I completed an internship in Cyber Security at a well-known MNC in India, which I was thrilled about since I wanted to avoid coding. I was looking forward to a SOC role, but I ended up in IAM training focused on Azure AD and Okta, led by mentors who primarily have experience in infrastructure rather than diverse security roles. While I don't dislike IAM, it feels quite disconnected from the networking and cyber defense topics I studied extensively. I'm currently preparing for the SC-300 exam and planning to get the AZ-900 as well. I'm curious about the future of a career in IAM—will I need to learn coding to advance? Should I request a role change to avoid being pigeonholed into IAM so early on? I'd love any advice on what I should do next!
4 Answers
IAM can feel easy at first, but it gets more complex. Keep focusing on core concepts like RBAC, identity governance, SAML, OAuth, and OIDC, and don't forget to grab those cloud identity certs while you're at it!
Hey, this internship is way better than being stuck on a helpdesk for ages! There's always a way to jump ship to cybersecurity later. Get your IAM skills down pat and consider transitioning to SOC teams afterward.
Starting off in IAM is a solid move! It sets a good foundation for your career.
IAM is a crucial aspect of modern cybersecurity. Remember that identity management is foundations of zero trust architecture. Keep pushing through those certifications and maybe set up a lab to practice more hands-on. You'll be just fine!
Thanks for the tips! I'm diving into Microsoft Learn and YouTube for help.
Totally agree! Just make sure you're enhancing their IAM security during your time there—even as a newbie. Your first job doesn't define your entire career, and after a bit of experience, moving to another infosec role will likely be easier.