033 is 33% for information security analysts—overlapping professions.3 This is much higher than the 4% average growth rate for all occupations in the U.S. This showcases the increasing global demand for cyber security analysts, and further exemplifies why cyber security is an extremely wise career path to pursue in the current landscape, with a wide variety of cybersecurity jobs available. Pursuing a cybersecurity career may offer long-term growth and stability.
Unveiling the Challenges and Rewards: Is cybersecurity hard to learn?
Most businesses, particularly those in the technology industry, require cyber security in order to protect data and information. This makes it an intriguing and promising career path to pursue, and learning cyber security is the first step. It’s natural for anyone interested in the field to wonder whether cyber security is hard to learn.
In this guide, you will learn whether cyber security is hard, the different learning paths you can choose, and tips to help you along your learning journey. The information below can help you start a successful career in this field and land a job in cyber security.
What Is Cyber Security Used For?
Cyber security is mainly used to protect the data and information of individuals and organizations. It helps to protect this information from malicious threats and can be divided into various categories. You can find the different uses of cyber security below.
Data Protection
Cyber security can be used to secure the privacy of data stored within a system or database from cyber attacks and criminals. This is vital for organizations that deal with sensitive information.
Network Security
Network security helps to protect the integrity and confidentiality of computer networks and all network-related databases from external access, intrusion, and attacks.
Software Protection
This is used to prevent unauthorized access to an organization’s software. Cyber security allows you to protect your software using tools, libraries, and technologies.
User Protection
Also known as end-user protection or security, this is an aspect of cyber security that protects individual users of software systems, digital systems, and computers rather than a whole organization. It allows them to protect themselves from malware and other cyber security threats.
Business Protection
This involves the protection of the entire system of a given organization or business. It includes protecting the business systems from malware, phishing, and other cyber attacks. It also involves the organization’s response to cyber attacks and the operating capacity of the computer systems.
How Hard Is Cyber Security to Learn?
Cyber security can be hard to learn, but it is totally possible to thrive in this area if you are willing to put in the required effort and time, like any other field. It doesn’t involve advanced math, making it easier to navigate than most other fields. If you have problem-solving skills, technical experience, and other requisite skills, you will be able to become a cyber security professional.
One of the aspects that makes cyber security difficult to learn is maintaining continuity, as you will need to continue learning and staying updated with cyber security industry trends regardless of your experience level in order to stay competitive. However, cyber security will be easier to learn and practice if you have a passion for the field and enjoy the thrill of new and ongoing challenges.
How Hard is a Cybersecurity Degree?
Cybersecurity degree programs can vary depending on the school and specialization you choose, and many prospective students wonder, “Is a cybersecurity degree hard?” While a cybersecurity degree can be hard, especially if you have no technical background, it is generally considered less challenging than science or engineering degrees but more demanding than degrees in humanities or business. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t find success in this field if you start from scratch. If you have strong critical thinking skills and stay committed, you are sure to find success, as earning a cybersecurity degree provides foundational knowledge and can open doors to advanced roles in the cybersecurity field.
Is Cyber Security Harder Than Programming?
Cyber security is considered more difficult than programming. Programming skills are a large part of the job—but not all-encompassing. Since cyber security analysts are responsible for creating custom IT software that protects a company’s hardware, they must have advanced technological expertise—understanding how to code, infiltrating code, and preventing infiltration are key job factors. This is one of the most difficult aspects of cyber security.
What Makes Cyber Security Hard to Learn?
So, why is cyber security so hard to learn? There are many facets to cyber security that can make it challenging to learn. These three factors influence how hard it is to master this tech field:
A Wide Variety of Tools is Needed
Part of the reason why cyber security is so hard is that it requires you to master a wide variety of practical skills, tools, techniques, and software in order to successfully do your job. Simulated environments and virtual labs are often used in training to provide hands-on experience with real-world scenarios, helping you develop and apply your skills in controlled, practical settings.
