Guided onboarding

Start your cybersecurity journey with a clear 7-day plan

Whether you are a complete beginner or switching careers, follow a practical first week — then continue on a role-based path for SOC, ethical hacking, Linux, or compliance.

Each day links to tutorials, tools, and labs on PentesterWorld so you always know what to do next.

  • Day-by-day plan
  • Role-based paths
  • Hands-on labs
  • Free to start
Begin Day 1Choose a role path

No random topic jumping — build momentum in your first week.

Your first week

7-day beginner plan

Free plan
  1. Day 1Start here

    Security mindset & threat basics

7
Day plan
5+
Career paths
Free
Core content

First 7 days

Your beginner-first week

One focused theme per day — with links to tutorials, tools, and labs on PentesterWorld.

Your week at a glance

FoundationSkillsPracticeDirection
Day 2FoundationLocked

Networking for security

IPs, ports, DNS, HTTP — the language of incidents.
  • Review TCP/IP and ports
  • Practice with browser dev tools
  • Map a simple home network
Day 3FoundationLocked

Linux command line

Navigate logs, permissions, and services like a practitioner.
  • Learn essential Linux commands
  • Read auth.log samples
  • Try chmod and user management basics
Day 4SkillsLocked

Web security introduction

HTTP, cookies, headers, and OWASP-style risks.
  • Study HTTP request/response flow
  • Review OWASP Top 10 overview
  • Use JWT decoder tool
Day 5SkillsLocked

SOC & log awareness

How blue teams detect suspicious activity.
  • Learn what SIEM and alerts mean
  • Read failed login investigation guide
  • Browse SOC tutorial path
Day 6PracticeLocked

First hands-on lab

Apply concepts in a guided practical exercise.
  • Complete a beginner lab
  • Document commands and findings
  • Save evidence screenshots
Day 7DirectionLocked

Pick your career direction

Choose a role-based roadmap and next-month plan.
  • Compare SOC, ethical hacking, and GRC paths
  • Enroll in a roadmap
  • Join the newsletter & community

~1 hour per day — finish the week, then pick a role path below.

Begin Day 1

Learning paths

Choose your career destination after week one

Each card opens an executive learning path — milestones, career outcomes, and technology roadmaps (SOC, hacking, GRC, Linux, cloud) bundled inside.

Complete beginner

Compare executive career destinations — each learning path bundles milestones, outcomes, and beginner-friendly technology roadmaps inside.

CISO · audit · IT director · architect · GRC · SOC

Explore learning paths

SOC & security operations

Blue-team leadership path: SOC maturity, detection engineering, incident response, and 24/7 operations — includes the SOC analyst technology roadmap.

Director of Security Operations · SOC roadmap inside

Explore SOC learning path

Ethical hacking & offensive security

Red team and pentest leadership: program building, responsible testing, and bug bounty — includes the ethical hacking technology roadmap.

Director of Offensive Security · hacking roadmap inside

Explore offensive security path

Compliance & GRC leadership

Governance, risk, and compliance executive track — ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI, policies, and board-ready risk reporting.

Head of GRC & Risk · compliance roadmap inside

Explore GRC learning path

IT & infrastructure leadership

For sysadmins and IT heads growing into directors who own infrastructure, teams, and security outcomes together.

IT Head & Security Director · Linux roadmap inside

Explore IT security path

Career switcher

Browse every executive learning path — CISO, CISA, cloud security, AppSec, privacy, threat intel, and more with bundled resources.

15+ leadership destinations · roadmaps · labs

Browse all learning paths

Still building hands-on skills first? Start the beginner technology roadmap or browse all roadmaps.

Ready for hands-on practice?

Move from reading to doing with labs, free tools, and community events.

Explore labsUse free toolsJoin the community