🚀 Back Into Tech: My Reentry into Networking & Cybersecurity | Part 2

CyberIIon Sentry – Hacking My Journey Byte-by-Byte

Several years had passed since my early steps in tech, and though life had taken me on a detour, the desire to return to the world of technology never left me. As we rolled into the late ’90s, the digital landscape was evolving — but nothing like what we have today. Back then, renting servers wasn’t common or easily accessible. Most people had dial-up internet, with connection speeds like 14.4K, 28.8K, 33.6K, and eventually the blazing-fast 56Kbps.

⚔️ The DSL vs. Cable Internet War

I vividly remember the early battle between DSL and Cable internet — both claiming to be the future of home connectivity. DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) was an "always-on" connection, using your existing phone line. It felt like magic compared to the loud handshake tones of dial-up. But it came with a catch: you had to live close to a central office (CO) to get a decent signal.

Cable internet came onto the scene not long after — another always-on option, but instead of phone lines, it used the same coaxial cable that delivered your TV. The downside? You were sharing bandwidth with your neighbors. So, if everyone on your block was streaming or downloading at the same time, your connection took a hit.

I remember one hilarious commercial from the DSL camp that exaggerated this point: neighbors literally cutting each other’s cable lines to boost their own internet speed.

In the end, Cable won the war, mainly because it didn’t care how far you lived from a central hub — as long as your neighborhood had cable lines, you were in. Plus, it was generally faster than DSL.

🌐 My Intro to Networking Begins

What does this have to do with me? Well, this period was my entry into understanding networking. As someone trying to build a home setup with dial-up, then upgrading to DSL and eventually cable, I was learning — unintentionally at first — how networks functioned. This hands-on exposure started building my foundational knowledge.

Around this time, I landed a job at Bell Atlantic Mobile, which later became Verizon Wireless. That move nudged me even deeper into the tech world.

💻 Falling Back in Love with Coding

It reignited that old spark — the one I had when I first learned HTML in that early tech school (yep, the one I had to drop out of after it merged). Despite that setback, I still wanted back in.

Meanwhile, I was still deep in the gaming world — playing Battle Arena Toshinden, Ridge Racer, and discovering tricks like using a spring in the original PlayStation to play import games from Japan. I was one of the few in my area who had a Japanese copy of Tekken 2, giving me an edge when I stepped into the arcade — already familiar with moves and mechanics others hadn’t seen yet.

⏩ Flash Forward to 2010 – A New Chapter

By 2010, my interest in networking and security was becoming more focused. Cybersecurity wasn’t a buzzword yet, but I knew I wanted to be involved. I discovered a respected community college with a Networking & Cybersecurity program, complete with a Pearson VUE testing center on campus.

I paid out-of-pocket, taking one or two classes at a time, balancing life and school. I maintained a 3.7 GPA, and eventually made it into my first networking course — which aimed to prepare us for the CompTIA Network+ certification. We did hands-on labs using tools like Wireshark, capturing and analyzing live network traffic. For the final project, we had to design a fully operational network. I passed the course, but still felt unsure about jumping straight into the cert exam.

So, I studied on my own — weeks of practice exams, simulation tools, and reviewing CompTIA material. And on my first try, I passed the Network+ exam.

⛔ Another Setback: Life Moves Me Again

The end goal of this program was to earn my Associate of Applied Science, but life had other plans. Due to family needs, I had to relocate — nearly four hours away from the school. Unfortunately, being a brick-and-mortar institution, they had no online course options. Just like that, my path was disrupted again.

It was frustrating, another detour in my journey. But this time, I didn’t give up. I just shifted gears. The spark was there, and now I had a foundation in networking and a recognized certification to back it up.

🧭 What’s Next?

This wraps up Part 2 of my journey — from witnessing the internet wars to earning my first tech certification. In Part 3, I’ll dive into how I finally embraced cybersecurity, joined The Cyber Range, and started building real-world experience through internships, labs, and hands-on training.

Thanks for riding along. This story isn’t just mine — it’s one many of us share. The only difference is… I’m documenting it. One byte at a time.

Part I | Part 3 | Part 4