Technology Evolves Constantly
Another aspect that makes cyber security hard is the fact that technology is in constant evolution, meaning you need to spend a significant amount of time staying up to date with the latest developments in tech.
Threats Can Come From Anywhere
As new software and strategies are created to keep information safe, so are new forms of cyber attacks. This means that all cyber security professionals need to know the latest trends in hacking, on top of any new vulnerabilities that might arise in the systems they’re trying to defend. Threat analysis is essential for identifying and mitigating these risks effectively.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Cyber Security?
It takes about a year or two to fully understand and grasp cyber security concepts. In contrast to programming fields, cyber security requires more than three months to master. The length of time is also heavily influenced by the educational path you choose and whether you already have technical knowledge.
If you attend college, it will take you four to five years to earn a bachelor’s degree and two years to earn a cybersecurity master’s degree. A cyber security bootcamp could take anywhere from six months to a year to complete. If you choose the self-taught path, it could take at least two years to fully understand enough to land a job in cyber security.
How to Learn Cyber Security: Tips to Become a Cyber Security Expert
Enroll in a Program
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If you’re wondering how to learn cyber security, proper training is an obvious first step, and there are comprehensive cyber security courses available that combine classroom instruction, hands-on labs, and certification preparation to develop a basic understanding of the field. Whether you opt for an online course, a coding bootcamp, or a college degree in cyber security, this is how you can start your journey and learn the basics of cyber security best practices.
Practice the Skills You Learn
Every step you take in your cyber security education must be followed by continuous practice. This is to help you understand what you’ve learned and ensure that you can work independently and feel confident in your practical skills. You can accomplish this by working on individual cyber security projects to get hands-on experience.
Utilize Online Resources
Online resources can be extremely beneficial when learning cyber security, and you should take advantage of them. If you’re wondering how to study cyber security on your own to improve your skills, there are plenty of tutorials, videos, entry-level certifications, and courses to help you.
Earn a Certification
Cyber security certifications demonstrate your technical skills in a particular area of cyber security. Certifications such as Certified Ethical Hacker and Certified Information Security Manager are highly valued for advancing your career. Keep an eye on the latest trends so you can determine what to learn for a cyber security certification.
Gain Experience
Nothing helps you learn faster than getting as much practice as possible with real-world experiences. You can get this by applying for internships or cyber security apprenticeships, where you will work on real projects for real clients. This type of career development can significantly improve your workplace skills—as well as your hard and soft skills in cyber security.
Where to Learn About Cyber Security
An important question to ask yourself is where to learn cyber security. If you’re a high school graduate, a cyber security bachelor’s degree might be appropriate for you. Some students choose degrees that are not in cyber security, such as computer science or information technology, to build a strong foundational knowledge before specializing. However, if you’re transitioning from a different career or don’t want to invest in a four-year degree, then you can learn through a coding bootcamp, online courses, or free resources. These are all efficient ways to learn cyber security:
Cyber Security Coding Bootcamps
Cyber security coding bootcamps are designed to teach you the relevant skills to jumpstart a security engineer career. These are short, immersive programs designed to equip you with the in-demand information security skills and theoretical knowledge that employers look for today. Students learn from industry experts through hands-on experience and practical training—building a professional portfolio as they go.
Cyber Security Online Courses
Online courses are another excellent way to learn cyber security. There are numerous online programs that can help you gain the necessary skills in ethical hacking, digital forensics, cyber threats, computer programming, and more. If you decide to pursue this educational path, you can begin with beginner-level courses and progress from there. Some of these courses also include hands-on training and certificates of completion.
Cyber Security Degree Programs
Cyber security can be a highly rewarding major—especially with the growing demand of cyber professionals in today’s workforce. You can study computer science, computer engineering, information technology, or any other IT-related degree program to start a career in this field. A college program will teach you all of the concepts you’ll need to start a career in cyber security. You can also choose to pursue a graduate degree after that.
