On the UMGC Bookshelf: New Title Lays out Path to Career in Cybersecurity

The book details the prerequisites needed to get a job in cyber. It discusses industry certifications, degree programs and how to build a realistic hacking lab where job seekers can practice their craft.

"Like a professional athlete at the top of their game, you should be practicing hands-on activities with various cybersecurity tools," the authors advise.

Varsalone, who leads the UMGC cybersecurity competition team, is a proponent of hands-on practice. In the book, he highlights the importance of competition as a way to gain experience and build skills.

One section of the book is dedicated specifically to industry certifications and the importance they serve in advancing your career. The authors recommend that those just starting out in the field find a cybersecurity program that aligns with leading industry certifications.

"In the program I teach at UMGC, all of the courses align to certifications, such as CCNA, CCNP, A+, CEH, CISSP, Cloud+, CYSA+, Linux+, Net+, Pentest+, Security+, as well as Microsoft and AWS related certifications," said Varsalone. "It would be best to focus on a few certifications during your learning journey, with Security+ and CISSP offering the best return on investment."

The Hack is Back also includes numerous resources, many of them free, and tips about networking opportunities that will put readers in the best position for breaking into a cybersecurity role or advancing their current career to the next level.

About the Authors

Jesse Varsalone is the collegiate associate professor of cybersecurity technology at UMGC as well as the coach of the university's award-winning cybersecurity competition team. His wide-ranging teaching experience includes assignments with the U.S. Department of Defense as well as in K-12 schools, community college, and undergraduate and graduate programs. Varsalone has also conducted cybersecurity boot camps for high school students and has taught faculty and industry professionals at conferences. He holds several certifications in the IT field, including A+, Arduino, CASP+, CEH, CISSP, Cloud+, CTT+, CYSA+, iNet+, Linux+, Net+, Pentest+, Security+, and Server+.

Christopher Haller is an offensive security practice lead who has more than 12 years of expertise in penetration testing, incident response, risk evaluation, threat intelligence and system administration. During his tenure with the Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command, he spearheaded incident management for attacks on classified and unclassified global Navy networks. Haller holds a Master's in Cybersecurity Management and Policy, a graduate certificate in penetration testing and ethical hacking, and numerous certifications, including GSE, CISSP, GPEN, and GXPN. His work has led to the identification of over a dozen Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), showcasing his talent for spotting intricate weak points often overlooked by conventional scanning tools.