Cyber Interview: Stefan Pezulat, Cybersteps GM

1. What was your Journey before Cybersteps?

For over a decade, I worked at the Federal Employment Agency in Germany, at the Jobcenter in Berlin. I supported people in challenging life situations on a daily basis: returning to the workforce, changing careers, or starting over completely. This work was meaningful because, at its core, it was always about creating new perspectives and helping people improve their lives.

And yet, at some point, I began to reflect on my own perspective. I wanted to learn something new, grow further, take on new responsibility – not later, not “someday,” but now. So I took the leap, left the public sector, and moved to a global education company.

My first role in the tech education field was managing the Berlin campus. In that role, it became even clearer to me just how many opportunities the digital world holds for career changers – if they receive the right support.

When Aviram and Roman, the founders of Cybersteps, approached me, it quickly became clear: this was the next chapter in my career. What i liked the most was that Cybersteps is led by real cybersecurity professionals with years of hands-on experience. It’s not a jack-of-all-trades education provider, but a focused team dedicated to a single, critical area – one that still feels out of reach for many.

What convinced me most is this: Cybersteps is not just about transferring knowledge. It’s about helping people build meaningful careers and enter the job market. In a way, I’m still doing what I’ve always done: helping people find new career paths. Just now, through a different approach with a clear goal: to make cybersecurity accessible to anyone ready to take on the challenge and opportunity.

2. Why Cybersteps?

When people ask me why I ended up at Cybersteps, my answer is often simpler than they expect: because I genuinely believe that cybersecurity is one of the most realistic and future-proof career fields for career changers in Germany.

I don’t say this as a tech enthusiast, but as someone who spent over ten years working inside the system in various roles, always to help people return to work or find a new professional direction. During that time, I saw just how strong the desire for change is, and how difficult it can be for career changers to find the “right” new path.

Many want to move on from outdated or unstable careers, but a long university degree or traditional training program is simply not realistic for many people. At the same time, knowledge about new and fast-growing fields like cybersecurity is often limited among both job seekers and within the system itself.

This is where I see the real value of Cybersteps.

We’re not just another training provider – we’re a specialized company focused entirely on cybersecurity, with a clear mission: to match people with open jobs in this field.

One thing I’ve taken from my time in the public system:

Many training programs fail because they’re too generic. They operate in a theoretical bubble, disconnected from the actual job market. Some offer only internal certificates that carry little weight later. Others raise hopes they can’t fulfill. That leads to frustration – both for participants and for the agencies supporting them.

Cybersteps takes a different path.

We don’t make false promises about guaranteed jobs, but we do everything possible to prepare our participants with qualifications that are truly in demand. We don’t just see ourselves as a training provider, but as a partner in real transformation.

And I know from personal experience how difficult it can be, in the everyday reality of public institutions, to make quick decisions about someone’s future training path. When you’re responsible for hundreds of people, you simply can’t know every career field in detail.

That’s why we need providers who offer clarity and build trust.

That’s what Cybersteps is here for: to offer guidance. For the people looking for change, and for those helping them get there.

3. Why Cybersecurity Is Relevant for Career Changers

Cybersecurity is no longer a niche topic. It’s an industry in rapid growth.

The shortage of skilled professionals in IT security is not only significant, it’s steadily increasing. In Germany alone, industry reports estimate that tens of thousands of cybersecurity experts are currently needed across all sectors, from SMEs to critical infrastructure. And with ongoing digitalization, remote work, and AI applications, demand will only continue to grow in the coming years.

For many job seekers, this represents a real opportunity – especially for career changers.

In theory, the entry into cybersecurity may sound simple, and in fact, you don’t need a university degree to get started in this field. But what you do need is curiosity, persistence, and the willingness to dive into a new subject. And that’s exactly what many people with a background at the AfA or Jobcenter already bring to the table:

• They often have life experience, resilience, and a strong sense of responsibility.
• Many have worked with sensitive information in previous jobs, so the concept of “security” isn’t foreign to them.
• And most importantly: they’re motivated to reinvent themselves professionally – which is a true asset in the cybersecurity world.

Common misconceptions often hold people back from entering the field.

“I have to know how to code,” “It’s only for math geniuses,” “It’s way too technical for me” – we hear these statements all the time. But the truth is: cybersecurity is a broad field. Yes, there are technical roles, but there are also many positions where analytical thinking, structure, communication, and attention to detail are far more important.

That’s exactly where Cybersteps comes in.

We support people who want to take control of their professional future by offering a realistic, modern entry point into the cybersecurity job market.

4. What Tools & Pathways Are Available for Jobseekers?

For job seekers looking to reorient their careers, the “Bildungsgutschein” (education voucher) is the most important tool. It allows for 100% government-funded training, for example, in a field like cybersecurity.

