Success Series: 20% Pay Raise. 2 Cybersec Masters Programs Offers. 1 Determined IT coordinator.

In early 2018, I did a workshop on [ethical hacking](https://www.cybrary.it/course/ethical-hacking/) with a local information security group, and I fell in love with the prospect of working in Cybersecurity. At the workshop, they talked about online learning and one of the platforms was Cybrary - so I had to check it out. It was overwhelming at first; with the number of courses available for free, the first thought that came to mind was, “The best way to learn fast is to get certified in cybersecurity, and they have courses for CompTIA, so I’ll start there!” From there, I did one course after the other, learning a ton in the process. After the CompTIA Security+ course I felt confident to tackle this certification exam - and of course I got certified! However, it wasn’t enough. I wanted more, and Insider Pro launched around the time I needed the hands-on experience for the CompTIA CySA+ certification. I enrolled and found the labs to be very close to real world scenarios, so I kept learning a lot from them!

Develop the cybersecurity experience to reach your next career level >>

The SOC Analyst Career Path was a well-defined set of courses, micro-certifications, labs and challenges. With my new found knowledge, I managed to start implementing some new policies in my workplace, and eventually I also got certified in CySA+ after studying a lot.The opportunity to join the mentor’s program was also a very interesting challenge that allowed me to exchange new experiences with people from around the world and that was an experience I didn’t find anywhere else. My new skills allowed me to be admitted to a Master Degree in “Computer Security Engineering” at the Polytechnic Institute of Beja, and also Post Graduate Work in “Computer Security and Ethical Hacking” at Lusófona University. The funny thing is, these degree courses are a lot easier to do because a lot of content I already tackled on Cybrary. Even though I get a lot of messages from headhunters, and the number of interviews I had this year increased, I am happy that in the meantime, my employer recognized my efforts to improve the organization's overall security, and gave me a raise.

Learn how to develop your skills to reach your next level in cybersecurity >>

Now is the time to give back to the community, to do my part. What I believe is, Cybrary Insider Pro has been helping me gain confidence in my work, giving me the tools to get certified and overall making me a better professional; so give your best, learn as much as you can, and when you feel ready, give back to the community. Set your goals, work hard, and remember, never give up!

Become an Insider Pro to build your cyber career  

Please Note: At the request of the individual featured in this success story photos or names may be modified to protect their privacy.