How to Learn Cyber Security Faster In 5 Simple Steps

One of the hardest things about learning cyber security is there’s no formal roadmap and a million different places to start. The more topics you explore, the more rabbit holes you discover. It’s really intimidating.
How do you manage this? It all starts with having a strategy and structured plan for learning. This way, you can stay on track and make consistent progress. Here are five simple steps to do this:
Step 1: Focus on topics related to your existing meaning structures. Meaning structures are areas of knowledge that we can tap into when learning something new. That’s why transitioning from I.T. or programming into cyber security is more accessible than from most other fields. You already have similar meaning structures in place. If you are from a non-technical background, pick a cyber security subfield that’s most related to what you already know.
Step 2: Interleave theory and practice to build competency. Doing this allows you to understand new topics from multiple perspectives. It also lets your brain rest and reorganizes during many sleep cycles over the weeks and months. Humans build competency over time, not in a one-time dose at a boot camp or crash course.
Step 3: Use teachers to assign you projects and provide feedback. Don’t rely on them for teaching. Many people think that learning is just a matter of someone telling them or showing them how to do something. Knowledge transfer happens by doing projects with guided feedback along the way from a teacher. Try this approach next time you’re working with a teacher, and you’ll be amazed at the progress.
Step 4: Build mental models to help organize your knowledge. Learning is more about knowledge organization than it is about accumulation. That’s why you need to acquire good mental models along the way. They are shortcuts that help you organize new information into a visual representation which acts as a meaningful structure for you to learn cyber security topics faster.
Step 5: Use mind maps to help visualize and structure your research process. To manage the overwhelming amount of new ideas and concepts you encounter when learning cyber security, you need to map them out on paper along the way. When you can decompose abstract ideas into visual chunks, it’s much easier to identify which areas to focus on or skip.
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00:00 Why Lots Of People Struggle Learning Cyber Security
02:24 Focusing on Topics Related to Your Existing Meaning Structures
05:15 Interleaving Theory and Practice by Spacing Out Your Learning Schedule
06:46 Using Teachers For Practice and Feedback Not For Teaching
09:09 Building Mental Models and Systems To Help You Organize Knowledge
11:34 Mind Mapping to Help Structure Your Research Process
12:24 My Process For Learning Something New
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Chris Sanders' Website:
www.networkdefense.co/
chrissanders.org/

[@redtiger8275]

I get so overwhelmed that I get discouraged and I just give up. I have been stuck in this loop for years

[@marcoswick2366]

Same here

[@jbfin6328]

You are not alone.

[@Zorgsen]

I would try smaller parts if you get stuck in a loop. Kinda like babies learn to walk. First learn to sit balanced, then when you know that try to, from a crawling position, pull yourself up to standing and practice that slot until you can stand without holding on to something. Then it's time to try and shift your balance to be able to move one foot without falling and do that a lot (with many falls) until you can get from the table to the couch and then keep doing the same thing until you know it good enough that you can stand and walk around without falling. Your target is reached, you might still fall from time to time but as long as you get up again and keep walking that knowledge is getting more and more locked in. Then on to the next adventure.

[@bytefu]

