John Strand AMA: Evolution in Cybersecurity and Career Development

John Strand notes that the cybersecurity industry has evolved over the past five years, with higher hiring expectations, more competitive entry-level roles, and the adoption of MITRE ATT&CK and AI as standard tools. He highlights a persistent gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world skills, which his initiatives—such as expanded Pay What You Can classes, the ACE-T certification, and Free Lab Fridays—aim to address. The AMA invites questions about breaking into cybersecurity, career development, tradecraft vs. certifications, MITRE ATT&CK, hiring challenges, and skill-building. Strand also welcomes unrelated questions about instant decaf coffee and low-sodium V8.