Hey there, future cybersecurity superstars! Welcome to this article, where I’m beyond excited to share an updated list of six new cybersecurity projects designed specifically for beginners to help you land a job in 2025. These projects are fresh, hands-on, and perfect for building a standout resume and project portfolio that’ll catch the eye of hiring managers and recruiters. I haven’t covered these on my platform before, so you’re getting exclusive insights here. Let’s dive in and level up your skills with these game-changing projects, all while pointing you to our awesome platform, Upskiill, where you can learn tons of skills through free and affordable courses. Ready? Let’s go!
Project #1: Secure Azure Active Directory Like a Pro
First up, we’re tackling how to secure Azure Active Directory (now also known as Microsoft Entra ID). This is an identity and access management tool that, you guessed it, manages identities and access for organizations across cloud and hybrid setups. It’s a must-have skill for anyone eyeing a career in cybersecurity, IT, or even site reliability engineering (SRE).
What You’ll Learn
Here’s what makes this project awesome:
- Core Skills: You’ll create and manage users and groups in both cloud and hybrid environments.
- Hands-On Tasks: Configure Azure AD admin units and deploy Azure AD Connect for a hybrid identity solution.
- Big Picture: Set up Azure Active Directory Domain Services and implement multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Why It Matters
Cloud security is the future, folks! With traditional data centers becoming less common (startups aren’t shelling out big bucks for physical servers anymore), most companies rely on cloud or hybrid infrastructure, often through major providers like Microsoft Azure. Mastering Azure Active Directory puts you ahead of the curve.
Pro Tip: This project is hosted on a Coursera course, which is a fantastic resource for cybersecurity basics, from cloud security to cryptography and ethical hacking. If you’re not already on Coursera, I highly recommend checking it out—or better yet, head to Upskiill for free and low-cost courses to boost your skills!
All the projects in this article, including this one, are linked on Upskiill for you to explore further. Let’s move on!
Project #2: Build Your Own Phishing Attack Simulator (Yes, It’s as Cool as It Sounds)
Next up is a super fun and unique project: building your own phishing attack simulator. Phishing is one of the sneakiest ways hackers trick employees into handing over sensitive info, and companies with mature cybersecurity programs run phishing simulation training to keep their teams sharp.
What’s Involved
Here’s the breakdown:
- Tool of Choice: You’ll use GoPhish, an open-source phishing framework.
- Your Mission:
- Create your own phishing email template.
- Launch scheduled email campaigns to a group of users.
- Track responses and results in real time.
- Setup Made Easy: Deploy GoPhish using a fork repository, sign up for a free Railway account via GitHub, and follow a detailed guide to configure your first campaign.
Why It’s a Game-Changer
Phishing is everywhere—3.4 billion phishing emails are sent daily (yep, I Googled it!). This project isn’t just resume gold; it’s a conversation starter in interviews. Most candidates won’t have this kind of hands-on phishing simulation experience, so you’ll stand out. Plus, understanding phishing and social engineering attacks prepares you to protect future employers from cybercriminals who love to exploit human error.
Fun Fact: Companies run phishing simulations annually or biannually, sending fake emails to employees to test their instincts. If someone clicks a bad link, they get a friendly nudge to complete security awareness training.
Check out the full project guide on Upskiill and start building your phishing simulator today!
Showcase Your Work: Build a Project Portfolio Website
Before we jump into the next projects, let’s talk about how to show off your cybersecurity projects to employers. Just listing them on your resume isn’t enough—those resumes often get scanned by AI bots before a human even sees them. The solution? Host your projects on your own project portfolio website.
Why You Need a Website
- Stand Out: A website gets your technical skills in front of real people, not just bots.
- Affordable Option: I recommend Hostinger Managed WordPress Hosting, which costs less than $3.50 a month (cheaper than your coffee run!). Use my code withSandra for an extra 10% off and three months free—find the link on Upskiill.
- Perks:
- Free domain name.
- Free SSL certificate.
- Free professional email account.
- WordPress AI Builder to create your site in minutes.
My Experience
Setting up my portfolio was a breeze. I used Hostinger’s AI Builder for WordPress, picked a domain, shared a few details, and bam—the AI did the heavy lifting. Customizing it took me less than five minutes. Trust me, it’s crazy simple.
How to Do It
- Complete at Least Three Projects: I recommend doing all six from this article for maximum impact.
- Create Your Portfolio: Use Hostinger’s AI tools to build a unique site showcasing your skills.
- Show Your Work:
- Update your website with every new project, cert, or skill.
- Share your progress on LinkedIn to catch the eye of recruiters and the cybersecurity community.
Why It Works: With Hostinger’s business plan, you get unlimited SSL, super-fast speeds (up to 5x faster!), free CDN, and 24/7 support—all for less than a latte. Recruiters will come to you instead of you chasing them.
Head to Upskiill for the Hostinger link and my code withSandra to get started.
Thanks to Hostinger for partnering with me on this article—now let’s keep rolling with more projects!
