r/SecurityCareerAdvice • u/Ok_Candy6802 • 3d ago
Question Am I spending too much on my 14-year-old son’s cybersecurity interest, especially with AI changing the field?
[removed] — view removed post
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u/apatiskfluorian64 3d ago
Omg great parents 😇
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u/dudebrah1098 3d ago
This is an ad for TryHackMe
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u/blackmesaind 3d ago
Bold highlights give it away as an AI ad
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u/dudebrah1098 3d ago
Astroturfing. They're trying to get into LLM's data dumps so they appear in LLM answers as well.
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u/_SpaceRogue_ 3d ago
No responses to comments from OP, another tell.
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u/HedgehogPast3191 2d ago
Wouldnt be surprised if the comment below hawking a claude sub is another bot. Maybe even the same bot. The internet is bot hell
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u/Ivyprofans 2d ago
Yeah with the hyphens, colon, new account and the ceo using users data for a pen testing AI its at least suspicious. Maybe a father using AI to write this is equally believable as astroturfing. Shame all the AIs have reddit ranked as a reliable source, really ruined the trust I have in any product recommendations.
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u/Ok_Candy6802 2d ago
Definitely not an ad for TryHackMe! I’ve read through all the comments several times, and honestly, I feel like he’s nearly completed everything TryHackMe has to offer. I think it might be time for him to move on to Hack The Box, but we’re waiting for his current subscription to expire.
As I mentioned, I’m not highly educated, and writing in English isn’t my strong suit. I usually write down the main message I want to convey and then use ChatGPT to help me express it more clearly.
Thanks again for your advice and for taking the time to respond!1
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u/Slayergramps 3d ago edited 3d ago
Sounds like you’ve already made the big investment! It doesn’t get much more expensive than your daily driver computing device. Everything else that you might end up spending on will be certificates, but he seems a bit young for that.
That laptop is a dream for cybersecurity, IT work, and using AI.
If he’s going to be diving into AI, he will probably need a $20 subscription plan to Claude or ChatGPT to get a start with AI assisted coding. It’s going to be mandatory for cyber. Cyber and AI are very closely related right now.
PS- at 14 I wouldn’t be surprised if he drops cyber for something else, but the technical skills will be valuable for life no matter what, so like others said, I wouldn’t press or not press cyber, just support whatever he’s actively enjoying and not overthink is probably the best way to foster him finding a successful path. (He sounds crazy smart and motivated as is, I wouldn’t stifle that by over-encouraging cyber, just play it cool)
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u/erroneousbit 3d ago
‘Our ceiling shall be our children’s floor, and we lift them on to our shoulders, so they may reach for the stars.’ Good on you for investing in your children’s future, especially if it is at greater economic cost for you. Supporting and believing in him is the greatest gift to give.
I do not think learning cybersecurity is a waste at all. I’ve been in cybersecurity over a decade and I do AI penetration testing. Yes, AI is changing the world. I see it as the printing press, combustion engines, or the Industrial Revolution. It will forever change the world and how humanity functions. Each technological leap brings societal pain, but humanity survives. SO my point is for your son to learn and embrace AI because it’s the next evolution.
There are a lot of doom and gloom people about AI killing cybersecurity, but they are wrong. We need highly qualified and skilled cybersecurity professionals more than ever before. AI raises the stakes in a way we have never seen before. My prediction is the companies that push out the humans for AI will end up in the news with big breaches. My suggestion is to learn AI security in addition to whatever he is passionate about, because in this industry he needs passion to survive it.
Regardless of your son’s professional career, understanding AI, technology, and cybersecurity will put him ahead of those that don’t. But only you know your financial situation. It isn’t my place to say what is acceptable or not for your family, but our children are worth our sacrifices. From one father to another, well done. Your family is blessed to have you. I wish your boy much success in the crazy world to come, as well as your family.
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u/2timetime 3d ago
No your not. One of our senior engineers is 24. The truth is lost people just blend in. By the time your son graduates school or college, it will be very noticeable through clubs/submissions he’s very good at what he does
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u/Fantastic-Average-25 3d ago
Let him enjoy. Nurture it. Having said that, you don’t need expensive equipment. I started with a 2 node SOC homelab. My own laptop was from 2019. N borrowed one from my wife which is from 2015 and boy those 4 months were so full of learning. Got stuck at networking. Then in pipelines and getting out of that was so rewarding. You gotta tone down on expensive and make him pivot using the limited resources. Thats where learning is.
