Sept. 29. 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by Dakota State University.

Career opportunities in cybersecurity are front-page news, yet many people interested in the field face challenges on their career path, says one Dakota State alumnus.

“A lot of people are overwhelmed because there are so many resources and misconceptions out there,” Gerald Auger said.

To help these individuals, Auger has written the book “Cybersecurity Career Master Plan.”

“The purpose and intent of the book is that it can help those looking to take advantage of the opportunities in cybersecurity by providing a master plan for entering the field,” he said.

“Without a plan or a road map, people can spend a lot of money learning things they don’t need or taking the steps out of order,” Auger said.

The nine-chapter book is written chronologically, with three sections. In the first section, readers consider if the field is a good fit for them; next, they delve into the many roles available in the field, where the industries are, information about certifications and how to get experience. These are the ways “to mold you into being a cybersecurity professional,” Auger said.

In the third section, “we discuss getting a job, then leveling up and giving back to your community,” he said.

The book is an outgrowth of his YouTube channel Simply Cyber. With over 15,000 subscribers, the broadcasts are designed to help individuals advance in the information security field. He said the mission of the channel – and the book – is to “help anyone make and take a cybersecurity career further, faster.”

In the year and a half he has been hosting Simply Cyber, Auger has been hearing the same themes and challenges from the guests.

“The book is in response to that,” he said.

After he began the writing process, he noticed it had a singular focus, so he brought in three colleagues to add different perspectives, co-authors Jaclyn Scott, Jonathan Helmus and Kim Nguyen. Together, they offer techniques and tips to help individuals, such as undergraduate students, military personnel or those looking for a career change, to advance in a cybersecurity career

In his own career, Auger began as a software developer, but his interest in cybersecurity led him to get advanced degrees, two from Dakota State University, a master’s degree in information assurance in 2011 and a Ph.D. in cyber operations in 2019.

“DSU’s Ph.D. in cyber operations is very highly regarded and well-respected,” he said, noting that it has opened doors for him. It also provided him the skills needed to write the book.

“The Ph.D. process absolutely makes you develop research capability and writing capability, so going through that process equipped me with the skills to do this book justice,” Auger said.

Dakota State’s broad-based curriculum equipped him to be able to get a take on the many different roles in the industry.

“I don’t do every job in the industry, but I have perspective over most jobs in the industry,” Auger said. This, in turn, allowed him to “write a book to help people get pretty much anywhere in the industry.”

“Cybersecurity Career Master Plan” is available on Amazon, hard copy and Kindle.

“The next thing I would like to do would be to develop a course on how to execute enterprise risk assessment,” Auger shared. “This is a skill not well-versed in this community, so there is a gap in the opportunities to learn about the risk field.”

Auger works in information security at a major chemical manufacturing company but also runs Coastal Information Security Group, a cybersecurity consulting business. The YouTube channel and book are outlets of his passion.