Is Coding Important for Cyber Security?

The importance of coding for cyber security depends on two things: your work role and desired expertise. Early on, coding is less important since there are other learnable skills that are quicker to pick up. Some examples include: computer networking, operating system architecture, and system administration. Mastering these skills can better serve beginners earlier on in cyber security.
But as you grow in expertise over time, a lack of programming will limit your effectiveness. Here’s why.
Our ability to shape and control the physical or digital world depends on TOOLS. Almost every tool in cyber security consists of code. Even hardware like switches, network taps, and storage media have firmware and drivers.
By way of the UNIX philosophy, tools are specialized and purpose-specific. This is because loosely coupled software is easier to compose and debug. It’s generally a better design pattern. Hence, you’ll often face problems that don’t have the right tool to solve a cyber security problem. Knowing how to program lets you develop tailored solutions to overcome this. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck relying on a teammate or vendor who knows how to code.
There is a distinction between scripting and software development to keep in mind. Many people often use “coding” or “programming” to describe both. Software development is a broad term covering scripting, but also includes other topics. Scripting involves automating tasks with an interpreted language like Python or Bash. It’s a skill learnable within 2-3 months of dedicated practice. Better yet, it’s more often used in day-to-day cyber security work for operators. People who can script are often many times more effective than those who can’t in the cyber security field.
So for those without a computer science background, it’s worth it to learn scripting. It lets you understand tools at a deeper level, altering or composing them together. At the end of the day, cyber security is a team effort. The magic in the interplay between them. If you can’t code, it’s never too late to learn. If you can, be the hero for others who can’t.
Runcode:
runcode.ninja
Automate the Boring Stuff with Python (2nd ed):
nostarch.com/automatestuff2
Learn Powershell in a Month of Lunches:
www.manning.com/books/learn-w...
UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook
www.amazon.com/UNIX-Linux-Sys...
00:00 How important is coding?
00:35 Relationship between tooling and skills
01:49 3 Types of cyber security professionals
04:07 My experience in cyber with no coding
05:59 Scripting vs. software development
07:23 Should you learn scripting?
07:59 Resources to learn scripting
08:26 Final verdict
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[@Cyberspatial]

How many stormtroopers does it take to bring down Vader?

[@Rajput_Usman]

Give some resources for developers?

[@MrLifestruggle]

Unfortunately yet I haven't watched Star Wars :'(

[@friction5001]

None

[@grayfoxtrots]

3? Two distract both sides of him and a sniper : P

[@jimvox3801]

1 One stormtrooper to fail a security check and let a Jedi have access to Vader. (Unorthodox answer? Maybe so. But I hope you like the different angle)

[@nerdmommy7114]

I like how you use Star Wars characters to explain the 3 different types of cyber security analysts. It’s funny and relatable, therefore easy to understand. Thank you for this!

[@Cyberspatial]

Man, it's comments like these that are awesome! Sometimes you wonder: "is this too corny?" Thanks for the feedback!

[@nerdmommy7114]

@@Cyberspatial It’ll be a hit or miss, I guess. Like in TED talks, people who give speeches has to insert a bit of a joke in their speech to grab their audience’s attention and make them listen. In my opinion, when speakers do that, I don’t see them as a guru or some super expert - but instead as a human being who has quirks just like me - which makes me feel comfortable listening to them, therefore relatable. So corny is good! Showing a bit of personality is good. You do you! In any case, you bring great content!

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Teaching is all about making a topic fun!

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Came to see if anyone said this!

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My pleasure!

[@Darwin-ib6rr]

Facts!

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I agree. I’m new in this field and currently pursuing a MS in cyberintelligence. I don’t have a technical background and I like learning from you.

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I'm so happy more people acknowledge this!

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Yo, man I have been watching your vids and I really appreciate your wealth of knowledge shared with us: the books you recommend, tips on where to get started, and overall general insights. I really do appreciate it. It seems that the IT field has some secret cult-like mantra of keeping the knowledge they've obtained hidden and most people are not willing to share. I never understood it. Thank you so much and in my senior years, I want to give back to the community. All knowledge is borrowed: we are not born with it and we die, we must leave it.

[@Cyberspatial]

Appreciate the kind words. Knowledge is power, and we want to share that to everyone. Let's level up together. 🙌

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I LOVE the use of the ender's game reference. I really like your content. broken down very effectively, and narrated properly. Have my sub!

