Top Cybersecurity books curated by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we have connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite Cybersecurity books – and here are the answers.

  • Curated by industry experts
  • Proven learning resources
  • Updated annually
Top Cybersecurity books recommended by experts
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Fundamentals of Cybersecurity

Understanding the concepts of Cybersecurity starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

CISO Desk Reference Guide: A Practical Guide for CISOs Volume 2

CISO Desk Reference Guide: A Practical Guide for CISOs Volume 2

The CISO Desk Reference Guide, Volume 1, 2nd Edition is the greatly-anticipated update to the iconic first volume of the highly-respected two-volume set written by experienced practitioners and intended for recently-hired or promoted Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs). These easy-to-use…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Countdown to Zero Day: Stuxnet and the Launch of the World's First Digital Weapon

Countdown to Zero Day: Stuxnet and the Launch of the World's First Digital Weapon

A top cybersecurity journalist tells the story behind the virus that sabotaged Iran's nuclear efforts and shows how its existence has ushered in a new age of warfare—one in which a digital attack can have the same destructive capability as a megaton bomb.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Information Security Policies, Procedures, and Standards: A Practitioner's Reference

Information Security Policies, Procedures, and Standards: A Practitioner's Reference

Information Security Policies, Procedures, and Standards: A Practitioner's Reference gives you a blueprint on how to develop effective information security policies and procedures. It uses standards such as NIST 800-53, ISO 27001, and COBIT, and regulations such as HIPAA and PCI DSS as the found…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Broken Money: Why Our Financial System Is Failing Us and How We Can Make It Better

Broken Money: Why Our Financial System Is Failing Us and How We Can Make It Better

Broken Money explores the history of money through the lens of technology. Politics can affect things temporarily and locally, but technology is what drives things forward globally and permanently.
The book's goal is for the listener to walk away with a deep understanding of money and monetar…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Eat Sleep Cyber Security Repeat: Cyber Security Analyst Notebook

Eat Sleep Cyber Security Repeat: Cyber Security Analyst Notebook

This lined notebook makes a funny cyber security gift for cyber security analyst.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Applied Cryptography

Applied Cryptography

This new edition of the cryptography classic provides you with a comprehensive survey of modern cryptography. The book details how programmers and electronic communications professionals can use cryptography-the technique of enciphering and deciphering messages-to maintain the privacy of compute…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Additional Cybersecurity Reading

These books are not required for you to learn Cybersecurity, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

The Hacker Playbook 3: Practical Guide to Penetration Testing

The Hacker Playbook 3: Practical Guide to Penetration Testing

THP3 will take your offensive hacking skills, thought processes, and attack paths to the next level. This book focuses on real-world campaigns and attacks, exposing you to different initial entry points, exploitation, custom malware, persistence, and lateral movement--all without getting caught!…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Hacking Exposed 7: Network Security Secrets and Solutions

Hacking Exposed 7: Network Security Secrets and Solutions

Case studies expose the hacker's latest devious methods and illustrate field-tested remedies. Find out how to block infrastructure hacks, minimize advanced persistent threats, neutralize malicious code, secure web and database applications, and fortify UNIX networks.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Dark Wire: The Incredible True Story of the Largest Sting Operation Ever

Dark Wire: The Incredible True Story of the Largest Sting Operation Ever

The inside story of the largest law-enforcement sting operation ever, in which the FBI made its own tech start-up to wiretap the world, shows how cunning both the authorities and drug traffickers have become, with privacy implications for everyone.
In 2018, a powerful app for secure communica…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

The Web Application Hacker's Handbook: Discovering and Exploiting Security Flaws

The Web Application Hacker's Handbook: Discovering and Exploiting Security Flaws

to most organizations, exposing them to attacks that may disclose personal information, execute fraudulent transactions, or compromise ordinary users. This practical book has been completely updated and revised to discuss the latest step-by-step techniques for attacking and defending the range o…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Beginners Guide: How to Become a Cyber-Security Analyst: : Phase 2 - Security Engineering and Ethical Hacking

Beginners Guide: How to Become a Cyber-Security Analyst: : Phase 2 - Security Engineering and Ethical Hacking

This book teaches you how to install, configure and utilize three popular security tools: SPLUNK, Nessus and Wireshark. After that we will have some fun by performing several hacking techniques. During the ethical hack labs, you will practice Reconnaissance, Scanning, Gaining Access, Maintaining…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Cyber Wars: Hacks that Shocked the Business World

Cyber Wars: Hacks that Shocked the Business World

Cyber Wars gives you the dramatic inside stories of some of the world's biggest cyber attacks. These are the game changing hacks that make organizations around the world tremble and leaders stop and consider just how safe they really are.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Specializations and Deeper Cybersecurity Knowledge

You've got your basics in order – time to move on to some advanced and specialized concepts. Cybersecurity is evolving every day, these books can help you master it.

Cybersecurity Career Master Plan: Proven Techniques and Effective Tips to Help You Advance in Your Cybersecurity Career

Cybersecurity Career Master Plan: Proven Techniques and Effective Tips to Help You Advance in Your Cybersecurity Career

The book starts by helping you gain a foundational understanding of cybersecurity, covering cyber law, cyber policy, and frameworks. Next, you'll focus on how to choose the career field best suited to you from options such as security operations, penetration testing, and risk analysis.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Advanced Penetration Testing: Hacking the World's Most Secure Networks

Advanced Penetration Testing: Hacking the World's Most Secure Networks

Featuring techniques not taught in any certification prep or covered by common defensive scanners, this book integrates social engineering, programming, and vulnerability exploits into a multidisciplinary approach for targeting and compromising high security environments.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

(ISC)2 CISSP Certified Information Systems Security Professional Official Study Guide 9th Edition

(ISC)2 CISSP Certified Information Systems Security Professional Official Study Guide 9th Edition

(ISC)2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Official Study Guide, 9th Edition has been completely updated based on the latest 2021 CISSP Exam Outline. This bestselling Sybex study guide covers 100% of the exam objectives. You'll prepare for the exam smarter and faster with…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

Cybersecurity Career Master Plan: Proven techniques and effective tips to help you advance in your cybersecurity career

Cybersecurity Career Master Plan: Proven techniques and effective tips to help you advance in your cybersecurity career

Cybersecurity is an emerging career trend and will continue to become increasingly important. Despite the lucrative pay and significant career growth opportunities, many people are unsure of how to get started. This book is designed by leading industry experts to help you enter the world of cybe…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

The CERT Guide to Insider Threats: How to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Information Technology Crimes (theft, Sabotage, Fraud)

The CERT Guide to Insider Threats: How to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Information Technology Crimes (theft, Sabotage, Fraud)

Since 2001, the CERT® Insider Threat Center at Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute (SEI) has collected and analyzed information about more than seven hundred insider cyber crimes, ranging from national security espionage to theft of trade secrets. The CERT® Guide to Insid…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Cert Guide

CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Cert Guide

CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CSA+) Cert Guide is a best-of-breed exam study guide. Expert technology instructor and certification author Troy McMillan shares preparation hints and test-taking tips, helping you identify areas of weakness and improve both your conceptual knowledge and hands-on s…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise.

This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

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