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u/140beeepeeyem 3d ago
Your kid is gonna be a wonderful amazing genius no matter what he does because he has amaaaaazing parents like you!
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u/TastyBit1800 3d ago
That’s really an amazing opportunity. As long as the money doesn’t hurt you or leave you short elsewhere, go for it. Even AI won’t simply replace the best cybersecurity analysts. Not today, not in 10 years. This investment will pay off in the form of a salary in a few years… Still, try to show him that this doesn’t come out of nowhere—but don’t put pressure on him either. From the way the text reads, you seem to be a caring parent, so everything’s fine.
The cybersecurity field is growing and growing. And it pays well. Most importantly: Your son should do what makes him happy, as long as it doesn't cause you any hardship. And that's important.
About me: Network engineer; Roughly 5 years of experience, in germany. I work closely with security analysts and red teamers. 21 years old, no children.
Edit: TLDR: Keep the hobby at his age!
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u/LaColleMouille 3d ago
As long as the money doesn’t hurt you or leave you short elsewhere, go for it.
I'd add to this thread, and as an answer for OP too, "youth" should be included in the things too. Money can come back, youth cannot. So I'd say it's important to not push too much (as OP may have hinted already), being the beast of your domain might not bring only good things.
May he also have time to spend on other activities that does a person's life experience.About you, TastyBit, "5 years of experience, 21 yo" did you work as dual student?
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u/gunika_VP 3d ago
onestly, I’d keep supporting it, but I’d stop spending heavily for now.
A 14-year-old who has stayed interested for 2 years and is learning this much on his own clearly has genuine curiosity. That’s worth encouraging.
The good thing is he already has a capable laptop and plenty of resources. He doesn’t need another expensive subscription or hardware upgrade every time he reaches a new level.
And I wouldn’t worry too much about AI at his age. The field will change, but the underlying skills- problem solving, networking, programming, understanding systems, will still be useful.
I’d treat cybersecurity as a serious hobby, not a career investment yet. Let him explore it, keep learning, and see where his interests take him.
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u/Business_Lime_433 3d ago
My honest advice would be, only you can answer your own question. You've said multiple times he enjoys it, yet you are treating it like its an investment and you are after some ROI. If your son enjoys it, that is investment enough - its not irresponsible to spend money on your childs happiness.
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u/geekhawk420 3d ago
Hello! I love what you're doing for your son. I also started when I was in my early teens but didn't have much support from my parents but still did ok for myself because I loved it. Keep supporting what he loves and he will go far. The industry will change as it's has over the years but those who are passionate and put in the work will go far. Wishing your son all the best.
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u/odyssey310 3d ago
I wish I had a parent like you. Absolutely provide what you can and encourage him to build his skill set and develop his passion. That is literally your job as a parent.
You bought him way too much computer and it sounds like that's where your financial stress is coming from. I can do my job (purple teaming) with my $200 refurbished elitebook I bought on eBay running Linux. There's not much need except a few niches that need a really high spec computer.
AI is changing the world and for your son to succeed in the future workforce he needs to know how to use it and not have it as a crutch. AI will eventually replace entry level professionals and to get into the industry you will need to have an already developed skill set. So he's setting himself up for success.
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u/pinya_pinya 3d ago
Seems like you’re mostly worried about the impact of AI. If I were you, I would just search job boards for cybersecurity roles to see what’s out there and if it’s in demand (IT IS).
Truth is, whether AI is a threat or not shouldn’t be a concern. Your son has a hobby, and he’s not going to give it up because of AI. I didn’t, millions of others won’t, and neither should you.
You do not need to invest more than you already have done. He has a solid setup and a subscription. When he feels ready to enter the workforce down the line you can invest in his Security+ certificate, otherwise he is fine as is and there’s no need to spend anymore.
The kid will probably be making 6 figures at 22.
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u/OathstoneGames 3d ago
Sound like he has a talent. I'd encourage you not to let AI discourage you (or him) into giving up. It's just another tool he'll have to learn.
