Does cybersecurity require coding?

You don’t need to be a coder to join cybersecurity, but you do need curiosity and the right mindset.

That’s the most important takeaway for anyone thinking about a career in the industry. Globally, the job market is growing at double digits. However, a common misconception still exists: that you absolutely need cybersecurity programming skills to get your foot in the door. Many who are drawn to a career in this field hesitate because they believe they lack the necessary technical aptitude.

In reality there are roughly 30-40% of non technical cybersecurity jobs that require little to no coding knowledge, according to CyberSeek. These roles instead place a high value on attention to detail, strong analytical thinking, and effective communication skills.Movies often portray cybersecurity professionals with reams of code streaming down their screens. That’s misleading. Cybersecurity professionals are focused on risk evaluation, high-level security monitoring, and strategic planning. None of that requires coding knowledge. Naturally, it helps to have a technical background, but it’s not a prerequisite for a fulfilling career in this space.

In this article, you’ll discover the different types of cybersecurity roles you can choose, depending on whether you want to code or not, and what skill sets are required for each.

Do you need to code to work in cybersecurity?

What job market entrants and career changers typically want to know is whether cybersecurity requires coding? It seems like a make-or-break question. It’s a myth that prevents otherwise competent people from choosing cybersecurity as a career because they don’t want to become programmers.

Many cybersecurity roles rely on critical thinking, problem-solving and strategic acumen, with no coding required. Some need an understanding of IT systems behaviour, but that’s a different sphere to actual cybersecurity coding.Coding generally refers to writing software or online applications. On the other hand, scripting involves writing short code snippets, usually in an easier language. Beyond these, a significant part of cybersecurity is simply understanding the technological principles and how systems work, which doesn’t require any coding knowledge at all.

Industry insights

Most cybersecurity educators agree that critical thinking, clear communication abilities, and technological curiosity are central to the mindset of a cybersecurity professional. In the same vein, the latest Cybersecurity Workforce study from ISC2 highlights business acumen, adaptability and teamwork as some of the top skills required for cybersecurity professionals.  

Cybersecurity should be viewed as a spectrum of roles and skills. Coding is at one end. On the other side are the non-coding roles that require skills like policy formation, risk management and governance. Soft people-skills are also invaluable here, as these roles typically need to work across departments and get buy-in from each.In the middle, you’ll find hybrid roles. Take a Security Operations Centre (SOC) engineer, for example. They design security architecture, oversee its implementation, and manage security systems. They use tools and scripts to monitor security, investigate unauthorised access, and create incident response plans. While beneficial, deep coding skills aren’t always a requirement for a SOC engineer.

Types of cybersecurity roles

To clearly distinguish between the various cybersecurity roles, we can divide them into three distinct categories and align these with specific job designations.

There are certain jobs that require coding, but it’s important to remember that these aren’t always hard and fast boundaries. Hybrid roles may need a combination of light coding knowledge and broader operational skills, such as strategy development and systems design.  

There’s also a difference between light scripting and full programming development. For example, some roles like threat hunters may need to create small scripts to analyse log files and automate tedious, repetitive tasks. However, they do not need the skills required for programming security applications. The European Cybersecurity Skills Framework identifies 12 cybersecurity role profiles with corresponding skills and knowledge required for each.Finally, there are non technical cybersecurity jobs. Some involve working with people to manage human risk, like cyber awareness trainers. Others are administrative roles, like compliance specialists and privacy officers.

An organisation needs a healthy balance of cybersecurity strategists, managers, compliance officers, and deep-level programmers. A solid understanding of programming is also extremely useful for those in management roles. This awareness helps them understand the work their teams are doing, ask the right questions, and make informed risk assessments, without needing to possess actual coding ability.

Jobs that don’t require coding

In non-coding tech roles, soft skills are often more critical than coding skills. These positions are fundamentally about shaping organisational culture. 

They require abilities like critical thinking, presentation skills, and the talent for writing clear reports. You also need to be able to accurately communicate security scenarios and incidents to senior management. 

A key demand for trainers and consultants in these roles is to explain threats to non-technical individuals. As human risk management and compliance monitoring become more essential, empathy is also joining the list of necessary skills. The EU Agency for Network and Information Security has published Cybersecurity Culture Guidelines that stress the need for “awareness, analysis and intervention” to address these human aspects effectively.

Here are some examples of jobs that don’t require cybersecurity coding abilities:

• Information Security Analyst: Uses dashboards to monitor risk, ensures policy compliance and assess threat intelligence.
• Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Officer: Ensures that policies, systems, and practices meet regulatory requirements and align with frameworks like ISO 27001 or NIST, and tracks compliance.
• SOC Analyst: Monitors alerts and logs and escalates incidents to the relevant personnel.
• Policy Analyst: Defines security codes of practice and ensures that the organisation aligns with legal requirements and industry standards.
• Risk Analyst: Assesses risks to various business processes and provides mitigation advice.
• Privacy Officer: Ensures that all data is handled in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and all other relevant privacy laws.
• Cyber Awareness Trainer: Creates security breach simulations to heighten personnel awareness and practise correct responses.

