For a long time, cyber security has felt like a closed world. A world for people who started coding at 14. For Linux power users. For engineers who already “get it.” If you don’t come from a technical background, the message has often been unspoken but clear: cyber probably isn’t for you.
And that belief stops people before they even start.
At TryHackMe, we see this all the time. People who are curious about cyber security. People who want a career with real-world impact. People who are smart, motivated, and capable but convinced they’re already behind. The reality? Cyber security was never meant to be gatekept by technical jargon, assumed knowledge, or years of prior experience.
That’s exactly why SEC0 exists.
The Problem With “Just Start Hacking”
Most people entering cyber security don’t come from IT or computer science. Yet the industry often assumes they do. So beginners are told to:
- Learn security concepts without understanding operating systems
- Analyse attacks without knowing how networks work
- Follow walkthroughs without really knowing why something works
When you don’t understand how computers, networks, and systems work at a fundamental level, everything else feels overwhelming. Tools feel magical. Errors feel personal. Progress feels impossible. SEC0 was built to fix that, from the ground up.
What SEC0 Is (And Why It’s Different)
SEC0 (Pre Security) is a beginner cyber security certification designed specifically for people with zero prior experience. One of the biggest problems in cyber education is the order in which people are taught. SEC0 doesn’t rush you into “security mode.” It starts where most learning paths skip. Too often, beginners are introduced to:
- Security tools before operating systems
- Attacks before understanding networks
- Alerts before understanding logs
- Commands before concepts
SEC0 flips that and focuses on:
- How computers actually work
- How networks move data
- How systems connect, communicate, and fail
- The technical fundamentals that all security roles rely on
- A true entry point into cyber security
This means when you later learn security concepts, they make sense because you understand the environment they live in.
Designed for Non-Technical Backgrounds (On Purpose)
SEC0 was intentionally built for people with no technical background and is designed for:
- Students exploring cyber security for the first time
- Career switchers with no technical background
- Self-learners who feel lost jumping between resources
- Anyone curious about cyber but intimidated by where to start
You don’t need IT experience. You don’t need computer science. You don’t need to already “be technical.” You just need the willingness to start from the ground up.
Removing Barriers, Not Lowering Standards
Accessibility doesn’t mean lowering the bar. SEC0 isn’t about making cyber security easier it’s about making it possible. It’s the first step in a structured cyber security journey.
Once you’ve built strong fundamentals, you’re ready to move into applying them in real security scenarios. That’s why SEC0 naturally flows into the next stage of learning the Cyber Security 101 Learning path, where you can then test your abilities through SEC1 ( Cyber Security 101 Certification), which focuses more on hands-on scenarios, covering core red team and blue teaming concepts and builds strong technical foundations. You can also bundle up on SEC0 & SEC1 and save 20% on each certification!
If you’re committing to cyber security, SEC0 is the step that makes everything else click.
A Safer, Clearer Entry Point Into Cyber Security
Cyber security doesn’t need more gatekeeping. It needs:
- Better starting points
- Clearer learning paths
- Confidence before complexity
- Foundations before specialization
SEC0 is TryHackMe’s way of opening the doors and keeping them open. If you’ve ever thought:
- “I’m not technical enough”
- “Everyone else already knows more than me”
- “I don’t even know where to begin”
SEC0 was built with you in mind. Cyber security isn’t reserved for a select few. You don’t need permission to start. You just need the right entry point. And that’s exactly what SEC0 is designed to give you. Explore SEC0 on TryHackMe and take the first real step in your cyber journey.
Carah Els