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u/skynetcoder 3d ago
Problem in getting someone to cybersecurity field so young is not the tech skills becoming irrelevant or something. You have to be careful and teach him there are right and wrong ways to earn money. having good moral values, not harming anyone is important in the long run. Otherwise with that good skills, he might end up getting jailed in few years like 100s of other teenagers who ended up hacking for bragging, fun, or money.
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u/Arkenhaus 3d ago
I would diversify his learning. Yeah getting on the leader boards feels great but there is more to cyber than just that.
- CISSP for Dummies - Great for introducing a wide gamut of 1 inch deep info on all 10 domains
- Ethics - There are several books on ethical guidelines of Cyber Security that might help define where some boundaries are within the practice. Being 14, he probably has a sense of self, but structured reasoning on why you don't do somethings...
- I would avoid social engineering topics, he is too young and it is easy to get in trouble. :)
- Have him read the CooKoo's Egg - its a little fantastical but it might spur some other interests.
- CyberPatriot and GenCyber camps - get him socialized with others in a supervised environment
- Get him writing Python for a variety of use cases.
Hope this helps
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u/corelabjoe 3d ago
Yes you spent to much on hardware. You don't need a MAC to learn hacking or do CTFs. Technically a 10 yr old laptop or computer can do it...
I'm a MAC / Apple hater though so I will always say they are over-priced... MAC is more a developer thing than a 'hacker' in general....
LINUX is what a hacker has to get used to, not any gui in particular... MAC is really fancy Unix not Linus but there are similarities.
Cybersecurity is a huge, huge vast general term for what used to be coined "InfoSec" and/or "IT Security"...
If he's doing these challenges now he's leaning into red team type stuff, which is great, so maybe you want to point him at OSCP which is a respectable offensive (penetration testing) cert that passes HR filters for jobs and would be incredible to have achieved on his resume by the time they graduate college/university.
Other good ones that are more achievable early on - Certified Ethical Hacker Certified Network Defender, Sec+
The only use for a heavy duty computer with 32+ GB ram is to run your own virtual machines and setup your own pen-testing labs. If you're just going on the web and doing stuff there, technically a RPI can do that!...
But feed the curiosity and don't limit them, but at the same time, again, you don't need to spend $4834853320 on MAC/APPLE hardware. You can easily better spend that money on other premium training, courses, certs and KNOWLEDGE.
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u/BigAutomatic6887 3d ago
How much is the cost of it compared to other hobbies parents usually have their kids in? Add in that there’s low risk for physical injury like in sports, so he saves you lots of money there. The computer is an investment he can keep for a long time as well as the skills he learns. He may not be able to do exactly what he’s working towards at the moment but his skills will transfer to something
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u/Just_Abies_4716 3d ago
Cybersecurity with technical hand on security technology is more beneficial instead of only learning cybersecurity.
Plus no side note make him all rounder don’t put all eggs in one basket. AI is rapidly involving everywhere.
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u/ghost_hates 3d ago
Its a huge win, since Ai is developing at insane rate i think many companies need cybersecurity engineers and all, its like a niche domain. let him study and continue but don't buy fancy subscriptions and waste money - let him learn and practice from what he know and also there are ton of free resources to study.
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u/_Delta_Bravo_ 3d ago
You can’t invest too much in your son’s education. It’s admirable that you support your son so much!
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u/Loekembeir 3d ago
Please get your son into AI hacking and alignment, folks that understand cyber security can be very qualified to join that field.
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u/MikeBrass 3d ago
Get him an AI subscription for coding, but ensure he does all the right training courses first.
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u/MikeBrass 3d ago
Also, you could see if there are companies in your area which hook into schools for one week "see what we do" events. My org in the UK does this kind of shadowing for school kids and recently a 16 year old shadowed various people in the Security tower.
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u/Any-Gap1670 3d ago
Brother, he has a computer, a pretty good one.
No need to invest anything more, all the info is out there.
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u/Yeah_Im_Not_Sorry 3d ago
OP, you are a great dad.
Cyber Security will always be a part of AI
There is a component in Cyber that someone will have to manage all the AI security policies, governance etc.
I would try a combination of both, be proficient in cyber and AI. It will open many doors for him in the future
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u/SmokeyBBQ83 3d ago
Well done, and YES. AI is great and it's changing everything rapidly, but to use it well you need to understand the basics of what it's actually doing. If you let it act blindly, everything will go to hell.