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks for watching and happy it clicked with you! Trying to get better.

[@MrC0MPUT3R]

I'm in the opposite boat. I'm a web developer who wishes more web developers knew how networking worked, and various ways bad coding could open us up to attacks.

[@valsant4]

As someone who works in networks and some experience in programming... I can see how this is important.

[@ninisantrax]

I just started a coding course, and my goal is to also learn cybersecurity I guess I’m going the right route.

[@jns08d]

I'm a web developer looking to enter cybersecurity, specifically networking, trying to figure out what other languages I should learn

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Your analysis is rigorous and your breakdown is top notch. Keep up the good work.

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This is the kind of content I've been looking for. More power on your next videos

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I just discovered this channel and I really like your videos! I'm currently at the end of my first year of an IT study and going towards the infrastructure side (networking, OS, virtual machines etc) and your videos are really inspiring! I didn't have any previous knowledge starting this study so compared to some classmates I feel really dumb some times but thanks to your videos I'm definitely planning to increase my knowledge during summer break 😁 You really motivated me 💜

[@JustinLT212]

Bro you are incredible, thank you for making these videos. I was planning to go into cyber security but I’m glad I’ve started to do my own independent study before entering any courses. I wanna be ahead of the curve by the time I get my foot through the door and people like you help do that. Thank you for the videos 👊🏼👊🏼

[@purple_on_shrooms]

How its been going? Half a year ago i Started myself

[@abcde9421]

Great stuff! I would like to add one more thing that for most of the people with half baked programming skill, it's much better to stick to the ready available tool even though it might not be the most comfortable for you, than making something on your own. Never underestimate your ability to screw things up

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The edition of the videos of this channel is just too good. Keep it up!

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks for the support!

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Honestly such a high value content I’m already binge watching

[@nghibui6162]

Thanks Ricky for doing this! And thanks to SANS podcast I was able to know you and your youtube channel! This video is what I need right now as I just got my first job in infosec and was wondering how studying python would benefits me in the long run. And you definitely motivate me to learn programming ever more. Please keep up your good work Ricky!

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks for the compliments! And awesome you got to listen to the ISC episode!

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I'm an older new student to I T and I appreciate greatly your guidance and knowledge in the depths and paths of it's various fields. Please continue to lead.

[@Cyberspatial]

Thank you!

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Woow! Where have you been all this time!? I'm definitely subscribing! You are a talented mentor who has the gift to explain everything in simple terms!! Keep it up

[@Cyberspatial]

Wow, thank you!

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I'm trying to switch careers from IT Consulting in the Life Sciences sector (@Accenture) to CyberSecurity. This content has really been helping me in "fine tuning" my trajectory in terms of what items I should be focusing on. Awesome content - subscribed.

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks for the sub, and best of luck on your switch!

[@WhatTheGame]

I'm glad I found this channel. I feel like I'm kinda old (at 30 years) to just be starting Cybersecurity but these videos are encouraging.

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks! It's never too late to start learning cyber security. Wish you well on your journey :)

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Short and simple, right on spot. Deserved my sub man

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks for the sub :)

[@B13e]

This guy is the Roberto Blake of cyber security, even almost the same voice 👍

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks for the compliment! Certainly look different though :)

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Ur videos are absolutely amazing and super helpful. I've been trying to watch f5 dev central, but lack the base knowledge and terminology to understand everything. Your videos though are really resourceful at all levels.

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks for the kind words! The content can be really dense, and we try our best!

[@idanba3482]

2 other strong benefits for learning how to code are: 1. Being able to perform code reviews and reverse engineering. This is the bread and butter of security researchers. Security researchers are often some of the highest payed and most technically advanced security people. If you cannot code, you will not be able to advance to this level. 2. Being able to code allows you get a much deeper understanding of how technologies work and how software engineers work. Once you build your first web app, you will be able to have much deeper understanding of what can wrong in apps and how can those problems be exploited

[@Cyberspatial]

Two excellent points! In the spirit of Star Wars, coding is almost like the Force. The deeper your understanding and mastery of it, the more you can manipulate the world.

[@arib3871]

Thank you so much for really breaking this down man

[@Cyberspatial]

You're welcome!

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Great video! Your following is going to take off with all of this knowledge and great editing skills

[@Cyberspatial]

Appreciate it! Really just trying to make this stuff as accessible as much as possible.