- You have to focus. Don't try to learn everything in parallel, it doesn't work. Of course, if you have ADHD (I do), it may be hard to stop yourself from opening dozens of tabs and then getting overwhelmed. But it's really important to learn one concept at a time. - Persistence is paramount. Don't give up when you stumble upon something you just don't get, you'll get it eventually. Maybe the concept needs to be slept on, or maybe you need to approach it from a different angle. It often helps to return to it after learning another, related one. Again, can be very hard with ADHD, when you're hyperfocused on the topic and just can't let go and switch. But if you do, you have to go back at some point and reiterate. Maybe this time something will click in your mind. - Just accept the fact that everyone needs to put time in a topic to understand it. There are some geniuses that just absorb information like a sponge and can use it almost immediately, but the most brilliant specialists are not that, they just have been dumping shitloads of their spare time into learning and practice, for years. - Pick some topic you're really, really interested in and be at least a bit specific. And again, with ADHD it's pretty much the only way to learn. I've never been able to do well anything I'm not really interested in, the information just won't stay in the head. - Most importantly, pay attention to your mental health and know your limitations. If only I knew I had ADHD earlier in life, I could avoid so much anxiety, depression, addiction and other nasty crap, for dealing with which I had to go to a psychotherapist and take meds for 3 years straight. Turns out, there is medication that can help with ADHD, now I take it and finally can read a page of a book without starting to wander in my fantasy world after a few sentences, I am less impulsive and more calm. Have trouble with sleep? There are breathing techniques for that (and meds, if it's really bad), mostly focusing on lowering the heart rate. Don't consume any caffeine after morning, 1/4 of caffeine will still be circulating in your body 12 hours later and mess up your deep sleep. Don't work too intensely, give yourself a short break every hour or hour and a half. Go for a walk, stretch, clean up the mess on the table, whatever. And don't work too much, or you will burn out. Sitting in front of PC for 12 hours every day is not healthy at all. Feel tired? Then rest, don't push your body and mind beyond the limit. The topic you're researching will wait you tomorrow. In general, put in the work, but don't be too hard on yourself. Don't try to actually reach perfection, use it as a guiding star. And, of course, watch everything on Cyberspatial, he gives a lot of good advice.

[@ChristopherJohnston]

Been there. I've just started to ignore anything else. Took me a long time to build the habit of ignoring non-security content (and I still falter now and then)

[@sinapanahimehr5710]

When you said in the end "I know it sounds a lot but you've probably already done this with other activities" and then showed the games I had played, a HUGE lamp turned on over my head. You're absolutely correct and you reminded me that I'm already good at it. Thanks Cyberspacial Always looking forward to your informative content. This channel is a goldmine.

[@tayoxo]

can you list the games pls :)

[@bringbackdislikes3195]

@@tayoxo I'm late but here's the list (Games are in correct order) : Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War, League Of Legends, Rocket League, Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto 5, Overwatch

[@DJSOUNDWAVE]

This is my new favorite channel. I’ve been studying professor messer for the last month, and he does a good job. But I definitely felt like the cramming of so much info in a short time could be counter productive. This mind map theory makes sense for sure. So does spacing things out. These videos also do a very good job of visualizing to force engagement.

[@NewWorldOrderIsHere]

I've found certifications very useful. They are good do get the basics of a specific subject down. And from there you can start to build on more advanced concepts. The study also happens over several months with a lot of notes, mind maps and flashcards.

[@LS-th5hy]

I personally often do not get enough out of youtube videos to say that i really picked up on something new today, and that it was genuinely educative in that sense, this is the first video that makes complete sense with coherent basis and great & straightforward delivery. Thank you for your work

[@yurilsaps]

If you want get into cyber security, you need networking, programming, operation systems, hardware and other bases. Don't jump to cyber security before understanding computers

[@vanessid0001]

I'm so delighted to have seen this video before I go out to the work industry

[@floryanbarbe-kuipers5776]

The way you keep the content dynamic & fun and follow through with great information is phenomenal. From my work and life experience I already know and practice a lot of these concepts. You can explain them very well, at a relatively young age if I may say so. Well done, you got a new subscriber!

[@maksudmuzaffarov]

The quality of video was amazing and the content is so straighforward. Thank you so much, please keep going to make the vidoes, which are so lucrative.

[@onyinyechiobialor6042]

Welcome back, long time, I knew you would be back we waited for you.

[@louiem5985]

I understand how you feel the burn out. I tried for about 1 yr to pass MCSA cert and got burn out. After that I didn't feel like touching a computer studying or anything that had to do with learning. After a whole year I'm starting again but with a different cert. Still hard to retain the info but glad I seen this video. Going to do a brain store and time line on how to study. Never did that and always studies for hours. Glad you are back and can't wait to see more videos.

