Essential Cybersecurity Resources for Early Career Professionals

Breaking into cybersecurity can feel overwhelming with the sheer volume of resources available. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a student, or transitioning into the field, having a curated list of high-quality resources can make all the difference. Here’s my collection of platforms, courses, and content that have proven valuable for developing practical cybersecurity skills.

Hands-On Practice Platforms

HackTheBox

Arguably one of the best platforms for hands-on hacking practice. HTB provides purposely vulnerable machines across various difficulty levels, complete with community forums to guide you in the right direction without giving away solutions.

Why it’s worth it: The VIP subscription ($10/mo) gives you access to all retired machines, allowing you to practice at your own pace and follow along with walkthroughs. This is invaluable for learning.

• HackTheBox Platform: https://www.hackthebox.com/login
• HTB Academy: https://academy.hackthebox.com/ - Structured learning content that teaches concepts then lets you apply them immediately
• Beginner’s Guide: How to Learn Hacking

PortSwigger Academy

Free, high-quality training focused on web application vulnerabilities. PortSwigger (the company behind Burp Suite) has created one of the best resources for learning web security fundamentals and advanced techniques.

• https://portswigger.net/web-security

pwn.college

An education platform designed for students to learn and practice core cybersecurity concepts in a hands-on environment. Great for building a strong foundation in security fundamentals.

• https://pwn.college/

Structured Learning Platforms

TheCyberMentor (TCM Security)

Excellent beginner-friendly courses that build concepts progressively through video series. Very affordable with regularly added content. TCM’s courses are known for being practical and well-paced.

• TCM Academy: https://academy.tcm-sec.com/
• Main Site: https://www.thecybermentor.com/

Cybrary

Video training platform offering both free and paid courses ($60/mo for full access). Good variety of content across different security domains.

• https://www.cybrary.it/

Maldev Academy

An advanced resource for learning custom malware development, AV/EDR bypass techniques, and Windows internals. Primarily focused on C and C++. While on the advanced side, it’s an incredible resource for deepening your understanding of offensive security and Windows architecture.

• https://maldevacademy.com/

Bug Bounty Platforms

HackerOne

Leading bug bounty platform where you can help companies by finding and reporting vulnerabilities—and get paid for valid submissions. The disclosed reports are invaluable for learning real-world vulnerability discovery and exploitation.

Hacker101 provides free introduction to bug bounties with practice web applications.

• HackerOne: https://hackerone.com/
• Hacker101: https://www.hacker101.com/

BugCrowd

HackerOne’s primary competitor, offering similar bug bounty opportunities plus Bugcrowd University for structured learning.

• Bugcrowd University: https://www.bugcrowd.com/hackers/bugcrowd-university/
• Bugcrowd Platform: https://www.bugcrowd.com/

Industry Standards

OWASP

The Open Web Application Security Project focuses on improving software security. Their OWASP Top 10 is essential reading for anyone in application security.

• Main Site: https://owasp.org/
• OWASP Top 10: https://owasp.org/www-project-top-ten/

OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional)

The industry-standard certification for penetration testing. This is not where you should start, but it’s important to know about as a goal. The OSCP tests your skills in a 24-hour practical exam and is highly respected in the industry.

• https://www.offensive-security.com/pwk-oscp/

Content Creators

IppSec

Prolific YouTuber who creates walkthroughs for HackTheBox retired machines. His videos are excellent for understanding methodology and problem-solving processes in penetration testing.

• Search Tool: https://ippsec.rocks/ - Searchable index of all his videos
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa6eh7gCkpPo5XXUDfygQQA

John Hammond

One of the most well-known figures in cybersecurity content creation. His YouTube channel breaks down complex topics into digestible segments, often sending you down interesting rabbit holes of new things to learn.

• Links: https://jh.live/links
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/johnhammond010

Staying Current

Podcasts

The cybersecurity landscape changes rapidly. Podcasts are a great way to stay informed while commuting or exercising. Some favorites include:

• Risky Business: https://risky.biz/
• SANS Internet Stormcast: https://isc.sans.edu/podcast.html
• Security Weekly: https://securityweekly.com/
• Darknet Diaries: https://darknetdiaries.com/
• More Options: https://blog.feedspot.com/cyber_security_podcasts/

RSS Aggregators

Following high-quality security blogs and news sources is crucial. Feedly provides a free RSS aggregator to centralize your security news consumption.

• Feedly: https://feedly.com

Getting Started

If you’re just beginning, I recommend this path:

1. Start with HackTheBox Academy or TheCyberMentor for structured learning
2. Practice on HackTheBox VIP or PortSwigger Academy to apply what you learn
3. Watch IppSec or John Hammond videos to see how experienced practitioners approach problems
4. Subscribe to a security podcast to build awareness of current threats and trends
5. Join bug bounty platforms when you’re ready to test your skills on real targets

Remember: cybersecurity is a marathon, not a sprint. Pick one or two resources to start, build consistency, and expand from there. The most important thing is hands-on practice and continuous learning.

Happy hacking!