Navigating your way into cloud security: Skills, roles, and career trajectories

TutoSartup excerpt from this article:
Which cloud security career path is right for you—and what skills or experiences are required to get you there? Whether you’re at the beginning of your career, wondering how to break into the cybersecurity field, or a seasoned IT professional looking to pivot into cloud security, this post will …

Which cloud security career path is right for you—and what skills or experiences are required to get you there? Whether you’re at the beginning of your career, wondering how to break into the cybersecurity field, or a seasoned IT professional looking to pivot into cloud security, this post will help you plan next steps into a future role.

In this post, we explore the essential technical capabilities and professional competencies needed for different roles, from entry-level positions such as security operations center (SOC) analyst to advanced roles such as penetration tester requiring over 5 years of experience. We’ll examine which skills you can develop on the job versus those needed upfront while mapping out common career trajectories in the field. Remember that role responsibilities often vary by organization, so consider this guide a flexible roadmap rather than a strict template—the key is finding a path that aligns with your unique goals and interests.

Security operations center analyst

The security operations center (SOC) analyst role is an excellent entry point into cloud security careers, placing you on the front lines of an organization’s cyber defense. This role offers clear progression path through different tiers of expertise:

SOC analyst (Tier 1) (entry level job) – Tier 1 SOC analyst focuses on monitoring and responding to security incidents. Duties include analyzing security alerts, investigating potential threats, and resolving incidents using established procedures. When complex situations arise beyond scope, analysts escalate to more experienced team members. This position offers fundamental experience in security operations and incident response.
SOC analyst (Tiers 2 and 3) (over 3 years of experience) – These are more senior positions typically filled by professionals with proven SOC experience. On top of handling escalated security incidents, these roles involve proactive security measures such as threat hunting—actively searching for indicators of compromise (IOC) within the environment. Advanced skills in forensics and malware analysis are essential, enabling deep investigation of sophisticated threats and development of enhanced defense strategies.

The technical skillset required for this role includes:

Incident response – This is a fundamental skill required for every SOC analyst. It includes identifying potential security threats, gathering and analyzing data to validate real threats in contrast to false positives, and taking appropriate remediation or escalation actions based on findings.
Security information and event management (SIEM) tooling – Familiarity with SIEM systems is crucial for SOC analysts because these tools are the primary means of monitoring and analyzing security events across an organization’s systems. Although prior experience with specific SIEM tools is helpful, it’s not always required. Many employers are willing to train new analysts on their particular SIEM platform, recognizing that the fundamental principles of log analysis and event correlation are more important than knowledge of a specific tool. What’s essential is a willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies quickly.
Automation (familiarity with languages such as Python, Bash, or Powershell) – Although deep programming expertise isn’t always required for entry-level positions, basic scripting skills can significantly enhance the effectiveness of a SOC analyst and set them apart from other candidates. Many SOC teams encourage analysts to develop these skills on the job to improve operations and handle increasing volumes of security data more effectively.
Threat hunting – This skill involves using diverse tools and data sources to identify IOCs and suspicious patterns that might signal potential breaches. Although primarily required for Tier 2 and 3 analysts, understanding basic threat hunting concepts is valuable for career advancement in SOC roles.

The interpersonal skillset required for this role includes:

Prioritization – The ability to effectively manage and prioritize security incidents is crucial for SOC analysts. It involves rapidly assessing the severity of incoming threats and determining the order of remediation. This skill ensures critical issues are remediated promptly while less urgent matters are scheduled accordingly. Understanding incident priority levels is essential for maintaining overall security posture of the organization and managing workload efficiently.
Collaboration skills – Cross-team collaboration is essential for SOC analysts to investigate and resolve security alerts effectively. This includes partnering with application developers (understand software behavior), network engineers (understand traffic patterns), and system administrators (gather contextual information). Strong partnerships across teams accelerate investigations and improve threat assessment accuracy by using diverse technical expertise.
Attention to detail – A careful and precise approach is essential for SOC analysts as small details in logs or system behavior can be crucial indicators of a security threat. You need to carefully analyze data patterns, spot anomalies, and notice subtle changes that might signal malicious activity. Being thorough in your investigation and documentation helps ensure no potential threats are overlooked.