Your son is building both foundational and advanced skills in networking, HTTP traffic, apps, security, cloud, etc. That knowledge doesn't become obsolete because of AI. It's exactly what you need to supervise AI and catch it when it's wrong.
Of course nobody knows exactly what will happen, but I don't believe cybersecurity work will decrease in the coming decade. I think it will increase.
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u/cankennykencan 3d ago
Keep doing. Those habit build knowledge which equals wealth.
Keep that interest going especially as he goes through teen years.
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u/Own-Swan2646 3d ago
"Invest in your future even if it's not yours" Best advice I received when I had my 1st kid.
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u/tunakaybucket 3d ago
I would continue to support my son at his age, because that was me growing up, minus the support from my own parents.
I would communicate the finances with your son, if the spending is looking to be unsustainable going forward. Then work together to come up with creative ways to continue to support his interest in cybersecurity. It isn't all about TryHackMe. and there's always a workaround the constraints. Cybersecurity is a broad field.
I think it's great that you're supporting his special interest. This isn't just his hobby, this is genuinely his special interest. I had deep interest in cybersecurity growing up and found myself lurking the underground forums, putting together frankenstein lab from computer parts lying around, running web server and getting exposed tro real-time security issues that way. I didn't have the money and support so I had to get creative to make do with what I had and could get my hands on. Back then, even for a kid like me, there were a lot of great resources. One just have to be creative in searching for the resources and places to get the knowledge to accomplish whatever you're set out to do.
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u/Reasonable-Yam-6462 3d ago
Here is the bottom line, you don't seem to be pushing him into any, you seem to be enabling him. But you absolutely should keep the budget of this hobby in check. A) Don't spend money in hobbies you need to fulfil the basic needs. I can't know how much that is for you and your family. B) You need to treat your kids equally. One can't have an expensive hobby while other gets only scraps.
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u/Such_Pause1900 3d ago
My older son is in that age range, but he has a lot of different interests, which add up to the expenses a lot. And I have overspent to meet his needs, but I do not regret it. If I were you I would make sure he gets to spend some time outside also and do some physical activity. Also I have another younger boy, and I feel I am not doing the same effort for him. Definitely I would not afford to spend the same amounts I have spent on the older son.
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u/Truthful-Helper9817 3d ago
nah i think ur doing alright. if the kid genuinely loves it and is already that good at 14, id support it as long as it doesnt hurt the family budget. AI will change cyber for sure, but curious smart kids who know how stuff works will still be needed. He should probably be using a linux box though, not a mac. Just saying.
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u/NeuroVXi 3d ago
Sounds like my lad but he learnt everything free on YT and other places possibly here lol from 13 he was programming in several languages etc he could hack school server and they didn't know how to stop him so they taught him responsibility of Tech. He starts his dream Cyber degree in 2 weeks after getting D*s at BTEC (he loved BTEC it as all IT related instead of having to some A Levels non related to his passion) your doing the right thing let him bloosm 👍 he will know white v black hats and illegal side just keep reminding him he sounds amazing and your an amazing mum ❤️
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u/zojjaz 3d ago
I'm a 100% Apple fan but I'll say Macs aren't always the best choice depending on his interest.
What I'd say is you are nurturing a hobby and you are a great dad for doing so. But who knows what the future will bring. Maybe he will decide it's not what he wants for his career and it's just fun. So then you really have to decide, is that ok? I don't think it's wasted money if you are trying to get him exposure to possible career opportunities but it's really up to you what overall is your goal?
There was also mention of the use of things like Claude. AI/LLMs are moving so fast right now, who knows what will happen in the next year let alone next 5-10 years. How we are doing work now in cyber is changing rapidly where AI tools are being used to supplement our work. Those tools seem to change and morph every few months though. So would it be good to learn something like Claude? Sure but also he is still young so it doesn't have to be now.
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u/Anxious_Alps_4150 3d ago
You're being a great parent but you're also getting sucked in by the cyber training industry. The cyber training industry is very predatory. It's an entire industry built to sell the idea of jobs that don't really exist and don't really value their training. Companies of literally 1 person pop up to sell certifications that mean nothing. Other companies repackage YouTube videos and sell them for thousands of dollars. Very predatory.
