How to Get into Cybersecurity: Choosing Between SANS SEC275, SEC301, and SEC401

You want to get into cybersecurity, but where do you start? With so many options out there, it can feel overwhelming. Maybe you’ve seen job postings asking for “experience” when you’re just trying to take your first step. Maybe you’ve already dabbled in tech but aren’t sure what comes next. The truth is there’s multiple ways to begin your journey into cybersecurity.

At SANS, we’ve built several entry points to match where you are right now. Whether you’re brand new to technology, already working in a related role, or ready to roll up your sleeves and go hands-on, there’s a course designed to help you start strong.

Let’s break down the three main paths, SEC275, SEC301, and SEC401 and figure out which one fits you best.

Path One: Build Your Foundation with SEC275

If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to get into cybersecurity, but I don’t even know how,” then SEC275: Foundations: Computers, Technology, & Security is your first step.

This course is built for absolute beginners, people with little to no technical background who are ready to learn the essentials of how technology and security fit together. It’s a hands-on, guided learning experience that builds your confidence from the ground up. You’ll explore how computers communicate, how data moves across networks, what makes systems vulnerable, and how attackers think.

Every lab and exercise is designed to make you do cybersecurity, not just read about it. You’ll get to tinker, explore, and test real-world scenarios in a safe environment. By the end, you’ll understand the fundamental principles that power the field and walk away with a solid base to build on.

This course maps directly to the GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies (GFACT) certification, proving you’ve mastered the basics and are ready for more advanced challenges.

Path Two: Develop Cyber Fluency with SEC301

Maybe you’re not brand new to tech. Maybe you’re an IT professional, manager, or leader who works around cybersecurity every day but wants to understand it better. If that sounds like you, SEC301: Introduction to Cyber Security is your path.

This course bridges the gap between technical and strategic concepts. It’s designed for people who want to build fluency in cybersecurity concepts without needing a computer science degree to follow along. You’ll learn how cyber threats evolve, how to identify and mitigate risk, and how to apply foundational principles like CIA (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) and AAA (Authentication, Authorization, Accounting).

Think of SEC301 as your cybersecurity translator. It helps you understand the “language” of your technical teams while giving you the insight to make informed decisions, build stronger policies, and promote security culture across your organization. It’s also a perfect fit for those in HR, compliance, audit, and leadership roles who want to elevate their cybersecurity awareness to the next level.

Graduates earn the GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF) certification, demonstrating a professional understanding of how security fits into the larger business picture.

Path Three: Get Hands-On and Go Deep with SEC401

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and get truly technical, SEC401: Security Essentials – Network, Endpoint, and Cloud is where your journey levels up.

This course takes you from foundational understanding to practitioner-level skills. It’s designed for those who are ready to dive into defending networks, analyzing attacks, and protecting systems in real-world environments. You’ll explore security from every angle—network traffic, endpoint hardening, encryption, access control, and cloud defense.

Think of SEC401 as your launchpad into a cybersecurity career. Whether you’re transitioning from IT, expanding from a general tech background, or pursuing your first security operations role, this course helps you build the skill set employers are looking for right now.

It aligns with the GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) certification and provides the technical confidence to start performing security work, not just studying it.

Finding Your Fit

No two cybersecurity journeys look the same. Some start from scratch and build confidence one command at a time. Others transition from IT, management, or adjacent fields, eager to understand how cybersecurity ties everything together. And some dive straight into the technical trenches.

The key is to start where you are, not where you think you should already be. That’s what makes SANS courses so effective: each one meets you at your current skill level and helps you take the next step forward with confidence.

Still not sure which course fits you best? That’s perfectly okay. Figuring out your entry point into cybersecurity is a smart move. Why rush when you can take a peek behind the curtain first? We invite you to take advantage of our free course previews, where you can explore sample modules, see our expert instructors in action, evaluate the level and pace of each class, and identify which format best matches your learning style.

Whether you lean toward the hands-on lab-driven foundation of SEC275, the strategic fluency of SEC301, or you’re already ready for the more technical challenge of SEC401, previewing the courses puts you in the driver’s seat of your own learning path. When you invest your time in the right course up front, you build momentum and that momentum carries you forward. Start by previewing, then make a confident choice. See you in class.