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks for sharing! Spacing it out over time is definitely the way to go.

[@mypointofview5400]

Just liked and subscribed. Can't find words how great this channel is. Watching the videos in this channel is like joining a therapy session. The quality of the content, high-definition videos, etc. ... just hands down!

[@monikabandic5386]

My thoughts exactly!!

[@starshipx1282]

This learning process is useful much beyond cyber security..... very very useful video.

[@dragonwood4562]

Thanks for this video. It was a great reminder for me. I've attempted college several times (Computer and/or Software Engineering). However, each time I realized I was teaching myself more than I was learning from the class. Plus, my OCD refused to let me use single letters for variables (i. e. n. etc.) and I would get points off on my projects because of it. But, this video reminded me of the one thing I learned in my journey. That is, I learn best when I can relate what I'm learning to either something I'm doing or have done. For example: I taught myself HTML by just having to maintain a website. I taught myself CSS and Javascript by just wanting to improve that site. I taught myself VBA by just wanting to streamline my workflow. Going to "school" to learn something doesn't work for someone like me. I need tasks that actually mean something and "Hello World" doesn't mean a thing to me. Thanks again.

[@xE92vD]

I knew this channel would grow much bigger someday.

[@OscarMPR]

Halfway through the videos, and just have to let you know how valuable the content of this videos is!

[@xyz_blogger]

Awesome 😎, can't wait for your next video ❤️

[@arshadshaik3020]

Great Video! Found many concepts that can be applied in other fields

[@AllergicFungus]

This is awesome! Thank you sir. I really appreciate your hard work.

[@RSAPotentia]

Thank you! this really helped.

[@searchbug]

One of the best 15 minute video about Cyber security! Promoting digital security helps create a safer digital environment for individuals and society. Educated and aware students will foster cybersecurity in their homes.

[@arewaboluwatife]

@1:57 just about sums me up. I usually end up asking myself why I always go down these rabbit holes and it's not just in things relating to cyber security.

[@arahmanniazi3241]

Real sweat put into making this content. Perfect

[@jhan2071]

Most accurate example of my experience leaning with cyber security lol. Especially the beginning.

[@YellowLetterCreative]

1:40 is a masterclass in building the pain 🤣awesome video!

[@LinhNguyen-nh8oq]

This is the best video about cybercecurity I have ever seen

[@SecurityVaultYt]

Welcome back brother

[@AndersonMancini]

So good content. Amazing. Thanks a lot for sharing it. Learned a lot 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤩.

[@zensamurai6582]

Aaand he is back! Hope you have been well!

[@moh3677]

Amazing ReC, Keep it up Man

[@SagaraUrz]

Hardest part is to find the right sources to study from. Courses also help to you show you stuff you didn't know existed.

[@a320nick]

You are really a smart, cool, intelligent ......genius. Your videos are gems of learning. For your age, you are very wise.

[@diogoappendino7158]

Awesome content man! Well done

[@tears_falling]

I would love a video like this about note taking in cybersecurity, maybe using Obsidian.

[@ETERNAL-G]

BRO THANK U 4 SIMPLIFYING THINGS 👍

[@MichaelJones-us9ty]

Two minutes in, and you have described my learning journey. So far, in my computer science classes, there has not been much on the topic. The Bootcamp does start to sound good.

[@jonathandominguezrebollo6564]

Very interesting approach about how to learn a very complex area such as Cyber Security bro.... thanks for sharing

[@svza998]

This video is a goldmine. This will help me a lot, especially because of the summer break, thanks a lot man.

[@abdullahnadeem1823]

This channel is a Goldmine

[@svza998]

@@abdullahnadeem1823 indeed

[@idrisjibrin62]

Thanks a lot boss👍

[@nhathuynh4330]

Mr. Dr. Prof. Patrick appreciate it man

[@coming_out_97]

A gem channel found finally ❤

[@ezharanwar1280]

You are smart man. love ur things

[@sinjinibanerjee_cse_7618]

Woah! I can relate to that intro story!!! Great explanation...