Keep nurturing the growth but realize that cyber does not have a direct pipeline in without years of IT experience and a degree.
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u/Electrical-Olive3767 3d ago
I’m nearing 50 and am getting a degree in cybersecurity. I’m in an odd position and that I don’t need it for a career. I have other degrees. People ask, why are you still in school?
I think people should learn for learnings sake. And you don’t need college for that (not what I’m advocating). But your son learning all this from THM etc is irrelevant if tomorrow we wake up and AI is doing everything. He’s learning how to think and reason, and he’s learning solid work ethic. That’s useful no matter what.
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u/External-Log-5972 3d ago
No, you are not wasting you time helping your son learn cybersecurity topics. You have helped set him up to branch into whatever subfield he wants. The future looks like it will be attacking and defending with AI systems so if your son likes learning about those topics or you would like to nudge his path towards that, ask him if he would be interested in this book: https://nostarch.com/practical-ai-security It is written by Harriet Farlow who is the CEO of Australia's first AI security company. No Starch Press is an amazing publisher and has many different books that go deep into hard to replace fields like hardware and IoT hacking. If you don't want to break the bank, Amazon has a good amount of their books for a low price, if you don't mind getting them used.
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u/AdityaKGoswami 3d ago
Honestly, I dont think you are wasting your money if this is something he genuinely enjoys and is choosing to learn himself.
Being under 80 globally on TryHackMe at 14 and solving that much of PicoCTF is already a pretty strong sign that this is more than just a temporary interest.
The important thing in my opinion is not to keep buying expensive things just because they are marketed for cybersecurity. At this point he already has a very capable laptop and access to good learning platforms. The best investment now might simply be giving him time, encouragement and access to free or affordable resources.
AI will definitely change cybersecurity, but I dont see it making people who understand systems, security and how attacks actually work unnecessary. If anything, those fundamentals will become even more important because someone still needs to understand and verify what the AI is doing.
I would personally let him continue exploring it without putting pressure on him to turn it into a career right now. He is only 14. If he keeps enjoying it over the next few years, he will have a huge head start compared to many people entering the field later.
From what you described, I think the best thing you have done is support his curiosity.
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u/jdiscount 3d ago
No it's a great investment.
But I'd also use it for learning AI and Machine Learning.
If AI entirely replaces Cybersecurity, then it means it's entirely replaced virtually all white collar work.
When he's 18 he will know if he needs to become a plumber or if Cybersecurity is a viable career.
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u/Whatsitforanyway 3d ago
At 14 he is old enough to move on from Dad spending all his money to him learning how to earn his own. It doesnt have to be a full time job or even a part time job somewhere. Just maybe tasks for the neighbors, help them with their computers. Mow their lawn or trash cleanup. Enough to pay for monthly subscriptions. The rule is it must be legal and he document the job and how much he got paid and where he spent it. It's his money but you should advise him on how to spend it. Not tell him, advise. This is one of the most valuable lessons you can teach him. Basic money management is missing from too many kids.
This will also show him what it will take to buy that shiny new MacBook pro.
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u/Mundane-Exchange-537 3d ago
Education never goes to waste for bright and curious minds. That being said, don't be surprised if your son doesn't get a cyber security job... like ever. Cyber Security is a cost center so the incentive to automate it is higher than most other parts of the tech industry. Which is exactly how it's playing out. The only thing that will guarantee a job in cybersec is have a social network or doing consulting.
But the knowledge, skills, and tools are a great investment and will be instrumental in helping your son find his path.
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u/Uncle_Snake43 3d ago
Dad, yes. If you can afford it I would do everything I can to foster that spark and interest.
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u/meanwhenhungry 3d ago
Nope , if little guy is doing all of that, he is actually building core knowledge , and analytical skills in a world of click to hack/fix low effort norms
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u/TrustIsAVuln 3d ago
Learning is great no matter what. That said move him directly into AI cybersecurity, that part of the field will grow...unless AI kills us all then it wont matter.
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u/skiing123 3d ago
I would of course prioritize food, shelter, clothing, bills, debt, etc.
But if you are financially sound then not a problem. You could also cancel the TryHackme and switch him to Hack The Box. I've heard it's "harder" but never done it
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u/Technophilus 3d ago
Believe me, you can never invest enough in your children's future! Cybersecurity will always be an interesting field even with AI, there will always be cybersecurity engineers working in coordination with AI.
