How to Break Into Cybersecurity GRC | Mindset, Methods, Skills: A Career Changer's Guide to Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance (Simply Cyber Academy)

You don't need to start out as a hacker to work in cybersecurity. Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) is one of cybersecurity's best-kept secrets: a path that welcomes career changers from finance, IT, project management, healthcare, and dozens of other fields. Hoodies are great but not required. Steve McMichael made this transition. From accountant to Director of GRC at BlackBerry, he learned what works, what doesn't, and what nobody tells you about breaking in. This book is the roadmap he wished he'd had.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Part I: Permission to Break In Bust the myths holding you back. Discover why you don't need to be a technical expert, why GRC isn't boring paperwork, and how the immersion mindset accelerates your learning curve.

Part II: Understanding the Terrain Map the landscape. Learn where GRC fits in cybersecurity, how teams are organized, what practitioners actually do all day, and the tools that make the work possible.

Part III: The Three Pillars Master the fundamentals of Governance (setting direction), Compliance (meeting obligations), and Risk (the strategic heart of GRC that connects everything), including AI-augmented risk assessments.

Part IV: Your Career Action Plan Get tactical. Assess whether GRC fits your strengths, build a 70-20-10 development plan, and leverage free resources to accelerate your transition.

INCLUDES: YOUR FIRST GITHUB PORTFOLIO

GRC job applications are starting to include a field for your GitHub profile. Most candidates leave it blank. You won't.

This book walks you through three real open-source projects at three difficulty levels - starting from zero experience:

• Contribute GRC documentation (or code when you're ready) to a NIST-recognized CSF assessment database

• Build and secure an AI-powered news automation tool with Docker hardening and network isolation

• Build an AI risk assessment tool as an agent in Microsoft 365 Copilot Agent Builder, a Claude Project, a Gemini Gem, or a custom GPT in ChatGPT.

Each project earns you resume bullet points, a documented contribution history, and proof you can do the work - not just study it.

INCLUDES: 2 COMPANION VIDEO COURSES

How to Break Into GRC (Companion Video Course): Watch Steve walk through these concepts on camera with live mentor meetings featuring Dr. Gerald Auger.

Speak Cyber Risk (16 Curated Video Lessons): Go deeper on risk management. Quantify risk, build threat models, and conduct hands-on assessments. Completable in a single weekend.

WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR

• Career changers exploring cybersecurity options

• IT professionals looking to move into GRC

• Compliance professionals wanting to expand into cyber

• Anyone told they "can't break in" without a technical background

With a foreword by Dr. Gerald Auger, founder of Simply Cyber and one of cybersecurity's most trusted voices on career development.

The cybersecurity industry has a hiring gap. Organizations need people who can translate technical risk into business language, ensure compliance, and protect what matters. They need GRC professionals. They need you.Start now.