🎯 Goal

Build a clean, reproducible cybersecurity lab and a unified knowledge system to support long-term learning and documentation.

âś… What I Did

Virtualization & Environment

  • Installed and configured Parallels Desktop Pro
  • Created and verified the following virtual machines:
    • Windows 11
    • Kali Linux
    • Ubuntu Linux
  • Considered (not yet installed) a Windows Server VM

Knowledge Management

  • Installed Obsidian
  • Enabled synchronization across all devices
  • Created a single root folder:

Cybersecurity/

  • Labs
  • Daily
  • GitHub Portfolio
  • Reports
  • Templates
  • Useful
  • Screenshots

Kali Linux – Initial Operations

  • Updated and cleaned the system:
    • sudo apt update
    • sudo apt full-upgrade -y
    • sudo apt autoremove -y
  • Reviewed software installation methods:
    • APT (official repositories)
    • Snap / Flatpak / AppImage

Accounts Created

  • TryHackMe → https://tryhackme.com
  • GitHub → https://github.com

âś… What Worked

  • Parallels runs all VMs smoothly on macOS
  • Kali Linux is stable and ready for labs
  • Obsidian folder structure feels scalable and clean
  • Understanding install methods reduced blind copy-pasting

❌ What Didn’t

  • Software installation methods feel fragmented:
    • APT (official repositories)
    • Snap / Flatpak / AppImage
  • Still unclear when containers are preferable to native installs

🧠 Key Takeaways

  • Environment setup is a force multiplier, not busywork
  • Kali should remain lean; not every tool belongs system-wide
  • Documentation matters as much as execution
  • Doing this properly once prevents chaos later

âť“ Questions

  • When does a Windows Server VM become truly necessary?
  • When should Docker/Podman be preferred over native installs?
  • What tools should always exist on Kali vs installed per lab?

đź“š Resources

  • TryHackMe Learning Paths: https://tryhackme.com/paths

Personal Objective (Why This Exists)

  • ⬜ Transition into a remote-capable cybersecurity role
  • ⬜ Build habit of continuous learning and documentation
  • ⬜ Within 5–7 months:
    • Complete and document ≥15 penetration tests
    • Identify and fix real vulnerabilities
    • Be junior-level hireable, not “enthusiastic but useless”