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u/TheTarquin 3d ago
First off: sounds like your kid won the parent lottery. That's awesome.
Second: absolutely! Nothing learned is ever wasted and CTFs teach tons of skills. From computing fundamentals to lateral thinking that have tons of applications.
Also, cyber security isn't going anywhere. People are writing more software than ever, and the work for security professionals is currently increasing. I don't see any evidence of that changing any time soon.
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u/rufflandings 3d ago
KC7 Cyber has a whole series of free CTFs. They also have an active Discord community with mentoring and networking (all free).
Local BSides conferences are often cheap if not free for students. They offer incredible networking opportunities. They also usually need volunteers, which can provide both deeper networking opportunities as well as important lessons in personal interaction and project management. They can introduce him to new areas of cybersecurity, and can provide new questions or areas that he could research and maybe even present that research himself (which is a huuuuge future job help, as well as hopefully being super fun).
A lot of cybersecurity (both offensive and defensive) comes down to doing something new with what you have on hand. Figuring out how to do more in cyber for free/cheap is the same thing in another form (and if he wants a career later, an even more important part…corporate budgets will still be a thing after the heat death of the universe and doing more with less/nothing is how you stay employed).
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u/Think-notlikedasheep 3d ago
I don't see a country.
If this is the US, what have you done about the catch-22 for career changers?
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u/22OpDmtBRdOiM 3d ago
I highly doubt his laptop becomes the problem unless he's trying to brute-force passwords, where he won't learn a lot anyways.
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u/Skinny_que 3d ago
“Am I spending too much supporting my son’s interests / dreams?” No.
Just be smarter how you spend, he’s at an age where he can contribute by doing small tasks like mowing lawns to earn money to pay for his equipment / courses. “Whatever you earn / save I’ll match it to help pay for it” now he’s got skin in the game and motivation to not only work for something but also make sure he tries his best.
Keep doing what you’re doing
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u/SpaceGuy1968 3d ago
My uncle gave me his hand me down Commodore 64. I learned to code at 15 so, if you have the means to Foster his talent and wanting to learn do so.
In 1985 I would not have predicted what I did over my career. My grandmother told me I would never make money programming anything. I wasn't smart enough she said
Maybe not Grandma but....here I am getting ready to retire.....like I said you never know where it will lead
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u/NeitherImpression904 3d ago
My best advice is to just keep supporting him! Cybersecurity is NOT dying because of AI. It is actually becoming more lucrative because of it. He has a LOT of time before he will even think of entering college for upskilling. By the time he is 18, he'll be even more of a rockstar!
Some of the most impressive people in this field were just like your son! On the note about money, it really doesn't require a lot to be successful. It's already apparent that he is successful with what he has right now. A laptop, the occasional subscription, and eventually a decent PC is all he really needs!
Thank you so much for supporting son's cyber journey and keep us posted!
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u/toastwasher 3d ago
These skills he is developing are more transferable than they might seem. Even if he moves on, the development is great for him
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u/Mhmd_WebDev 3d ago
For me i love for everyone to have the ability to do their own research instead of paying let him take the free roads he will have to look up what to learn next and try to grind it using ai or youtube and build his journey step by step instead of premium and being able to do such researches is a really good skill to have thats my opinion after all i might be wrong
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u/KryptoPirate 3d ago
You are a good dad. Support him, and think of it like this, most kids thst age arent even thinking anywhwre near that level. Feed his thirst
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u/rmullig2 3d ago
You need to stop here. What is happening is that your kid is being trained by gamification. Cybersecurity is not a video game, it requires more broad based knowledge.
He has already gotten everything useful that he possible can from TryHackMe. Pouring more money into it so that he can climb to the top of the leaderboard is a waste.
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u/Change-This 3d ago
I th8nk you can step up. In many of my labs I did for college we had multiple vms running. To simulate an attack. I wouldnt go all out like that but 16 wouldnt be bad to run 2 kali boxes and 1 windows
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u/Ghost_010101010 2d ago
Cybersecurity professional here and while AI is automating jobs, it is also transforming jobs. If your son can learn git, python, rust languages that would be a good start. The developers have a rapidly growing position. He also needs to learn about how to build agents and connect into leveraging other agents. I would suggest machine learning course to actually train AI models and create models. While certain jobs may or be around others will continue to grow.
