I did not come up with the idea of ‘pillars’ on my own.
I first encountered it during my first job, working in a helpdesk role while completing a vocational apprenticeship aligned to the AQF framework.
The learning tasks I was given were horribly outdated and often redundant to furthering my understanding.
Notably:
- Focused entirely on on-prem Active Directory
- Lacking any practical exposure to M365 or cloud infrastructure
- Missing any roadmap beyond the Australian Framework / University pathway
- Silent on ITIL, service management, soft skills, or security standards
In my search for better resources, I stumbled upon DFIRMADNESS’s 5 Pillars.
The emphasis on mastering core skills reflected a belief I already held.
“We look special because we master the basics.”
— Special Forces Instructor (between sprints and flutter kicks)
This list is an abridged DFIRMadness’ 5 Pillars to get you started. the covers baseline knowledge areas for a foundation in IT/Networking & beyond. I recommend using the security paths are available on sites like TryHackMe, HackTheBox, and TCM-Security.
These are key skill sets within each pillar, providing a foundation in IT, Networking and cyber-security. familiarity with each area is essential. o