AWS training materials:

Security consultant or security solutions architect

Among the various cloud security career paths, security consultant and security solutions architect (SA) roles are customer facing and typically require prior experience because professionals are expected to be subject matter experts (SMEs). However, apprenticeships and graduate programs offer entry points for those without experience. These programs provide opportunities to shadow experienced consultants or SAs, observing customer interactions and developing technical expertise in specific fields. Although these roles share similar goals, they do have some differences:

Security consultant (3–5 years of experience) – Security consultants typically focus on assessing, advising, and implementing security solutions across different customer environments. They often work on shorter term projects and provide strategic guidance and technical implementation.
Solutions architect (3–5 years of experience) – SAs design and architect comprehensive security solutions, focusing on technical specifics and long-term scalability. They usually maintain ongoing relationships with key accounts.

The technical skillset required for these roles includes:

Cloud architecture – Understanding cloud service capabilities and their security implications is essential for both roles. You’ll need to design and evaluate architectures that balance security with scalability, reliability, and cost optimization. This includes selecting appropriate cloud services, implementing security controls and compliance requirements, planning disaster recovery strategies, and optimizing performance – all while maintaining a security-first mindset.
Application security, identity and access management (IAM), data protection, threat detection, network security, generative AI security – Although deep specialization in every domain isn’t required, you need broad knowledge to effectively advise clients. The role demands enough understanding to provide informed guidance and recognize when to engage other specialist expertise.
Automation (experience with Python, Terraform, and AWS CloudFormation – Programming skills are important to automate tasks. For example, you should be comfortable with creating automatic remediation workflows for detected security vulnerabilities. Infrastructure as code (IaC) is equally important because all cloud infrastructure should be deployed using these practices. Although CloudFormation is essential for AWS environments, knowledge of cloud agnostic tools such as Terraform is valuable for multi cloud scenarios.

The interpersonal skillset required for these roles includes:

Presentation skills – The ability to explain complex technical solutions in accessible terms are crucial for customer-facing roles. You need to adapt your communication style based on your audience whether you’re presenting to technical teams or business executives. Being able to break down complicated security concepts into clear, understandable explanations helps build customer trust and ensures they understand your recommendations. This is a skill that you can work on while on the job to ensure you become a more effective speaker.
Project management – In cloud security consulting and architecture roles, you need to effectively manage multiple projects and client engagements simultaneously. This includes setting realistic timelines, tracking deliverables, identifying potential risks, and coordinating with various stakeholders. The ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and keep projects on track while maintaining clear communication with clients is essential for success in these roles.
Relationship building and stakeholder management – Building strong, lasting relationships with customers is key to success in cloud security roles. This involves earning trust through consistent, reliable performance and clear communication. You need to understand each client’s unique needs and challenges, show genuine interest in their success, and provide value beyond merely technical expertise. Effective stakeholder management means identifying key decision-makers, understanding their priorities, and aligning your work with their goals. Your ability to nurture these relationships can lead to continued partnerships and new opportunities.

Security consultant and SA roles typically require prior experience in securing production workloads, given their advisory nature. However, aspiring professionals can start their journey through internships or graduate programs in consulting or solutions architecture. Through these opportunities, you can work alongside experienced professionals, gaining valuable insights into the role and industry practices. Many companies offer pathways to transition from these entry-level positions into full-time roles, providing a solid foundation for your career.

AWS training materials:

Security engineer or penetration tester

Often when someone says they want to get into cybersecurity, their goal is to become a penetration tester. Although penetration testing is indeed an exciting and crucial aspect of cybersecurity, it’s important to understand that it’s typically not an entry-level position. In fact, the path to becoming a skilled penetration tester often involves gaining experience in other cybersecurity roles first, particularly as a security engineer. In this section, we discuss some of the required skills to become a security engineer and a penetration tester.

Security engineer (more than 2 years of experience) – They focus on proactively identifying security risks by conducting threat modeling for new services and systems. They analyze potential vulnerabilities and design security controls before systems are deployed.
Penetration tester (more than 5 years of experience) – Also called ethical hackers or pentesters, they actively search for and exploit vulnerabilities in existing systems, simulating real-world attacks to identify security weaknesses. Their work involves detailed documentation of findings and clear communication with stakeholders to ensure discovered vulnerabilities are properly understood and remediated. More experienced pentesters (more than 10 years of expertise) identify and guide risk mitigation for significantly complex, persistent, or systemic security issues.