Jobs that require coding

Programming for cybersecurity is required for those who create, test and analyse security software and systems. Some of these jobs are: 

• Security Engineer: Creates detection logic, develops security tools, and integrates them programmatically.
• Application Security Specialist: Checks the engineering code to ensure a 360° secure design.
• Threat Hunter: Writes query scripts and uses analytics to detect intrusions.
• Malware Analyst: Reverse engineers malicious software to understand its behaviour, using low-level coding languages like C++.
• Incident Response Engineer: Uses programming to automate threat containment.
• Digital Forensics Analyst: Writes code to analyse forensic data, including malware, disk images and internal systems to get a full understanding of an attack.ites scripts and code exploits to test for security weak points by simulating atta.
• Penetration Tester: Wrcks.

For those aiming for this type of role, a solid foundational knowledge of programming languages like Python or Bash provides a strong platform for future skill development.

Liz Centoni, executive VP at Cisco underlines this: “Foundational coding skills help break down complex problems and apply data-driven solutions. Understanding foundational concepts and the available technological tools, like machine learning and AI, is essential.“

Common coding and scripting languages

Exploring these languages isn’t difficult. The internet is full of instructional articles, YouTube channels, and other free tools that can give you a basic background. You can also take online courses to develop your cybersecurity coding skills. Many cybersecurity educators recommend Python for its readability and the abundance of online community tutorials. You can also sign up for coding bootcamps. From there, you can graduate to platforms like Hack The Box or TryHackMe to safely experiment with programming for cybersecurity.

Learning paths based on your background

Your learning trajectory for cybersecurity programming obviously depends on your entry point and whether you want to code or not. Different people can take different approaches.

Career changers

The key to a successful career transition is to focus on your transferable skills. An accountant or lawyer, for example, can transition into roles like risk management, compliance, or governance. HR professionals and teachers have the empathy and communication skills necessary to become cyber awareness trainers. Bootcamps are a valuable learning resource, and it’s also advisable to take courses that award industry-recognised certifications. These credentials can significantly boost your profile’s attractiveness in the job market.

IT professionals

If you are currently working in IT, you will already have a foundation to build on. This may include experience in network or server management, technical support, or basic security software deployment. If you want to learn programming for cybersecurity, you can take certification courses in any of the relevant languages mentioned earlier.

Students

If you’re not already studying coding or cybersecurity, it is advisable to opt for online courses that offer self-paced learning. Increase the complexity after each completion to build up to taking certification courses.

Certifications

Cybersecurity certifications give you credibility, and employers the confidence to hire you. Some of the key ones are:

• ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC): An entry-level certification that validates foundational knowledge.
• CompTIA Security+: An entry-level certification that covers security threats, system vulnerabilities, and security controls.
• Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP): It covers operational security, incident response and monitoring best practices. It also offers managerial skills, with the ability to implement, manage and strategise cybersecurity.
• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC): Includes best practices for risk management and mitigation, IT risk assessment and corporate IT governance.
• Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT): The credential is specifically for managing and directing IT governance.

Expert advice

Cyber threats continually evolve, and cybersecurity evolves in response. The nature of cybersecurity roles thus also changes over time. To stay on top of the game, ongoing learning is crucial. At SoSafe, we see this shift first-hand: as threats grow more human-centred, security professionals need not only technical expertise but also the ability to influence behaviour, foster awareness, and build a security-minded culture across their organisations.

Cybersecurity often focuses on technology, while attackers prefer exploiting the human element. SoSafe takes a different approach, combining behavioural science with real-world insights to empower people as the first line of defence.”

Andrew Rose, Industry Analyst and Strategic Advisor at SoSafe

Conclusion: a diverse industry with many career paths

You can start a cybersecurity career right where you are. There are clear pathways to diverse roles and fulfilling careers. Even if you don’t have any technical inclination at all, you can still work in cybersecurity in a legal or compliance role. Or you can study something like HR or teaching to educate and manage people on cybersecurity awareness. If you have an analytical mind you can go into the growing area of predictive cybersecurity analysis, also without touching a line of code.

Another key takeaway is that whichever path you choose, it pays to adopt an attitude of lifelong learning. The cybersecurity realm is one of shifting sands, and keeping up with new developments is non-negotiable. You can set aside reading time, take refresher courses or attend the latest events. This will not only enhance your career longevity, it will also ensure that you’re constantly improving and making a difference in your organisation. 

AI is a further consideration. It has quickly been adopted by both hackers and cybersecurity professionals, but most experts agree that human intervention is still vitally important. Computers can’t yet make ethical decisions and don’t understand business context. There’s a place for everyone in the cybersecurity field if you know where you want to fit in.