Role Snapshot A Penetration Tester is often called an Ethical Hacker. In the United States, this role is recognized as a professional who is authorized to safely test systems in order to find weaknesses before real attackers do. Penetration Testers help organizations improve security by thinking like attackers, but always working within legal, ethical, and […]
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Role Snapshot SOC Analyst means Security Operations Center Analyst. In the United States, this role is widely recognized as one of the most common and realistic entry points into cybersecurity careers. SOC Analysts help organizations keep their systems safe, available, and trustworthy by monitoring activity and responding to early signs of risk. If cybersecurity were
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What This Article Is About Choosing a career can feel overwhelming — especially in a field as broad as cybersecurity. That’s why this article uses gamification. Instead of asking you to make a “life decision,” it invites you to discover patterns in how you think, act, and solve problems. This approach removes pressure and turns
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What This Article Is About In the cyber world, we use colors to define our mission. Just like teams in a sports league or characters in an RPG, each color represents a unique way of protecting the digital world. Some heroes are built to defend, others to challenge systems, and others to build what everyone
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Cybersecurity is a broad and evolving field. There is no single role that defines what it means to be a Cyber Hero. This article introduces important cybersecurity career paths explored throughout the Be a Cyber Hero initiative, helping young people understand different roles, responsibilities, and ways to contribute to digital safety. It is not a
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What This Role Does A Digital Forensics Analyst investigates digital evidence to understand what happened, how it happened, and when it happened during a security incident. This role focuses on collecting, preserving, and analyzing data from devices, systems, and digital environments in a way that maintains integrity and accuracy. Digital Forensics Analysts don’t guess or
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What This Role Does An Insider Threat Analyst focuses on identifying and reducing risks that come from inside an organization. These risks do not always involve bad intentions. They may come from: Insider Threat Analysts help organizations understand how trusted access can unintentionally create risk — and how to reduce that risk responsibly. Why This
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What This Role Does A Vulnerability Analyst focuses on identifying, understanding, and prioritizing security weaknesses in systems, applications, and infrastructure. This role answers a critical question: Vulnerability Analysts don’t exploit systems like Penetration Testers do. Instead, they analyze findings, evaluate risk, and help teams decide what to fix first and why. Their work transforms raw
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What This Role Does A Penetration Tester, often called an Ethical Hacker, is a cybersecurity professional who is authorized to simulate real attacks on systems, applications, and networks. Their mission is simple and critical: Penetration Testers don’t break systems for fun. They test defenses with permission, responsibility, and clear objectives. Their work turns potential damage
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What This Role Does A GRC Specialist focuses on Governance, Risk, and Compliance — often called GRC. This role helps organizations ensure that security practices are: GRC Specialists don’t configure systems or respond to incidents directly. They help organizations set expectations, measure compliance, and manage risk responsibly. Their work connects cybersecurity with ethics, accountability, and
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