[@davejrich]

Another great video. I was thinking I am going to ask you more about your journey as watching this video and then you shared some of you Journey. I did some university subjects in the early days learning Assembly Language and some Pascal at the time but never really did very well I would get frustrated as already mature age student at the time and the young school leavers would knock over their projects in a 1/4 of the time. As I am looking at leveraging my previous IT Management Skills and moving into Cyber a day of binging on your site has already helped me to work out some possible pathways. Definitely going to get at least some understanding and practice with scripting in Python to start with. Would love to hear more about you Journey.

[@billsmoke4919]

Great video, thank you. I really appreciated what you said about starting off with scripting. I know of experienced Network engineers who have started off making simple scripts with Powershell before moving onto Python or other languages and working in Devops.

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks for sharing! :)

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[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks, will do!

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[@Cyberspatial]

Thank you!

[@ItsBrynnB]

As someone coming into the cybersec space, this is invaluable content. I've always wondered how programming/coding would aid me, and the way you have laid it out has just cleared it all up so concisely! Glad to be watching your channel and the great content grow so rapidly!

[@Cyberspatial]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you!

[@gdsfgfsdgdsfgdfsfdg2397]

Thank you so much for making these videos. Your thorough explanation on various topics has been a great help to me. What an inspiring man to the tech world!

[@Cyberspatial]

Appreciate the kind words :)

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[@Cyberspatial]

Awesome, thank you!

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Awesome video! This encourages me to keep practicing my bash and python skills

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Good for you!

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Appreciate it! In time. :)

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A gifted teacher for humanity! Thank You!

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Thanks sir. I really new at coding. I starting my company till people how too code all that. Thanks this helps a lot what you saying

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Bravo! Keep up the outstanding work!

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Thank you! This is all great stuff for a cyber sec. student and trying to change careers

[@Cyberspatial]

Hope it helps! Best of luck! :)

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So nice of you!

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[@Cyberspatial]

Appreciate it! :)

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Your Channel is awesome. Unique and valuable content with nice editing & I am sure you will get over 50k subs before 2021

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks for continuing to come back for the support!

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love this video recently wanted to change fields to software engineering and electrical. i have to learn coding while in school and doing freelance in cyber security does not seem bad at all.

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Dude your videos are so on point!

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks!

[@MD-tr6sh]

Love your videos bro, just getting into Cybersecurity and scripting is a must, need at least the basics in order to build a solid foundation in the field. Keep the content coming and thank you for what you do.

[@Cyberspatial]

Absolutely! Keep it up!

[@steve00alt70]

do you need maths? cause I not interested in maths at all

[@MD-tr6sh]

@@steve00alt70 not necessarily, unless you are going to get into the software engineering part of it

[@Xarishher]

@M D , I have an interest in Cybersecurity but I have no prior knowledge in computer science.However , I'm good at Math and Physics which those 2 subjects go really well for any computer field degree.However , I'm only in year 11/ grade 11 student do you think I can do cyber security?

[@MD-tr6sh]

@@Xarishher You can absolutely get into cybersecurity, age or stage in your educational path is not necessarily important. I do however recommend you start attaining computer netowrking knowledge as networking is, in my personal opinion, the foundation of cybersecurity. Start reading, watching videos, and most importantly, getting your hands on skills asap!

[@RingsOfSolace]

I just graduated studying primarily software engineering and realized I like the scripting distinction better, and have gotten more interested in security. I'm hoping what I learned can help but I'd rather use programming as more of a tool for a task than developing fully fleshed out software. The former seems more hands on where the latter seems more boring and extremely reliant on whole teams working toward building and maintaining something. I don't know, it seems more proactive and less boring. Had I realized this earlier, maybe I would have changed course a little bit, but I'm glad to at least now feel like I'm genuinely interested in something rather than studying it because I feel like I need to. I hope I can one day get good at security in general, and maybe my programming knowledge will serve me. Maybe I'll take a dev position for now and learn more about security, and kind of specialize on my own time.

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Damn bro. Nice content. You earned a sub!

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks so much! Welcome aboard!

[@laalaajonsen]

man you were a big shot in Rush Hour and now you doing cyber sec? Good for you man

[@Cyberspatial]

🤣

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I am a web dev but your content is a mine of gold

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks so much!

