Cybersecurity is the path most people ask me about.
They ask me about cybersecurity more than anything else.
So I figured this is probably something you’d be interested in too.
Unfortunately, there’s a lot more bad info out there about the security field.
There’s really three myths that I see popping up time and time again.
Let’s bust them, one by one, together.
Myth One: “You Have To Be Great At Coding Or A Natural Hacker”
This is the biggest one, and it’s almost entirely a product of how movies and TV portray the field.
The reality is that most entry-level cybersecurity work is about process, pattern recognition, and disciplined documentation.
You’re monitoring systems, investigating alerts, following structured procedures, and communicating clearly about what you find.
Coding ability is definitely a plus but isn’t as big of a deal when starting out.
Myth Two: “The Field Is Already Saturated”
Tech layoff headlines have been everywhere, so the field most be dying right?
The headlines say one thing….
But if you dig into the data, you’ll reveal, a completely different story.
Splunk’s 2026 IT and Technology Salary Guide puts the U.S. cybersecurity workforce shortage at 700,000 unfilled positions.
Globally, ISC2’s 2026 workforce study puts that number at 3.5 million.
Cybersecurity is one of the only tech categories with job postings currently running above pre-pandemic levels, while broader software and IT roles are still below where they were.
Myth Three: “You Need Degree “
A lot of hiring in this field, especially at the entry level, filters on credentials and demonstrated skill, not on a diploma.
Government contractors, healthcare systems, financial institutions, and manufacturers hiring for entry-level security roles are frequently looking for the right certification path more than a specific degree. A structured credential proves you can do the work today. A degree from four years ago doesn’t necessarily prove the same thing about a fast-moving field like this one.
None of these myths are stupid to believe.
They’re just outdated, and they’re costing capable people years they don’t need to lose.Picture Someone Like Richard
I want to share a story with you, the way I always do. Not about one specific person, a pattern I’ve seen play out again and again. Picture someone like Richard.
Richard spent almost two years telling himself cybersecurity wasn’t realistic for him. He wasn’t a coder. He didn’t have a computer science degree. Every article he read online seemed to confirm both of those things mattered more than they actually do.
A cousin of his, who worked in a completely unrelated field, finally pushed back on him at a family gathering. “You’ve been saying the same thing for two years. Have you actually looked into what the jobs require, or are you just repeating what you assumed?”
Richard hadn’t actually looked. He’d just accepted the story he’d told himself early on and never questioned it since.
When he finally looked into it seriously, the picture was completely different from what he’d assumed. Structured entry path. No coding requirement at the level he was starting at. A shortage of people, not an oversupply.
Two years of hesitation, based on beliefs that were never actually true.
Where This Leaves You
If any of these three myths have been shaping your decision about whether cybersecurity is realistic for you, I want you to know they’re common, they’re understandable…. BUT they’re wrong.
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Have a good week. I’m rooting for you.
Rob
Founder, Master I.T. · Army Veteran · 20+ Years in IT · 15,000+ Students Certified
P.S. Which of these three myths did you believe, or still believe? Hit reply and tell me. I read every single one.