To get the most out of this book

To be as practical in our approach as possible, we’ve made a few assumptions about you, your skill level, and your needs. We assume you have a foundational understanding of cybersecurity and information security. This means you should be familiar with common security controls and concepts. If terms such as “firewalls,” “antivirus software,” “encryption,” and “password security” ring a bell, you’re on the right track. If not, don’t worry; we’ll provide explanations and guidance along the way.

In addition to basic cybersecurity concepts, we assume a baseline of enterprise technology knowledge. This doesn’t mean you need to be an IT expert, but it does imply a general understanding of how technology is used in organizational settings. If you’ve worked in an office environment, used business software, or interacted with enterprise-level systems, you have the foundational knowledge we’re referring to for this book. As with the assumption mentioned previously, we will provide explanations and guidance as we describe enterprise technology to support you.

If you meet these prerequisites, you’re well prepared to begin. If you find some concepts still unfamiliar, don’t be discouraged; this book is designed to bridge gaps in your knowledge and build a solid understanding from the ground up.