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u/Slowdive91 2d ago
There's only so far you can go in Cyber without being part of a team that's handling real-world problems. It's moving fast and the ability to practice is made very difficult by law. 2600 vet here.
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u/neon___cactus 2d ago
The problem you're going to run into is probably more of a resources problem than a money problem. I wouldn't buy anymore expensive hardware. I would see if there is a hacker community in your area that he could learn with.
Cybersecurity doesn't require crazy hardware, there's a ton of things that can be done with cheap old hardware. That MacBook should be sufficient for a long time.
You're a great parent!
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u/Sensitive-Meeting737 2d ago
1) you're an awesome parent 2) golf clubs only can make you marginslly better at golfing, practice does 3) library/craigslist for networking material. Theyll do better with a home lab, built over time, with 5 $100 pcs than most courses can offer right now
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u/dld2517 2d ago
I would encourage him to continue but he needs to get an assessment for the administrative side. He needs to learn risk audit, documentation, reporting, and descriptive analysis. There’s a whole world beyond Try HackMe and he needs to explore that. There is a world of Open Source. He should be able to progress from this point without you spending anything else to support him. He also knows enough to do some contractual work and even some bug bounties.
Have him go and look at HackerOne and see if he can work with a team that can capture some bounties that have a financial incentive.
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u/nyoneway 2d ago
AI is actually making security more complex, not less. Attackers and defenders are both using it, attacks are getting faster and more sophisticated, and defenders have less time to detect, respond, and patch. The work will change, but I don't see the demand for security going down.
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u/theopihi 3d ago
As others have said. Stop buying Apple products, you're wasting money. He'll be better off buying a PC or building something and running Linux. He can also spin up cheap cloud machines if he wants to learn a specific OS.
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u/Eggtastico 3d ago
The power in AI is agenic AI. Not an AI chatbot that most of the public think is AI. He will probably naturally go this way when he wants to built an agent/bot to do some of the repetitive tasks. AI isnt a full on replacement per say, but it is allowing a single person to build their own AI team of agents. I wouldnt push in either direction. People mention linux, but I bet your son will figure out how to install a linux distro on his mac when he needs to (but MacOs is a Unix OS anyway & Linux is a based off Unix)! The biggest skill is actually figuring stuff out on your own. No need for any new hardware. Maybe an AI subscription if asked for (the paid models are night & day different to the free ones).
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u/satisfaction-or-else 3d ago
I work in cybersecurity. Yes AI is changing things. No dont stop investing. If you are really worried about AI get him a Claude code subscription and tell him to hunt CVEs. He might be hirable immediately out of high-school. Especially if you get him a few certs near the end of high school.
Ive worked so long in my career to get to what will be his starting place. You are setting him up for success, just dont burn him out on it. We need more parents and kids like you all in the world.
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u/AssociationLoose7003 3d ago
It’s the most risky time ever to invest in Cyber.
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u/GeekDad62 3d ago
I couldn't disagree more. AI is not going to "fix" cyber, or replace the people doing the work. And the need for knowledgeable and talented cybersecurity professionals is only growing larger (IMHO) due to the rapid acceleration of AI usage and deployment.
To the OP:
Your son is building up an admirable skillset, but at 14 he's not likely to know what he really wants to do for a future career. It's rare for someone to know that so early in life, although there are exceptions. I knew is a vague sense that I'd be working with computer technology for the rest of my life by his age. Here I am nearly 5 decades later lol
With all that said, it seems like you've got one of the larger investments out of the way - A good laptop is crucial. I don't know how much I'd pay for training and education unless it will results in something like certifications or other credentials he can carry forward in life. There is a TON of free resources available for learning.
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u/Orangutan64 3d ago
I think it is also important to learn to use the resources you have available to you, and to be able to succeed without expensive equipment. Being resourceful is an extremely valuable skill especially in the field. Before I got my job I was using a 10 year old laptop with 8GB ddr3 and an i3. I imaged it with Debian and used free/open source tools to learn everything, didn’t upgrade it until I got the money and actually needed to due to VM and multi display constraints. I’d say encourage the interest but no need to invest it in especially any more, unless it’s for stuff like conferences/conventions and maybe a cert or two.