Your Cyber Path: How to Get Your Dream Cybersecurity Job · Kip Boyle

EP 93: CyberWIDE Panel - LevelUp - InfoSec Certifications Soup

March 31, 2023·1 hr 28 min·5 clips

Jason says there are over 1,800 IT certifications, but cybersecurity analysts should focus on Security+, CySA+, and ITIL Foundation.

1. Your Cyber Path’s EP 93 centers on a North Texas ISSA Cyberwide panel called “Making Sense of InfoSec Certification Soup.” 2. Marie Garcia, vice president of the North Texas ISSA chapter, hosts the session with Kip Boyle and Jason Dion, both known from Your Cyber Path. 3. The panel asks what certifications, experience, and work style actually help someone get into cybersecurity. 4. Jason Dion says he started as a trainee pilot in the Air Force before moving into computer work on highly classified air-to-air weapons systems development. 5. Kip Boyle says he worked in a bank-vault office with a three-combination lock and later moved into the private sector. 6. Jason says he has worked in government and military contracting for about 20 years and now runs Dion Training. 7. Kip says his background is more commercial, including banking, finance, insurance, and sports teams. 8. The discussion pushes back on the idea of “entry-level cybersecurity” as a simple first step. 9. Jason compares cybersecurity careers to an airline pilot path and says many “entry-level” roles still expect two to five years of IT or related experience. 10. Kip adds that people should ask whether they personally fit the work, using DISC profiles and job-style preferences as a guide. 11. Jason says he disliked a senior strategic defense role because decisions took 18 to 24 months to reach implementation. 12. He contrasts that with running a SOC or IT network, where trouble tickets and outages made his day move faster. 13. Jason says many people want pen testing, but there are about four cybersecurity analyst jobs for every one pen tester job. 14. He adds that about 90% of a pen tester’s time goes to reconnaissance and reporting rather than “hands-on keyboard hacking.” 15. Jason recommends Security+ as a common baseline and says 80% to 90% of job postings ask for it. 16. He also says roughly 75% to 80% of government roles require Security+ and may fire workers who do not earn it within six months. 17. Jason says there are more than 1,800 IT certifications, but they are not “Pokemon” and should be chosen by role and market. 18. He recommends Security+, CySA+, and ITIL Foundation for analyst roles and says many Fortune 500 companies run on ITIL. 19. Kip says the tone is practical, direct, and focused on real hiring constraints, resume filtering, and skills-based training. 20. People seeking a first cybersecurity job or a certification plan should find it useful, while anyone wanting broad motivational advice may skip it.

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Certifications help, but hiring still rewards clarity and trust.

A live North Texas ISSA webinar becomes a practical tour through cybersecurity hiring, resumes, certification myths, and the habits that help people move up.

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You want straight talk on certifications, resumes, and cybersecurity interviews.

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