In a recent LinkedIn post, Chirag Goswami outlines a strategic roadmap for cybersecurity professionals looking to specialize in either Blue Team (defensive) or Red Team (offensive) operations. Goswami, the founder of Cybernara, shared his perspective on how certifications can guide career progression, while emphasizing the ultimate importance of practical skills in safeguarding businesses.
The post breaks down potential certification pathways, offering a structured approach for individuals at different stages of their careers. For those focused on defense, Goswami suggests starting with foundational knowledge and progressing to more advanced threat detection and forensic capabilities.
“Certifications help professionals grow, but at the end of the day it’s the skills that secure businesses.”
Blue Team Progression
Goswami’s recommended Blue Team track begins with foundational knowledge, moving through threat detection and analysis, and culminating in advanced forensics. This tiered approach aims to build a comprehensive understanding of defensive cybersecurity measures.
Foundational to Advanced Defense
According to Goswami, the journey starts with certifications like Security+, which covers the fundamentals. This is followed by:
- CySA+: Focusing on threat detection and analysis.
- CCD: Emphasizing hands-on Security Operations Center (SOC) and forensic work.
- GCFA: Delving into advanced forensic techniques.
This sequence, as outlined by Goswami, provides a clear progression from theoretical understanding to practical application in defensive cybersecurity roles.
Red Team Specialization
For professionals interested in offensive cybersecurity and penetration testing, Goswami presents a parallel track designed to develop expertise in ethical hacking and simulating adversarial tactics.
From Ethical Hacking Basics to Expert Offense
The Red Team pathway, as detailed by Goswami, starts with introductory ethical hacking concepts and advances to complex exploit development and operational red teaming.
“eJPT (ethical hacking basics) → OSCP (real-world pen-testing) → OSED/CRTO (exploit dev & red team ops) → OSCE3/OSEE (expert-level offense)”
Goswami highlights key certifications within this track:
- eJPT: For establishing basic ethical hacking skills.
- OSCP: Known for its rigorous, hands-on approach to real-world penetration testing.
- OSED/CRTO: Focusing on exploit development and advanced red team operations.
- OSCE3/OSEE: Representing expert-level offensive security capabilities.
This structured progression, according to Goswami, equips individuals with the necessary skills to effectively simulate attacks and identify vulnerabilities.
The Skill vs. Certification Debate
A central theme in Goswami’s post is the balance between formal certifications and practical, hands-on skills. While acknowledging the value of certifications in structuring learning and validating knowledge, he strongly asserts that ultimately, it is the demonstrable skills that provide true security for businesses.
“…at the end of the day it’s the skills that secure businesses.”
This perspective underscores the importance for professionals to not only pursue certifications but also to actively engage in practical exercises, labs, and real-world problem-solving to hone their abilities. Goswami’s own company, Cybernara, is presented as an entity that brings this expertise directly to clients.
“At Cybernara, we bring that expertise directly to companies from defending networks to simulating real-world attacks.”
In summary, Chirag Goswami’s LinkedIn post provides a valuable, structured guide for cybersecurity professionals navigating the complex landscape of specialization and certification, reinforcing the primacy of skill in the field.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Chirag Goswami on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on March 9, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →