Why I Became a Cybersecurity Instructor (And What It Teaches About Breaking Into GRC)

Every week, people reach out asking the same question: "How do I break into cybersecurity?" They're career changers, recent graduates, professionals stuck in dead-end IT roles all trying to figure out how to build meaningful careers.

I always share my story. How I faced rejection and failures, took a calculated risk on higher education, and got the breaks that turned everything around. But here's what I've realized: my path worked largely because of geographic luck.

Most people contacting me face a completely different reality. They're looking at $50,000+ cybersecurity programs while supporting families and paying mortgages. The financial risk is crushing, and the ROI isn't guaranteed in today's brutal job market.

That's why I decided to start teaching cybersecurity at the college level. If I'm going to give career advice, I need to understand what actually works for people breaking into this field.

The Self-Teaching Myth

I have massive respect for self-taught professionals. The discipline required to learn complex frameworks independently while managing other life responsibilities is incredible. But here's the uncomfortable truth: breaking into cyber through pure self-education is getting harder every year.

In my line of work, GRC roles demand credibility from day one. You're advising executives on risk decisions, interpreting regulatory requirements, building frameworks that entire organizations depend on. That credibility often starts with credentials that signal rigorous, structured learning (a.k.a. university degrees).

The other challenge is focus. GRC covers risk management, compliance frameworks, audit processes, governance structures, vendor management, incident response, business continuity. Without external structure, most people bounce between topics without developing deep expertise anywhere.

With kids, mortgage payments, and full-time jobs, the discipline required for effective self-study becomes almost impossible. Sometimes you need external accountability to make real progress.

What Quality Education Actually Provides

The best cybersecurity programs offer things you simply can't replicate through self-study:

Structured progression where complex concepts build logically on each other. You can't understand enterprise risk management without grasping business operations first. Compliance frameworks only make sense after you understand regulatory environments.

Practical application through labs, case studies, and group projects that simulate real organizational challenges. You learn by doing, not just reading about theoretical frameworks.

Professional networks that become invaluable for career development. Your classmates are future colleagues. Instructors with industry experience remember students who impress them. Career services understand local job markets.

Credential recognition that gets you past HR filters. Like it or not, many organizations screen resumes based on education credentials before they ever look at your actual skills.

The Geographic Lottery

Here's where the conversation gets frustrating: education costs vary wildly by location, creating completely different opportunity structures.

In regions with subsidized higher education, comprehensive cybersecurity programs cost a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Students get government-recognized credentials, industry-connected instructors, and structured learning environments that minimize financial risk.

In markets with privatized education, the same programs cost tens of thousands of dollars. The financial barrier becomes so high that only people with existing resources can take the risk.

This creates a talent pipeline problem. The cybersecurity field desperately needs diverse perspectives and backgrounds, but geographic lottery often determines who gets realistic access to career-changing education.

What I've Learned Teaching Career Changers

My students are evening program attendees with full-time jobs and family responsibilities making real sacrifices to change careers (often from helpdesk to security).

What they need isn't just technical knowledge. They need to understand how cybersecurity really works in organizations. How to communicate with non-technical stakeholders. How to navigate the politics of implementing security controls. How to develop professional judgment when you don't have complete information.

These skills are nearly impossible to develop through self-study because they require practice in realistic scenarios with feedback from experienced professionals. Quality programs create environments where you can make mistakes, learn from them, and develop confidence before your decisions affect real organizations.

Making Smart Career Investment Decisions

If you're trying to break into cybersecurity, or more specifically in GRC, honestly assess your specific situation:

Consider formal education if you need external structure to maintain learning momentum, want recognized credentials for career transitions, have access to affordable programs, lack existing professional networks in cybersecurity, or are managing multiple responsibilities that make self-directed study challenging.

Focus on self-teaching if you already have relevant work experience, can demonstrate practical skills through portfolios or projects, have exceptional self-discipline for independent learning, face financial constraints that make formal education impractical, or have existing industry connections that can provide guidance and opportunities.

Most successful professionals combine both approaches. They use formal education for foundational knowledge and credibility, then continue learning independently throughout their careers.

The Teaching Perspective

Teaching has reinforced something I've always believed: the cybersecurity field needs people who can advocate for high ethics and integrity in organizations. Technical skills are important, but the real value comes from professionals who understand how security decisions affect people and organizations.

If you have access to quality, affordable cybersecurity education, don't dismiss it because "everything is available online." The combination of structured learning, credential recognition, and professional networking often creates paths with much lower risk and anxiety.

If formal education isn't realistic for your situation, focus on building demonstrable skills and finding alternative ways to connect with industry professionals. Join local cybersecurity meetups. Contribute to open source projects. Build case studies that show how you think about real problems.