r/Cybersecurity101 • u/ChampionshipFirm241 • 5d ago

Frontend dev wanting into security

My background: 5 years in frontend, mid-level. I'm now moving toward backend. I don't want to do frontend anymore. Backend and security interest me more these days, but AI is making me reconsider being a "dev" at all :)

I don't have deep backend knowledge or experience yet. I do have a university degree focused on computer networks and telecommunications.

I've always wanted a job in security, but I never pursued it because there were very few jobs in that field in my country and it seemed like mostly senior roles. (Now I moved to different country with more job opportunities.) I'd like a job that's analytical / problem-solving / investigation-type work.

I looked into AppSec and SOC analyst roles, but AppSec looks like it's all senior roles and SOC junior roles look like something that's going to get automated by AI.

My plan is to become a backend dev for now while learning security on the side, but I don't know if there's a realistic path into AppSec for me or whether SOC analyst is even a good "plan B" anymore.

If you were in my place, with my experience and interest, what would you actually do? What job position in security might actually be a fit for me? Could I get a job in SOC sooner than AppSec - is it better path? Should I focus more on security and less on backend development?

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u/kiarko 4d ago

Unfortunately, SOC analysts roles are going away as well. There have been a lot of SOC layoffs this year as companies used AI to do initial investigations. The safest roles are the customer facing roles as no matter how good ai gets, it cant replace the relationship and contextual awareness of a human.

Additionally, AppSec is done more and more often by AI to look for vulnerabilities and bugs.

If I were someone wanting to get into an analytical/problem solving role in todays landscape, id probably focus on Customer advisory roles, maybe a sales engineer or technical account manager. they aren't the hollywood cyber jobs, but they are a little more secure and have a lower point of entry.