[@Cyberspatial]

It's a story we all have. Thanks! 😃

[@abdelrahmandesouki8894]

you have about the software. I personally enjoy learning so it was a little bit easier to do it over ti. But you’ll get there brother

[@shardula-ai4ourkids169]

What a high quality video with high quality content ❤. Could you please share how you created the 2d animation. Thank you for sharing the knowledge thats acquired with huge efforts for free. Good luck with your new software.

[@Stasis247]

This is a great video, this definitely helps me even just a little bit

[@laughingvampire7555]

great points and advice to start your career. so what has been your experience with software engineers from other areas when they move into cyberscurity, like product engineers or systems engineers, etc? where do you suggest to start and where have you seen them start and how has been for them?

[@zidanetribal2343]

So good to see you again Ricky! As always, quality content, Cheers ~

[@Cyberspatial]

Much appreciated!

[@tommyboy7820]

Thanks for sharing,

[@sltyboi]

As someone who’s currently in college for cyber security from being a mechanic in the army

[@RedHeroe1]

big quality on these videos

[@negary666]

Awesome video

[@shaynewilliams4482]

HOLY FCK THANKS! When you used googles advance search operators or whatever, it reminded me of when I was a kid, and even the elementary school library still had shit like regex that they would teach us about. But as I got older and saw none of that information for google search bars or any other search bars I was starting to think I was hallucinating as a kid.

[@cuzcohusky3533]

You would make a great teacher 👨‍🏫

[@mkbuhain]

YO THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@sparshmehta2235]

Best.

[@naveenreddyh4339]

Super 👌 👍 amazing

[@cyberhighdiver]

Ricky's back!!!!!😄😄😄😄 Missed your vids dude!

[@Cyberspatial]

Thanks man :)

[@eduardomelendez1346]

Insightful!

[@Totototo-nr8dh]

Backtrack ahahahahah. Love it!

[@Cyberspatial]

Yeah man, throw back to the old school days 😂

[@TheOGJeff]

I'm almost to my associates, and I feel like I haven't really learned how to do anything. The labs I've done don't seem to be realisticly based and just simple examples to introduce what is being taught. All in a short amount of time too. They walk you through it, which is fine, but not when there isn't enough time to absorb everything, and they're not based in real situations like I said before. I've also heard the same line as in the video of actually learning when on the job, but I am afraid that not many people will want someone who has an associates but still doesn't know what to do and has no experience. I'm sure I'll find somewhere to start, but it's just something that I think about a lot and gets me down

[@puncher939]

I use Notion to organize "my knowledge" instead of having a mind map. I write down important things that I find interesting and you can really easy organize it. The cool thing, you can have it on different devices (also mobile) for free.

[@bisrami1023]

I appreciate your content man. I'm almost done with an 8 month cybersecurity cert through thinkful and it's so much to take in and hard to actually learn what they throw at you. Keep it up. Thanks!

[@Cyberspatial]

Good look on the cert and congrats (for once you get it!)

[@NBAroh]

which cyber security are you pursuing? I am searching different certs right now.

[@real1flame59]

Hello, I recently came across your KZbin content and found it so engaging that I haven't felt the need to look elsewhere. As someone who is just beginning a journey into cybersecurity, I am keen to learn more. Could you possibly share if you offer any training that covers the top five skills in cybersecurity you've discussed? Alternatively, I would greatly appreciate any recommendations you have for quality training in this field. Thank you for your guidance.

[@shizanahamadali3748]

love you bro

[@fahmidalrifat1238]

Your presentation skill is so good and Contents are so awesome and helpful . Can you tell me how you make presentations and software name?

[@suj3919]

Thanks WOW

[@TheDoubleRiot]

Thanks

[@jimentusfrost2048]

Hey Cyberspatial! would love to see you cover all the subtopics of cybersecurity. I already watched the OSINT video and cybercrime. I would appreciate you making a video about the rest of the subtopics!

