I started learning cybersecurity without really knowing where to begin.
I kept seeing roadmaps, certifications, tools, and people talking about advanced security topics. I wanted to get there, but I also knew I was missing the basics.
So I decided to slow down and build a proper foundation first.
I started with TryHackMe's Pre Security path.
Now, I've finished it.
And honestly, completing the path feels less important than what changed while going through it.
What I Learned
The path covered a lot of the fundamentals I wanted to understand:
- Networking — IP addresses, DNS, TCP/IP, HTTP, and how devices communicate
- Web fundamentals — how browsers, websites, and servers interact
- Linux & Windows — basic commands, files, permissions, and system concepts
- Security fundamentals — the basic ideas behind how systems can be attacked and protected
Before starting, I had heard most of these terms before.
But knowing a definition and actually understanding where something fits are two different things.
The labs helped me connect those pieces.
The Biggest Thing I Learned
The biggest lesson wasn't a specific command or technology.
It was that fundamentals really matter.
My long-term goal is to become a Red Teamer, but right now I'm focusing on building toward SOC and Blue Team skills first.
That means I need to understand networks, operating systems, logs, normal system behavior, and how attacks actually look.
I don't want to jump straight into advanced tools without understanding what's happening underneath them.
You can't recognize what's abnormal if you don't understand what's normal.
That idea probably sums up this stage of my learning better than anything else.
What's Next?
Pre Security was my foundation.
Now I want to go deeper into SOC and Blue Team topics:
- Logs
- SIEM
- Threat detection
- Network monitoring
- Incident response
- Security investigations
I'll also keep learning web security and offensive security alongside it.
Eventually, I want to bring all of that together and move toward Red Teaming.
But for now, I'm taking it one step at a time.
One Milestone Down
Finishing Pre Security doesn't make me a cybersecurity expert.
It just means I'm a little further than I was when I started.
And that's enough.
I'm going to keep learning, building, and documenting the journey as I go.
Pre Security → Done.
Next chapter → SOC & Blue Team.
If you've completed Pre Security too, what did you move on to next?
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