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The career-change playbook

Think different.
Hack smart.
Defend everything.

The roadmap to your first cybersecurity job — labs, certs that actually matter, a portfolio strategy when you have no experience, and the interview answers hiring managers screen for. Built on four pillars. Engineered to get you hired.

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Become a Cybersecurity Pro — by Earnest Poindexter
39s
Threat ticker
A cyberattack happens roughly every 39 seconds — equating to over 2,200 cyberattacks daily. The defenders are outnumbered. That's the gap this book trains you to fill.
SOURCE — UNIV. OF MARYLAND / CUKIER STUDY

// The state of cybersecurity, by the numbers

$4.88M
Average cost of a data breach in 2024
(IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report)
3.5M
Unfilled cybersecurity positions worldwide
(ISC2 Workforce Study)
$120K
US median cybersecurity salary
(BLS / industry surveys)
72%
Of organizations hit by ransomware last year
(Sophos State of Ransomware)
// PROJECTED ANNUAL COST OF GLOBAL CYBERCRIME
$0.00T
$0 $10.5T
By 2025, the world will lose $10.5 trillion annually to cybercrime — up from $3T in 2015. The single largest economic transfer of wealth in history.
SOURCE — CYBERSECURITY VENTURES, 2025 PROJECTION
// The four pillars

Everything you need, organized into four pillars.

No fluff. No padding. Each pillar is built on the same principle: every page should move you measurably closer to your first cybersecurity job.

01

Offensive Mindset

Think like an attacker before you think like a defender. Reconnaissance, exploitation, post-exploitation — the muscle that hiring managers test for.

  • Pen-test methodology
  • Hack The Box & TryHackMe paths
  • OSCP-aligned labs
02

Defensive Expertise

Detect, contain, recover. The blue-team skill stack that every SOC, MSSP, and security-engineering team is hiring for right now.

  • SIEM & log analysis
  • Incident response playbooks
  • Threat hunting fundamentals
03

Real-World Skills

The unglamorous stuff that actually shows up on the job — tickets, post-mortems, stakeholder updates, and the tooling you'll use every day.

  • Home-lab build guides
  • Tooling deep-dives (Splunk, Nmap, Burp)
  • Hands-on capstone projects
04

Career Mastery

The piece most books skip. How to choose your path, build a portfolio with zero experience, get past ATS filters, and negotiate the offer up.

  • Cert ranking & study plans
  • Resume + LinkedIn templates
  • Interview question bank
// The trend line

Cyberattacks aren't slowing down. They're accelerating.

Daily attack volume has climbed every year for the last decade. The defenders aren't keeping pace — which is exactly the gap this book trains you to fill.

Estimated cyberattacks per day, worldwide

Attacks / day (thousands)
3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2,244
// Illustrative trend based on publicly reported figures. Verify with current source data before publication.
// What you could earn

Six figures isn't the ceiling. It's the floor.

US median total compensation by role. Even entry-level positions clear $75K in most metros, and senior roles command well above the broader tech average.

Security Analyst (entry)
$78K
SOC Analyst II
$98K
Penetration Tester
$120K
Security Engineer
$140K
Security Manager
$165K
CISO / Director
$220K+
// US median total compensation. Sourced from BLS, Payscale, Glassdoor industry data. Numbers will vary by metro and employer.
FREE · INSTANT DOWNLOAD

Top 10 Cybersecurity Careers
Beginners Can Start Today

A simplified 5 page PDF guide breaking down ten real entry-level cybersecurity roles. For each role you'll see the day-to-day work, the skills required, salary ranges, and the fastest realistic path from where you are now to your offer letter.

  • SOC Analyst, GRC Analyst, Pen Tester, Cloud Security Engineer, and 6 more — each with a realistic path-in
  • Honest salary ranges by role and US metro
  • The certifications that matter (and the ones that don't) for each track
  • Resume keywords that pass ATS filters at most security teams
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Top 10 Cybersecurity Careers You Can Start Today — free PDF guide cover PDF
// Earnest Poindexter · About the author

Built across the Executive Branch, the Federal Judiciary, and top Fortune 500 Companies.

With more than 15 years of distinguished experience in cybersecurity, I have built a career dedicated to protecting critical infrastructure, leading high-performing security teams, and driving enterprise-wide security strategy across both the public and private sectors. My journey began as a Junior Cybersecurity Analyst with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where I developed a strong foundation in information security within one of the nation's premier healthcare and research institutions.

I later advanced into cybersecurity roles with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) before stepping into executive leadership as an Information Systems Security Manager (ISSM) with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Throughout my tenure within the Executive Branch, I played a key role in strengthening security operations, risk management, and organizational resilience across mission-critical federal environments.

Following a successful federal executive career, I transitioned to the Federal Judiciary, where I served as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit — widely regarded as the second most influential court in the United States, behind only the Supreme Court. In this role, I led strategic cybersecurity initiatives focused on safeguarding highly sensitive judicial systems, advancing cyber governance, and strengthening enterprise security architecture.

My expertise extends beyond government service into executive cybersecurity leadership within Fortune 500 organizations ranked among the nation's top enterprises. I have held senior leadership positions with Sysco — the world's largest global food distributor, and Freddie Mac — the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, responsible for ensuring the continued liquidity, stability, and affordability of the U.S. housing market. Within this organization, I served as a Cyber Security Manager, overseeing three highly skilled teams, responsible for enterprise security operations, risk remediation, and strategic cyber defense initiatives.

Today, my career reflects a unique blend of executive leadership, public service, and private-sector innovation — built upon a passion for cybersecurity excellence, organizational resilience, and mentoring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

// Career Path
01
NIH
Jr. Cybersecurity Analyst
Executive Branch
02
NOAA
Cybersecurity Roles
Executive Branch
03
FEMA / DHS
ISSM
Executive Branch
04
DC Court of Appeals
CISO
Federal Judiciary
05
Sysco
Senior Cyber Leader
Fortune 500
06
Freddie Mac
Cybersecurity Manager
Fortune 500
// Questions

Answered up front.

What formats do I get?

PDF and EPUB, bundled together in a single download. The PDF is optimized for desktop reading and the EPUB works on Kindle, iPad, Kobo, and any other reader.

How is it delivered?

Instantly. You'll get a download link in your order confirmation email within seconds of purchase. The link stays valid for 60 days; email me if you ever lose access.

Is this for complete beginners?

Yes. The book assumes no prior cybersecurity experience — just basic comfort with a computer. If you can install software and follow instructions, you have everything you need to start.

Do I get updates?

Yes. When I publish a revised edition, every past buyer gets the new version free — sent to the email address used at checkout.

Is there a refund policy?

30-day no-questions-asked refund. Email me and I'll process it within a day.

Can my IT team or bootcamp buy in bulk?

Yes — email me for team and education pricing. Bundles of 5+ get a 30% discount, and larger orders for bootcamps or corporate training are negotiated case-by-case.

Does this replace getting a certification?

No — it tells you which certifications are worth your time and money, and how to study for them efficiently. Think of this as the meta-strategy around the certs, not a substitute for them.