Cyber Security Roadmap: A Practical Guide for 2026

Educational Note

This roadmap is for educational and career-planning purposes.
The path can change based on your goals, local job market, prior background, and specialization.

Why a Roadmap Matters

Cyber Security is a broad field with many tracks.
A roadmap helps you avoid random learning and focus on building skills in a logical order.

That said, there is no single perfect roadmap for everyone.
Your journey may change if you want to follow Red Team, Blue Team, Purple Team, Cloud Security, AppSec, GRC, or other profiles.

Foundation Stage (0 to 3 months)

Build core technical fundamentals first:

• Networking basics (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, routing, ports)
• Operating systems (Linux and Windows internals)
• Scripting basics (Python, Bash, PowerShell)
• Basic programming logic and automation
• Version control with Git

Focus on understanding systems, not memorizing tools.

Security Fundamentals Stage (2 to 6 months)

Learn common security concepts:

• CIA triad and risk management basics
• Authentication, authorization, encryption, hashing
• Common vulnerabilities and attack surfaces
• Security monitoring fundamentals
• Incident response lifecycle

Useful frameworks and references:

• NIST Cybersecurity Framework
• MITRE ATT&CK
• OWASP Top 10

Hands-On Lab Stage (ongoing)

Practice in safe, legal, controlled environments:

• Home lab with virtual machines
• CTF platforms and training ranges
• Basic SIEM, firewall, IDS/IPS simulation
• Log analysis and threat detection exercises
• Vulnerability scanning in isolated environments

Consistency is more important than intensity.

Choose Your Specialization

At this stage, your roadmap should branch by profile.

Red Team Path

Main focus: offensive simulation and adversary emulation.

• Recon and enumeration methods
• Web, network, and AD attack fundamentals
• Exploit development basics
• Post-exploitation and lateral movement concepts
• OPSEC and reporting quality

Blue Team Path

Main focus: detection, defense, and incident handling.

• SOC workflows and triage
• SIEM rule tuning and alert quality
• Threat hunting methodologies
• Endpoint and network telemetry analysis
• Incident response playbooks and post-incident review

Purple Team Path

Main focus: integrating offense and defense.

• Adversary simulation with measurable outcomes
• Detection engineering from attack scenarios
• Security control validation
• Continuous feedback loop between teams

Other Common Paths

• Cloud Security
• Application Security (AppSec)
• Malware Analysis and Reverse Engineering
• Digital Forensics
• Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)

Certifications and Portfolio Strategy

Certifications can help, but practical output matters more over time.

Build a visible portfolio:

• Write technical notes and post-mortems
• Document lab projects and detection ideas
• Share scripts for automation and analysis
• Show methodology, not only tool screenshots

Suggested 12-Month Progression

1. Months 1 to 3: networking, systems, scripting basics.
2. Months 4 to 6: security fundamentals, labs, and frameworks.
3. Months 7 to 9: choose one specialization and go deeper.
4. Months 10 to 12: portfolio projects, interview prep, and advanced labs.

Adjust this timeline based on your available time and previous experience.

Final Advice

Treat this roadmap as a living document.
Review and adapt it every few months.

The best roadmap is the one you can execute consistently.
Your specialization can and should evolve as you gain real-world exposure.