Laid Off From IT? How to Transfer to a Cybersecurity Role.

It’s no secret the IT industry has had a rough few years. Layoffs hit an all-time high in 2023 and continue to impact large and small companies, including the more than 150,000 IT professionals who were laid off in 2024. 

One of the best moves from an IT career is into the flourishing cybersecurity field. Cybersecurity jobs are expected to grow 33 percent in the next decade, much faster than other industries. That growth equals more than 17,000 projected job openings every year.

If you’ve been laid off from an IT position and are looking to make a change, cybersecurity can be the perfect mix of growth opportunities and chances to transfer your existing skills. Moving to a new industry can be challenging, but finding ways to stand out from the pack can unlock new opportunities.

4 Transferrable Skills From IT to Cybersecurity

Even with the recent tech layoffs occurring in 2025, cybersecurity is still a strong, growing field with competitive salaries and numerous job openings. People who have worked in IT support, system and network administration or software development often find a positive transition into cybersecurity due to the many overlapping skills they possess. 

Here’s how the experience of IT support personnel translates to key cybersecurity functions:

1. Troubleshooting: The ability to diagnose and resolve unusual system behavior is essential in both IT and cybersecurity. Just as you'd troubleshoot a server crash or connectivity issue, security analysts investigate suspicious activity to prevent or contain breaches.
2. Work with multiple networks: Understanding how networks function —  how data moves through your organization and what normal network activity looks like — will also help you spot signs of cyber attacks. This knowledge allows you to configure and maintain network devices securely, monitor for hidden threats and make sure only authorized users have access to important resources. 
3. Experience with various operating systems: In cybersecurity, threats can target Windows, Linux, macOS and other systems, so your ability to work across these platforms allows you to secure more devices, apply the right updates and quickly address security risks that may appear on any system.
4. Follow IT best practices: Routine IT measures, like keeping software up to date, recommending strong passwords and reminding colleagues to be careful with suspicious emails, are foundational for cybersecurity. These simple habits are often the most effective ways to block common attacks and encouraging others to do the same helps build a safer, more resilient workplace. When you bring this everyday IT experience into a cybersecurity role, you’re well-prepared to protect your organization’s information and systems from today’s threats.

Moving to a cybersecurity role might mean taking a step back in pay, gaining new certifications and proving yourself all over again. However, with the focus and determination, your IT background can be a strong launchpad into a rewarding new career.

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Find Your Marketable Skills and Choose Your Path

Many people find a significant overlap between their IT skills and the skills required for a cybersecurity position. As you begin the journey, consider what cybersecurity roles interest you and would be a good fit for your skillset.

Common cybersecurity entry points for IT professionals include:

• SOC analysts: Monitor security threats and respond to incidents as they happen. If you’ve worked with networks, handled system alerts or troubleshot technical issues, you already have many skills needed to spot problems quickly and investigate suspicious activity.
• GRC specialists: Focus on keeping organizations compliant with laws and managing risks. Experience with policy enforcement, audits or user access control in IT lays a good foundation here. Familiarity with regulatory standards and how IT systems operate is important for evaluating and reducing security risks.
• Penetration testers: Simulate cyber attacks to find vulnerabilities before bad actors do. A background in system or network administration, troubleshooting or scripting, is beneficial to understand how to test and exploit weaknesses. This role requires technical know-how and an investigative mindset.
• Cloud security analysts: Protect cloud environments like AWS, Azure or Google Cloud. Having experience with managing or configuring cloud resources or virtual networks, will help you with the necessary knowledge to secure these systems, monitor access and guard against cloud-based threats.

From there, identify transferable skills you can market to gain a cybersecurity position. Common IT skills like help desk, networking, threat detection, endpoint security and user access control can help you more seamlessly move into a cybersecurity role. 

Add Credibility with Certifications

Education helps fill in the gaps in the cybersecurity skills you need and gives credibility to your career switch and qualifications. Depending on your career goals and current cybersecurity knowledge, there are a variety of educational programs to help you learn the basics and get up to speed about the cybersecurity industry — everything from earning a bachelor's or master's degree to online classes. 

Certifications can help you gain knowledge in weeks and months instead of years at some traditional educational programs. Look for industry recognized certifications such as CompTIA Security+, CySa+, PenTest+, CEH, SSCP or CISSP. These certifications show your skills and are often a requirement for cybersecurity jobs; without them, your resume is likely to get automatically removed from contention early in the screening process. 

Gain Hands-On Experience 

Learning cybersecurity skills is one thing; putting them to the test gives you real-world experience to stand out from other applicants.

Practice hands-on with virtual labs and simulations. If you have the flexibility, an internship or apprenticeship can help you learn and apply new skills, often under the guidance of a mentor. Volunteer projects can give you a way to apply your skills to a real organization and can be a great boost to your resume. 

Platforms like TryHackMe offer beginner-friendly, guided labs covering various topics like threat detection and system defense. It’s great for learning step-by-step in a practical environment. Another popular option is Hack The Box, which provides more advanced challenges where you can practice ethical hacking and penetration testing on virtual machines.

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Find a Mentor and Build a Network 

Like in all industries, who you know is almost as important as what you know. Find a mentor in cybersecurity who can guide you through your career transition, share advice, and act as a sounding board as you consider new skills, certifications, and positions. 

Build your network by connecting with cybersecurity professional groups, either online or in your local area. These groups can introduce you to cybersecurity professionals in your target area, often share job postings, and can help you stay current on cybersecurity trends and training. 

Above all else, be confident in your career switch. Emphasize your transferable skills and new certifications. Focus more on experience than job title, and don’t shy away from entry-level roles or those with titles that may not seem as prestigious as what you had in the IT world. Getting a foot in the door and gaining experience can be a strong first step in your new cybersecurity career. 

Don’t let IT layoffs be the end of your professional growth. By building on existing skills and staying committed to learning, it’s possible to build a new, successful career in cybersecurity.