Because deep technical knowledge is required for both roles, starting as a junior or graduate software engineer provides an excellent foundation. Software engineering roles are more available for beginners and offer hands-on experience in understanding how applications are built and how they work. This understanding is invaluable when you later transition to identifying and exploiting security vulnerabilities. During your time as a software engineer, you can gradually build security expertise by participating in security reviews, learning about common vulnerabilities, and practicing ethical hacking in your own time through platforms such as HackTheBox or TryHackMe.

The technical skillset required for these roles includes:

Tooling: nmap, Wireshark, Burp Suite – Penetration testing requires proficiency in various security tools. Tools such as nmap and Wireshark are essential for initial system reconnaissance, helping you understand network topology and traffic patterns. Using Burp Suite, you can safely simulate real-world attacks and validate the effectiveness of security controls within your web application.
Network protocols and infrastructure – An in-depth understanding of network protocols, architecture, and common services is important for both security engineering and penetration testing.
Advanced programming and scripting – Strong programming knowledge is essential for both security engineers and penetration testers because you’ll need to review and understand code to identify potential security flaws. This deep understanding of different programming languages helps you spot vulnerabilities that might be overlooked in software development, whether it’s insecure coding practices, logic flaws, or implementation errors. The ability to read and analyze code is crucial for conducting thorough security assessments and providing meaningful recommendations to development teams.

The interpersonal skillset required for these roles includes:

Out-of-the-box mindset – Security engineers and penetration testers need to think creatively and approach problems from different angles, just as an attacker would. This means going beyond obvious security checks and imagining unique ways someone might try to compromise a system. The ability to think like an adversary, question assumptions, and explore unconventional attack paths is essential for identifying security vulnerabilities that others might miss.
Communication – The ability to clearly explain technical findings to different audiences is a crucial skill that sets exceptional security professionals apart. When you discover vulnerabilities, you need to effectively communicate their impact and risks to both technical teams and business executives, using language appropriate for each audience. Being able to present your findings persuasively and provide clear remediation steps helps ensure that security issues are understood and addressed quickly.
Attention to detail – When analyzing systems and code for vulnerabilities, even the smallest oversight could mean missing a critical security flaw. Being thorough and precise in your work, from system analysis to documentation of findings, is essential for effective security testing and maintaining a strong security posture.

AWS training materials:

Governance, risk, and compliance and security assurance specialist

What if you don’t have a technical background? Security assurance specialist roles can be an excellent entry point for those with degrees in law, public policy, or business administration. Although technical degrees in computer science, cybersecurity, or information technology are helpful, they’re not the only path into these positions. What matters most is your ability to understand technical concepts and apply security principles across an organization. Nontechnical backgrounds can provide valuable perspectives in areas like compliance, risk management, and business impact analysis.

Security assurance has multiple role profiles. The first is internal facing, which involves building out your own internal controls and onboarding service teams. The second focuses on catering to external expectations, such as interactions with regulators and standards bodies. The third profile revolves around delivering assurance engagements for customers and regulators and creating third-party assurance reports such as AWS System and Organization Controls (SOC), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), or Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST). Each of these profiles plays a crucial role in maintaining comprehensive security assurance across an organization’s internal operations, external compliance, and stakeholder trust.

Examples of the role profiles include:

Governance, risk, and compliance specialist (more than 2 years of experience) – These professionals focus on aligning security standards and frameworks with an organization’s technical controls. They play a crucial role in ensuring compliance and translating high-level security requirements into practical, implementable measures. Key responsibilities include mapping various industry standards such as ISO 27001, NIST, or Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) to the organization’s existing security controls, identifying gaps, and recommending improvements to meet compliance requirements.
Security auditor (more than 5 years of experience) – These professionals are responsible for conducting thorough assessments of an organization’s security controls and compliance measures. They evaluate the effectiveness of existing security practices, validate that controls are working as intended, and ensure ongoing compliance with relevant standards and regulations. Security auditors play a critical role in identifying vulnerabilities, recommending improvements, and providing assurance to stakeholders about the organization’s security posture.