Cyber Security Free Resources
If you’re wondering where to learn cyber security for free, rest assured that there are many resources to help you at no cost. Technology fields are known to have endless resources that can be used to learn the skills required to start a career or advance your skills. These include free tutorials, videos, articles, books, and online forums and communities where you can connect with other learners. SANS Institute (SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security)—the world’s largest, trusted cyber training, certification, and resource provider—offers cyber professionals free training events like webinars, summits, and networking events.4 You can also explore free cyber security bootcamps, a great option to master the fundamentals quickly.
Is It Hard to Get a Job in Cyber Security?
Once you’ve overcome the learning curve, obtained formal training in some capacity, and have a shiny portfolio to showcase your professional abilities, getting a job in cyber security may not be as difficult as other professions—considering the industry’s desperate need for cyber professionals. A cybersecurity professional is defined by strong analytical skills, technical expertise, and a commitment to protecting digital assets from evolving threats. You can work in various industries, including financial institutions, manufacturing, communication, retail, government, and healthcare. There are also numerous job opportunities available in this dynamic field, and successful cybersecurity professionals continually update their knowledge and adapt to new threats.
Jobs You Can Get With Cyber Security Skills
- Information Security Analyst: Also known as security analysts, these professionals install, test, and monitor security systems on computer networks and systems. They also document the security process and write reports on the progress and safety of entire networks. Information security analysts earn an annual average salary of $124,910, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.3
- Network Security Engineer: These professionals secure network systems from cyber attacks, cyber threats, bugs, and malware. They test and configure digital networks to detect threats and prevent them. This is one of the highest-paying coding careers. As of July 2025, Glassdoor shows that network security engineers earn an average annual salary of $160,000.5
- Security Architect: Security architects design, install, test, and implement security protocols and solutions for organizations. They review an organization’s security systems and make recommendations to improve their efficiency. As of July 2025, Glassdoor shows that security architects earn a median annual salary of $223,000.6
- Cyber Security Consultant: Security consultants are professionals who review, analyze, and assess an organization’s security system to detect potential breaches or threats and provide solutions. As of July 2025, Glassdoor shows that the average cyber consultant earns $152,000 per year.7
- Security Administrator: These cyber security experts work to install, administer, and troubleshoot the security solutions of an organization. They develop privacy policies, measures, and training documents to help employees of an organization understand security solutions. As of July 2025, Glassdoor shows that security admins made an average salary of $125,000.8
Is Cyber Security Worth Learning?
Yes. Because of the growing global demand, cyber security is worth learning. With increased cyber threats and attacks, and the current industry needing to fill those professional gaps, now is a great time to get into the cyber security profession.
FAQ: Is Cyber Security Hard to Learn?
Although cyber security does require some math, the level of math required can vary depending on your chosen specialization. For many entry-level positions in the tech field, high school math and algebra might be enough. The more highly technical your job, the more complex math is required.
Is cyber security hard for beginners?
Yes, cyber security is hard for beginners who have no prior knowledge or experience in tech. However, there are many ways for beginners to quickly gain the skills to break into cyber security, including coding bootcamps, online courses, and degree programs.
How long will it take to learn cyber security?
It could take anywhere between six months and two years to learn cyber security. This depends on your educational path, as some require more time than others. Coding bootcamps, for instance, could take between six months and a year, while college could take up to five years.
Is cyber security harder than computer science?
No, cyber security is not harder than computer science. In fact, computer science covers a much wider range of topics and can sometimes require higher-level skills in math, making it harder than cyber security, which is narrower in scope.
Sources:
1 https://www.cdpinstitute.org/news/numbers-hit-by-2024-data-breaches-second-highest-ever-itrc/
2 https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-cybersecurity-outlook-2025/digest/
3 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm#tab-1
4 https://www.sans.org/free-cybersecurity-events
5 https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/network-security-engineer-salary-SRCH_KO0,25.htm
6 https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/security-architect-salary-SRCH_KO0,18.htm
7 https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/cyber-security-consultant-salary-SRCH_KO0,25.htm
8 https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/security-administrator-salary-SRCH_KO0,22.htm
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