how python changed my direction

When I first stepped into cybersecurity, my sights were set on SOC Analyst roles. I wanted to learn log analysis, threat detection, and incident response—the classic Blue Team path. I built a home lab, studied security workflows and started blogging my journey so others could learn alongside me.

But there was one skill I brought with me from the start – Python. I originally learned programming out of curiosity and in many ways, it’s what inspired my shift into cybersecurity in the first place. I loved seeing my own scripts come to life, watching lines of code turn into something functional and useful.

As I looked at other analyst’s resumes and experience, one thing stood out – Python was often treated as an afterthought, left off to the sidelines or neglected altogether. Despite its ability to automate repetitive tasks and dramatically cut response times, it was rarely at the center of most workflows.

That realization pushed me to pivot. Instead of only learning how to respond to threats manually, I began focusing on building tools that can detect, analyze, and respond automatically. Security automation became the bridge between my programming skills and my growing cybersecurity knowledge and it’s now the focus of my career path.