Step one: Find the right course.

The search can be done via platforms like meinnow.de (formerly KURSNET), where certified training programs under AZAV are listed – including our program at Cybersteps.

Read our blog post on the Bildungsgutschein if you want a deeper understanding of the process.

Where are the stumbling blocks?

In practice, it’s often the advisory meetings that make or break the process.

Applicants need to explain, briefly and concisely, why a cybersecurity course is a realistic path for them. And they’re often speaking with caseworkers who must make hundreds of decisions every week and can’t be experts in every field.

That’s where Cybersteps actively supports.

• We provide pre-advising,
• Prepare tailored documentation,
• And guide our applicants through the entire education voucher process, including personalized preparation for their meetings with the Jobcenter or AfA.

What can caseworkers do?

To be honest, communication is key.

If there are questions about our program, a quick email or phone call is often enough. We’re happy to provide detailed information about course content, job prospects, or entry requirements. We understand how intense the workload is within the system, which is why we focus on full transparency to help make informed decisions easier.

Sometimes, a quick line of contact is all it takes to set someone on the right track before they get “lost” in the system again. We don’t just see ourselves as a training provider, but as a partner, including for the professionals working in Jobcenters and Employment Agencies.

5. Jobcenter vs. AfA – What’s the Difference?

At first glance, Jobcenters and the Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit, or AfA) seem quite similar – both support people in their job search and can issue education vouchers. However, there are clear differences in responsibility:

• Employment Agency (AfA):
  
  Responsible for individuals receiving unemployment benefits I (ALG I) – typically for those who recently lost a job after regular employment.
  
• Jobcenter (JC):
  
  Responsible for individuals receiving citizens’ income (Bürgergeld, formerly ALG II) – usually for those facing long-term unemployment or who are no longer eligible for ALG I.

The general process for training and placement is similar, involving advisory meetings, potential assessments, and funding evaluations.

However, there is a key difference in the decision-making process:

When applying for an education voucher through the Jobcenter, the request often needs to be reviewed again by the Employment Agency – a “four-eyes principle” check. This can take a bit more time, but it’s an important quality control step within the funding system.

6. Why Cybersecurity Is Much More Accessible Than Many Think

When people consider switching careers into IT, they often think first of areas like web development or UX/UI design. What many don’t realize is that cybersecurity is not only just as accessible – it’s actually broader in scope and more stable in the long run.

While fields like web development or graphic design are increasingly being automated or even replaced by AI, the opposite is true for cybersecurity:

AI supports cybersecurity, but doesn’t replace it.

Why?

It’s Simple: Cybersecurity relies heavily on responsibility, contextual understanding, and strategic thinking. AI can assist in spotting patterns, filtering alerts, or speeding up technical analysis. But:

• Who decides whether an alert is real?
  
• Who prioritizes risks in a business context?
  
• Who communicates with management, authorities, or partners?
  
• Who ultimately makes the decisions?
  

All of this requires human judgment, ethics, and accountability – things no AI can fully replicate.

Cybersecurity is also far more diverse than many imagine. It’s not just about “hacker jobs” – the field includes many roles with completely different focuses:

• Technical (e.g., SOC analysts)
  
• Structural (e.g., GRC managers)
  
• Communicative (e.g., awareness & training roles)
  
• Organizational (e.g., ISMS support positions)
  

This means that if you enjoy analytical thinking, working in a structured way, or have a good sense for risks and processes, you can find a role in cybersecurity – even without a background in programming.

Especially for career changers looking for a profession with long-term demand, that’s a major advantage. While many other IT roles are rapidly evolving or even shrinking, cybersecurity continues to grow steadily, practically, and with a strong human focus.

7. My Personal Conclusion

For me, cybersecurity is more than just a career field. It’s a real opportunity for people looking to reorient their professional lives. During my time at the Federal Employment Agency, I saw firsthand how difficult it is for many to take that next step. Not because they lack potential, but because they often lack direction, support, or simply a realistic goal.

That’s exactly why this topic is so important to me:

Because I know it’s possible to start over, even if you think you’re “too old,” “not technical enough,” or “from the wrong background.”

Cybersecurity is not an exclusive club for IT geniuses. It’s a broad, growing field that requires a wide range of skills and has room for people who are ready to grow.

At Cybersteps, we offer a clear, well-supported path into this field. We don’t make flashy promises. We build real, step-by-step perspectives, backed by a strong team, up-to-date content, and honest support.

I hope that more people, whether unemployed or simply stuck in their careers, will have the courage to see cybersecurity as a real option. And that professionals within the system will recognize how worthwhile it is to open this door.

Because this isn’t just about jobs. It’s about security – both professionally and socially.