My Cybersecurity Journey: From Foundations to Google Certification and What Comes Next

Cybersecurity became much more than just a career interest for me — it turned into a mission, a long-term direction, and a way to rebuild my life around freedom, expertise, and discipline.
In this blog, I’m sharing the full story of how everything started, why this field matters to me, and what comes next after receiving my Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate.

This is the beginning of my new chapter — and I’m documenting it openly.

How It Started: Building the Fundamentals in 2024

My journey into cybersecurity began in 2024, long before I even considered taking official certifications.
At the time, I didn’t have a clear roadmap — just curiosity, hunger for growth, and the desire to shift into a more technical and meaningful career.

I started with:

• Basic IT and networking concepts

• Cybersecurity 101 materials

• Foundations on Coursera

• Introductory labs and exercises

• Understanding risk, threats, and how security teams think

It was messy, raw, and not structured — but it lit the spark.

The idea of digital freedom, technical mastery, and working remotely felt powerful.
That idea stayed with me.

2025: The Year Everything Changed — Earning the Google Cybersecurity Certificate

In August 2025, I committed fully.
No excuses.
No distractions.
Just discipline and a vision of who I want to become.

And today — I officially completed the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate.

What This Certificate Means to Me

For some people it’s “just a certificate.”
For me — it’s the first milestone of becoming someone new.

It represents:

• 3 months of focus and consistency

• Early mornings, late evenings, and studying after work

• Rebuilding my identity from Sales & Business Development → Cybersecurity

• Breaking old habits and building new systems

• Refusing to quit even when I was emotionally tired

• The first “official” proof of my technical foundation

This certificate is not the end — it is the starting line.

What I Learned in the Google Program

Across 9 courses, I built technical skills such as:

• Linux fundamentals

• Bash scripting

• Python automation

• Networking & network defense

• Incident response workflows

• SIEM tools (Splunk)

• IDS/IPS (Snort, Suricata)

• Threat & vulnerability analysis

• SQL for security investigations

• Security documentation & reporting

It built the mindset I needed — structured thinking, attention to detail, and a security-first perspective.

Why Cybersecurity Matters to Me

I chose cybersecurity because it gives me:

✅ Freedom

A career I can grow remotely, globally, and from anywhere in the world.

✅ A technical path

A direction where I can build real expertise — not just soft skills.

✅ A long-term future

Cybersecurity is not a trend — it’s a growing necessity.

✅ An identity shift

From business and sales → into a technical, respected, high-demand field.

✅ Meaning

Protecting systems, people, and companies matters.

What’s Next: My Roadmap for 2025–2026

Receiving the certificate is not the finish line — it’s the start.

✅ 1. Build Hands-On Labs

• VirtualBox environments

• Kali Linux

• Windows/Ubuntu machines

• Local SIEM testing

• Password & vulnerability labs

• Incident report labs

• Python security scripts

This is where real skills develop.

✅ 2. TryHackMe (Security / SOC Path)

• Complete Security 101

• Complete SOC Level 1 path

• Build a portfolio of completed rooms and challenges

✅ 3. Hack The Box (Beginner → Tier 1 Machines)

• Learn VPN setup

• Practice enumerations, privilege escalation, and web security basics

• Document every machine

• Build confidence in offensive tools

✅ 4. CompTIA Network+ (Expected January 2026)

Clear structure for network fundamentals — critical for SOC roles.

✅ 5. Apply for Cybersecurity Internship Roles

This is my main focus right now.
To enter a real team, learn from professionals, and turn theory into daily practice.

✅ 6. Attend SICUREZZA 2025 Conference in Milan

Networking, exposure, meeting people from the industry, and seeing the security world live.
This is a huge milestone for me.

Why I Document Everything

My website is not just a portfolio — it is the story of a transition.

I share:

• My progress

• My labs

• My certificates

• My reflections

• My future goals

Because this journey means something to me.
Every step matters.
Every part of it is a brick in the foundation of the life I’m building.

Conclusion

I started cybersecurity in 2024 with zero structure.
Today, in November 2025, I hold my first major certificate, a clear roadmap, and a deeper understanding of who I want to become.

This path is not easy.
But it’s meaningful.
And it’s mine.

Next steps:
✅ Labs
✅ TryHackMe
✅ HackTheBox
✅ Network+
✅ SOC internship
✅ Milan Conference

This is only the beginning — and I’m ready for everything ahead.

Thank you for reading, and welcome to my journey.