The technical skillset required for these roles includes:

Threat modeling – Although security assurance specialists might not perform detailed technical threat modeling, they need to understand threat modeling concepts to effectively evaluate security controls and compliance requirements. This includes being able to identify potential risks to business processes, understand how threats might impact different parts of the organization, and ensure that appropriate controls are in place to address these risks. The focus is more on the business and compliance perspective rather than the technical implementation details.
Policies and regulations – A thorough understanding of security frameworks, compliance standards, and regulatory requirements is essential for security assurance roles. This includes knowledge of industry standards such as ISO 27001, NIST, SOC 2, and regulations such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). You need to understand how these requirements apply to different business contexts and be able to translate them into practical security policies and controls that the organization can implement and maintain.

The interpersonal skillset required for these roles includes:

Communication – Strong communication skills are vital in security assurance roles because you frequently interact with various stakeholders, from technical teams to executive management and external auditors. You must be able to explain complex security requirements and compliance standards in clear, understandable terms, write detailed reports, and effectively present findings to different audiences.
Documentation – This includes writing comprehensive security policies, producing audit reports, maintaining compliance records, and documenting control implementations. Good documentation ensures that security requirements and processes are clearly understood, provides evidence for audits, and helps maintain consistency in security practices across the organization.

Training materials:

It’s not just about tech!

Although technical skills are crucial in the cloud industry, they alone are not sufficient to land your dream job. Career growth often depends on your ability to network effectively. Building connections with industry professionals can provide valuable insights into different roles, career paths, and potentially lead to job referrals. Although digital platforms facilitate connections, in-person events like career fairs, conferences, and university events are valuable for bolstering your network.

Mentorship is a catalyst for career acceleration. Experienced mentor relationships provide guidance for goal achievement, unlock access to career-defining projects, and recommend tailored training or learning material. A well-chosen mentor doesn’t merely advise—they become a powerful advocate for your professional growth, opening doors and illuminating blind spots in your career trajectory.

Here’s a power move for mentoring:

Identify a potential senior mentor in your field
Research their background and spot areas where you have unique expertise (such as emerging tech trends, social media, or new market insights)
Craft a proposal: “I’d love to exchange 30 minutes of [your expertise] for 30 minutes of career guidance.”
Create a structured schedule where you alternate learning from each other.

This approach positions you as a valuable peer rather than merely a mentee, making senior professionals more likely to invest time in the relationship. It also demonstrates initiative and creates a more engaging mentorship dynamic.

Building your personal brand is an essential career asset at every professional level. Strategic self-promotion transforms quiet achievements into recognized value. Remember, accomplishments, no matter how impressive, have limited impact if they go unnoticed. Professional platforms such as LinkedIn provide opportunities and tools to amplify your accomplishments and connect with industry leaders.

Here’s a power move for networking:

Go to your LinkedIn profile on mobile.
Tap your profile picture.
Choose Scan QR code.
Save the QR code to your phone.
At networking events, let others scan your code to instantly view your profile with its fresh certifications.

This creates a seamless way for connections to immediately see your latest professional development achievements, making a stronger first impression than traditional business cards.

Overall, combining technical prowess with strong networking skills, mentorship, and personal branding can significantly enhance your career prospects in the cloud security industry.

Conclusion

The cloud security field offers diverse career paths, each with its unique set of challenges and opportunities. When you identify the roles that interest you most, create a strategic plan to reach your goals. Assess your current skillset and identify areas for improvement. Remember, although technical skills are crucial, your career growth will also depend on networking, mentorship, and personal branding. Invest time in these areas as you navigate your cloud security journey to maximize your potential for success.

About the authors

Monika Vu Minh is a ProServe Security Consultant at AWS based in London. She works with customers to help them improve their security posture within the AWS cloud. In her free time, she enjoys painting, cooking, and traveling.

Bianca Dunlap is a Learning and Development Program Manager in AWS Security. She collaborates with security leaders to create development experiences that help drive business outcomes. Her work focuses on strengthening personal capabilities, aligning team performance with business goals, and fostering organizational talent growth. Outside of work, Bianca enjoys time with family and friends, cooking and traveling, and being actively involved in community service.

Navigating your way into cloud security: Skills, roles, and career trajectories
Author: Monika Vu Minh