[@Cyberspatial]

Great idea! I think doing a break down of all the other subtopics would be really helpful.

[@mnal.abdulrahman]

Could you please do a video about how can I keep myself motivated to learn and practice more to better myself in cyber security! ,, each time I feel there is a lot yet to learn I take break and comback to comfort zone for a while which waste a lot of time that I could benefit !

[@aadilroshan7822]

I love you man

[@tuhinleuse7701]

Nice video

[@seiv16]

Hello great video. I feel it's more about learning than cyber security.

[@seiv16]

The title made me think I was going to hack someone after watching

[@illusive_agent]

breaking into WEP encrypted wifis when I was around 10 was one of my gateways into this rabbithole too 😂

[@YannMetalhead]

Good video.

[@venom624]

Sa here!

[@bhairavkedare9074]

Please please, suggest or make videos on how self learn how to search out properly without getting overwhelmed

[@mutasimahmed8975]

loved the video .......do you recommend any course

[@recon0x7f16]

level affect looks like a really good bootcamp for cybersecurity learned this from john hammond

[@Sasquatchbones]

“Is that a class on coffee?!” Omfg relatable 😂

[@JT-qt5fl]

Great vid, great insigh. currently making the hop from security guard to network engineer myself! got a couple hops to go!

[@Cyberspatial]

You'll get there soon enough!

[@denkindenkout6890]

So as someone who is in a computer course and is interested in cybersecurity but is slow with math, I can look into being a tech writer? Thanks for this!

[@gg61012]

Cool thx

[@allisonroberts8430]

Have a video on avoiding analyst bias using Pugh charts or the scientific method!?

[@savagepro9060]

When you get lost online, and your faithful dog does not give up! Paws for a Cause!

[@maxime_vhw]

i mean here in the EU college is reasonably cheap to the point i think its worth it. The amount of time i spent finding the right courses online, etc... They have it all ready for you. Then again not every college is the same. Go to one with a good reputation.

[@joshdk95]

I’ll be going to Ivy Tech, which will involve a lot of both “theory” & “hands on” which will be best ( I think ) for me since I know the bare minimum when it comes to computers & I’m 28 lol

[@daovietpro]

super from France ! how do you make such pretty infographics??

[@theepharmacy7424]

Hey bro please tell me the think pad ur using

[@stormchaser419]

Where should I start if transitioning from teaching to cyber security? IT Help Desk job in the my summer off? Take online courses?

[@yasatips4300]

and willing nice tutoet League teams and players to chose as their editor. More money for tho. It is pretty cool to see the progress I

[@ganeshdagadi6577]

How about using chatgpt as a personal tutor? It can give you good project ideas and guide you in case you are stuck ( not perfectly but it can give you a few hints from where you can pick up).

[@weil772]

when someone hack your wifi . is it a menace to your pc too bcs i think they are connected to the same ip adress no ?

[@rajkumarbharathi3139]

i got hired for a google cloud security role, without prior knowledge. i have done some things on Azure like SQL and object storage. They said i need to learn python. Can you tell me what topics to learn

[@amrahmikayilov2821]

Can you tell me the best computer for this?

[@kamelelabouti2764]

You know what could be a video idea to produce ? A map of cybersecurity, a bit in the way the channel DomainOfScience does it. It'll help tons of people !

[@Cyberspatial]

That's a fantastic idea

[@dheerparekh]

@@Cyberspatial yea please 😅

[@Fahodinho]

do you recommend using a specific software as a 'second brain' for mind mapping?

[@Cyberspatial]

I'm sure there's great software out there, but pen and paper for me. If I really need to, I can take a picture of my sheet and then digitize it.

[@sahil1307]

Software would be better to update/edit

[@travelingnomad8873]

hey..i am LOOKING FORWARD TO DO MASTERS in Cyber security... but DONT LIKE PROGRAMMING..so i which niche SHOULD i choose ?

[@khoifish77]

Do you read off script or something for the narratives?

[@upper-Machine-276]

all workеd