🔐 Breaking Into Cloud Security Without a Traditional Background

If you're reading this and wondering if it's “too late” or if you're “too nontraditional” to get into cloud security, let me stop you right there. I’m not working in security yet. I don’t have a bunch of certs to flash. I didn’t come up through a CS degree pipeline. But I am learning cloud security, and this is exactly how I'm doing it — one hands-on lesson at a time.

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🧠 From Software Development to Cloud Curiosity

I started with a background in software development — building APIs, working with AWS services like S3, RDS, and IAM — and slowly found myself more drawn to the “security side” of things. Now, I’m less than a year away from earning my degree in Cyber Security, and everything I’m learning is helping me connect the dots. Whether it’s setting up IAM roles with least privilege, understanding how network traffic flows in a VPC, or building scripts to spot misconfigurations, I’m realizing cloud security is just the next layer of what I already enjoy doing.

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🛠️ Learning by Doing (And Googling Like Crazy)

I didn’t go back to school to start over — I built on what I already knew and explored what felt interesting. I found platforms that helped me learn in my own way:

• TryHackMe gave me hands-on experience with Linux, network scanning, and real-world Windows security challenges.

• LinkedIn Learning helped break down cloud and security topics into digestible lessons I could revisit at my own pace.

• I started personal projects using AWS — designing secure architecture, creating documentation, and even blogging about it.

• I write what I learn — not just for others, but to reinforce it for myself.

It’s not always linear, but every small project, blog post, or lightbulb moment adds up.

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🔁 The Mindset Shift: You Don’t Need to Know Everything

At first, I thought I had to know everything before I could apply for jobs or even talk about security. That imposter syndrome is real. But now I understand — cloud security isn’t about being a walking encyclopedia. It’s about being curious, adaptable, and committed to learning.

You don’t have to know everything. You just have to be willing to keep learning, and to show it through your actions. That’s what builds confidence. That’s what builds skill. That’s what builds your reputation.

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🧭 So What’s Next?

Right now, I’m aiming to earn my Security+ certification and continue growing my GitHub and blog as proof of my skills. My end goal? A role in cloud support or security engineering where I can solve real-world problems and help make systems more secure.

If you're on the same path, here’s what I’d say to you: Don't wait to feel ready — start now. Learn what you can, build what excites you, and document everything. You don't have to be perfect, you just have to be persistent.

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Want help getting started with AWS, writing your first security script, or figuring out how to tell your story like this? Feel free to connect — we’re all learning this together.