[@bbqworld2103]

I'm learning web development, should I get a security + cert now or wait until I actually need it for a job? Thanks

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@@bbqworld2103 if you can get it now then do it but it's a bit pricey

[@bbqworld2103]

@@ToxicTommy999 thanks..

[@ToxicTommy999]

@@bbqworld2103 no problem buddy good luck

[@pentiumou8993]

so inspirational! wish this series of videos has been made when i entered college of cybersecurity last year...

[@Cyberspatial]

Appreciate it! Best of luck on your studies!

[@monkeydluffy6649]

Thank you for your kind information. I really understand now about how important is learning programming language.

[@Cyberspatial]

Glad to hear!

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Great video covering a broad set of areas! :)

[@Cyberspatial]

More to come!

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Boy this channel is fantastic # can't watch KZbin video without visiting cyberspatial *God bless you bro

[@Cyberspatial]

So nice of you! Thank you!

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Another Gem!... Thank you so much!

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks!

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Within just 2 days of span .. i started loving your channel. Keep posting ❤

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks so much! Glad to have you here :)

[@Iron-Bridge]

The best most engaging video explanation regarding cybersecurity. I only wish my uni lectures were half this engaging.

[@Cyberspatial]

Professors should learn to be creators!

[@maverick5]

Awesome video. Just what I needed. Thanks!!!

[@Cyberspatial]

Thank you!

[@davidia8000]

I started building tools when I studied 3D animation, but latter on I got more in depth into other script languages to also build small tools. And now using Linux I learned a lot and I can say that is like a super power because while everyone goes crazy with the UI you can solve things in a fraction of the time with code, so I think having coding skills for cyber security is essential.

[@Cyberspatial]

Absolutely. You can do so much more with lower-level fine-grained control.

[@v1vaL4ZaM]

Amazing content! Also, I really appreciate the book recommendations. Please keep the videos coming

[@Cyberspatial]

Thank you! Will do!

[@nicholaseleh9253]

Recently got an admission to study Cyber security and computer forensics, for a PG degree in Canada. I'm a rookie to this. Your videos are a ray of sunshine. Please keep them coming. God bless.

[@Cyberspatial]

Awesome to hear! Good luck on your journey :)

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your getting more subs everyday im very happy for you!!!

[@Cyberspatial]

Thank you! :)

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Very nice video sir

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Super informative video. Thank you very much.

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You're a teacher indeed!!

[@jlcjlc6260]

Amazing Explanation

[@gabrielfono2248]

thanks a lot sir I really appreciate I am a software developer and I was thinking about getting into cyber and now you just opened my mind on getting into cyber thanks a lot

[@Darwin-ib6rr]

Very important! Thanks for video. Very educational.

[@Cyberspatial]

Appreciate the kind words :)

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Can't wait to subscribe after this video... nice job with star wars!!!

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks! Welcome aboard. May the force be with you!

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8:00 had to use this as a bookmark! Definitely will subscribe and share this channel!

[@Cyberspatial]

Appreciate it. Thank you :)

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awsome video !

[@danielwillett7164]

Great job. You explain difficult areas in Layman's terms

[@Cyberspatial]

That's the hardest thing to do, so thank you for pointing it out!

[@MrZola1234]

Literally starting my first info security position next week. Transitioning from a non-tech position at work to the cyberteam. My supervisor said I do not need to code for my role, but it looks like for career development, I should get at least some basic python and bash skills the first year.

[@Cyberspatial]

Lots of more senior technical folks won't want to invest their time with you unless you demonstrate some basic understanding and competence. "How fast til' he becomes useful to me" is what they're probably thinking. Definitely learn it!

[@adrid.senpai7587]

I'm going for programming. One of the courses I have to take is called "prog for cyber sec" . Pre req, intro to basic networking. Don't care for networking but I'm enjoying programming. It does go hand in hand

[@jackcarraway4707]

SQL querying is another coding language that cybersecurity pros should have in their backpocket. Combine that with scripting and a couple of developer-level languages of your choice (JavaScript and C++ being my picks due to how prevelant they are) and you'll be sitting pretty.

[@BODAPATISASIKANTHnullRA]

Great!! thank you very much. It really helps

[@Cyberspatial]

Glad to hear that!

[@marcusrocco8577]

Thanks for another great video! can you briefly recommend some resources ( books,sites..) on networking and cyber ops for beginners ?ryt now im learning bash,studying python and C will be awesome if u can make a video or series talking about resources for people at different levels of their cyber security journey!