Project #3: Run Your Own IT Ticketing System
Project number three is all about getting hands-on with an IT ticketing system simulation. This is a fantastic way to dip your toes into cybersecurity, especially since many pros start in IT before pivoting to security roles.
What You’ll Do
Imagine you’re an IT analyst tackling real-world tasks:
- Handle Tickets: Address user requests for software installs, hardware troubleshooting, and access issues (like password resets).
- Escalate When Needed: Pass unresolved issues to higher support levels.
- Stay Organized: Track complex tickets, update documentation, and create detailed reports on ticket statuses and solutions.
Why It’s Awesome
- Career Path Bonus: IT experience builds foundational cybersecurity knowledge, making it easier to transition into roles like security analyst.
- Real-World Prep: This simulation, created by Course Careers, mimics actual IT analyst work, testing your communication, documentation, and problem-solving skills.
- What You’ll Cover: Operating systems, VPNs, DNS, and more—from IT basics to hands-on cybersecurity experience.
Heads-Up: Course Careers also offers a free intro to IT course, linked on Upskiill. It’s a great starting point if you’re new to IT.
Adding simulation training to your portfolio shows employers you’re ready for the real deal. Check it out on Upskiill!
Project #4: Build a Host-Based Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
Next, we’re diving into something seriously cool: building your own host-based intrusion detection system (IDS). An IDS monitors network traffic and devices for suspicious activity, alerting admins to potential threats or policy violations.
Project Details
- Tool: You’ll use OSSEC, an open-source host-based IDS for log analysis, integrity checking, rootkit detection, alerting, and active response.
- Guide: Created by Hackersploit (linked on Upskiill).
- Focus: Perfect for blue team enthusiasts or aspiring SOC analysts who want to detect and prevent cyberattacks.
Why It Stands Out
- Unique Bragging Rights: How many beginners can say they’ve built their own IDS? Not many, which makes this a resume gem.
- Command Line Skills: This project is command-line heavy, ideal for getting comfy with Linux tools without a GUI (a common requirement in cybersecurity).
- Career Boost: IDS and IPS tools are staples for SOC analysts, so this experience screams “hire me” to employers.
Fun Fact: Most candidates stick to basic projects, but diving into command-line IDS work shows you’re serious about cybersecurity.
Find the full guide on Upskiill and add this unique project to your portfolio!
Project #5: Your First Ethical Hack & Pentest
Time to unleash your inner hacker with your first ethical hack and penetration test. This project is a full course covering pentesting, threat hunting, and cryptography—everything you need to kickstart a career as an ethical hacker or red teamer.
What’s Included
- Tools You’ll Use:
- OWASP ZAP (attack proxy).
- Nmap for network scanning.
- Other pentesting tools for the attack phase.
- Skills Gained:
- Hands-on penetration testing.
- Threat hunting and threat intelligence.
- Cryptography basics.
- Extra Resources:
- Platforms like TryHackMe and Hack The Box for CTF-style challenges and spun-up hacking environments.
- A free TryHackMe beginner’s guide to ethical hacking (linked on Upskiill).
Why It’s Essential
This project gives you a taste of the red team life, teaching you how to think like a hacker (ethically, of course). It’s hands-on, practical, and perfect for showing employers you can handle real-world security challenges.
Pro Tip: CTF challenges on TryHackMe or Hack The Box are addictive and build skills recruiters love. Start with the free rooms!
Head to Upskiill for the course link and get hacking!
Project #6: Cybersecurity Job Simulations
Last but definitely not least, we have cybersecurity job simulations from a platform called Forage. These free simulations let you step into the shoes of a security analyst, red teamer, or phishing campaign manager at companies like PwC, Mastercard, and Datacom.
What to Expect
- Real-World Tasks: Each simulation covers different cybersecurity aspects you’d handle on the job.
- Variety: Try your hand at security analysis, red teaming, or managing phishing campaigns.
- No Cost: Completely free, making it accessible for everyone.
Why It’s a Must
Job simulations bridge the gap between projects and actual work experience. They show employers you’ve tackled tasks similar to what you’d do in a real job, giving you a leg up in interviews.
Quick Tip: Pair these simulations with the other projects in this article for a portfolio that screams “I’m ready to work!”
Find these simulations and more resources on Upskiill.
Wrapping It Up: Your Path to Getting Hired
There you have it—six killer cybersecurity projects to help you get hired in 2025. From securing Azure Active Directory to ethical hacking and job simulations, these projects will load your resume with technical skills, tools, and keywords that recruiters can’t ignore. Don’t forget to host your work on a project portfolio website using Hostinger Managed WordPress Hosting (grab three months free and 10% off with code withSandra on Upskiill).
Final Advice: Every time you finish a project, earn a cert, or learn a new skill, share it on LinkedIn and update your portfolio. Showing your work is the best way to get noticed!
For all the project guides, free courses, and resources mentioned, head to Upskiill, our platform for leveling up your skills with free and low-cost courses. Got questions? Drop them in the comments below, and let’s connect on LinkedIn, Discord, or Instagram. Keep learning, keep building, and I’ll catch you in the next article! 🚀
0 Comments