When I first started learning Python and exploring cybersecurity, I didn’t have a five-year plan or some grand vision. I just like writing and debugging code to make them work. Late at night, I’d be hunched over my screen trying to figure out why my script kept throwing errors or why my log parser wasn’t catching what I expected.

There’s no paycheck tied to it. No boss asking me to learn this stuff. It was just me, my curiosity, and a blinking cursor daring me to keep going and somewhere in those long nights, I realized something important: curiosity lasts longer than comfort.

I’ve seen a lot of people jump into tech because of the headlines about salaries or remote work. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting stability — we all do. But if the only thing pulling you forward is the promise of a paycheck, it’s hard to keep going when the work gets tough, when the errors won’t fix themselves, or when progress feels slow.

For me, learning Python resonated with me because it wasn’t about chasing something. It was about building things I didn’t know I could build. Automating repetitive tasks. Writing a script to sift through logs while I slept. Watching something I created actually work.

That curiosity has kept me going far longer than any job description or salary range ever could.

And maybe that’s the real secret to this field: passion doesn’t just make you better at what you do — it keeps you in the game when others burn out. Your portfolio grows. Your skills deepen. And when the right opportunity comes along, you’re ready. Until then, enjoy the process.

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.

I created The Cipherscale Archives to document my journey throughout my new career in cybersecurity. I could have just created a GitHub and left it at that but I really wanted a way to revisit my thoughts as I progress and being able to share the experience while connecting with others who may be considering this path in life felt like a much better option.

Here’s what you can expect from this blog:

• Blue Team Projects & Tools – Scripts, SIEM experiments, and defensive security labs for threat detection, log analysis, and incident response.
• SOC Analyst Journey – Personal notes on learning malware analysis, handling alerts, and simulating real-world security incidents in a home lab.
• Incident Response & Threat Detection Guides – Walkthroughs of investigating alerts, analyzing logs, and detecting common attack techniques.
• Defensive Security Resources – Curated lists of Blue Team tools, training platforms, books, and learning paths for aspiring SOC analysts.

Whether you’re here to pick up new knowledge, follow along with my projects or just explore the ideas I’m passionate about, I’m glad you found your way here.

Thanks for reading and welcome to The Cipherscale Archives.