[@Cyberspatial]

Typically as you progress to higher levels, you learn more by practicing and tinkering. But will keep in mind!

[@overlord8444]

Keep making more videos like this ❤

[@missgirl8210]

Thanks for this video. it was super helpful. I swear if my professors taught like this, i would've learned all of this in school. 🥺🥺👌🏻

[@Cyberspatial]

Happy to help :)

[@alexmakavelli985]

This is what i wanted to see mate, i have no skills what so ever and i found some online courses for Cyber Sec. i will try to get in , life is bout risking 😃🥃

[@Cyberspatial]

Risk-taking builds fortunes. Go for it!

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Hey did you do it I want to join too

[@rishabhsovani9427]

your videos are pure gold 💛

[@Cyberspatial]

Thank you so much!!

[@technosoid2821]

Great quality content .. I loved it .

[@Cyberspatial]

Glad to hear!

[@ip9153]

Well said. Thanks

[@entropyfan4383]

First I really appreciate the content you're putting out man,I wanna do red team ops or sumn like that im not sure..im 17 and just go around reddit and some other forums just to get familiar with the field,just found out your channel and it is like a diamond in a coal mine can you recommend some sources? and how I should go on for 2-3 years,just be a lil organized.Thanks!

[@Cyberspatial]

Appreciate it! We have featured a red team operator in the channel. Check it here 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5zZm6aqeL2jp8k

[@MR-cs6vo]

Bro great video so much information thank you so much 😘

[@Cyberspatial]

So nice of you!

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I am a data science student and your video is very helpful for me. So thanks for the informative content.

[@Cyberspatial]

Glad it was helpful!

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You explained it very well!

[@Cyberspatial]

Thank you! :)

[@2011Filmer]

I love the Star Wars comparison! :D

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks :)

[@arthurg2916]

Thank you

[@Josep_Hernandez_Lujan]

Another reason to learn to code is that it's well, fun. And learning python and java isn't rocket science. But it's time consuming, because it's NOT like riding a bike. The first language I learned was Turbo Pascal decades ago and I never used it professionally and I've pretty much completely forgotten it.

[@mikethegamedev]

This video is very awesome and helpful thx!!

[@Cyberspatial]

Glad it helped!

[@azukamojume2718]

Thanks for the star wars analogy. It simplified things.

[@Cyberspatial]

Glad it helped!

[@tian1332]

this is great nto only for cyber but other skills as well

[@Cyberspatial]

Yes absolutely, there's different levels for all professions.

[@koizer5692]

Subscribed! Nice content! What do you think about the new MacBook? I think that now you can’t do linux on it, should I go for a ThinkPad instead or is the MacOs ecosystem good enough for cyber security?

[@Cyberspatial]

Lot of people in this field use Macs. You can easily virtualize both Windows and Linux at the same time!

[@SashaKantser]

thank you for the content! my only problem is that the video has all this nice offices and i don't know IT departments maybe, but I work from home on the same sofa where I sleep and this is just soooo sad

[@Cyberspatial]

We're entering a world where companies are breaking their leases on those nice offices, and having people work from home anyways. Time to upgrade your home office!

[@hashimzaheer3941]

I like how you are using star wars to explain this video. Great

[@Cyberspatial]

Thank you!

[@jeevansi9332]

It's a great information, Thank you

[@Cyberspatial]

You are welcome! :)

[@TrickstoThrive]

Thanks for sharing this video. I recently earned a Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security from the University of Phoenix. My background in physical security and proficiency with computers make me a highly qualified candidate. Being a novice to programming, I am eager to learn coding in Cyber Security. It is the act of programming cyber security that instructs the computer what to do and ensures that information is protected from cyber criminals. Your knowledge of coding and cyber security is extensive. My goal is to become certified in Comptia Network+ and Comptia Security+ through a tutor who can break down the concepts in coding, cyber security, and prepare me to break them down.

[@MarieAmeliaFreyaAster]

Really good video mostly not quite sure about the Star Wars analogy, but pretty solid video overall

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks, had to gave it a shot!

[@MarieAmeliaFreyaAster]

@@Cyberspatial Totally understandable 😄 Probably makes it easier for most people to understand Also love your style, both design wise and the general way you did the video. Unfortunately not everybody has these standards