# Overview Taking notes in cybersecurity is really important. Nobody knows it all, and having one centralized place that you can store all your knowledge can save tremendous amounts of time. This is where Obsidian comes in. [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md/) is a powerful free note taking app that's *highly* customizable. It employs a unique approach called "knowledge graph" that allows users to create and navigate a network of interlinked notes, creating a web-like structure of information. ![[Pasted image 20230701153224.png]] > [!info] image used from [TrustedSec blog post](https://www.trustedsec.com/blog/obsidian-taming-a-collective-consciousness/) At its core, Obsidian utilizes a plain-text markdown format, making it lightweight, portable, and easily readable across different platforms and devices. Obsidian also offers a flexible and customizable interface, allowing users to personalize their note-taking environment to suit their preferences. Users can choose themes, layouts, and plugins to enhance their productivity and streamline their workflow. ### [Minimal](https://github.com/kepano/obsidian-minimal) ![[Pasted image 20230701153431.png]] ### [Prism](https://github.com/damiankorcz/Prism-Theme) ![[Pasted image 20230701153612.png]] ### [Things 2](https://github.com/colineckert/obsidian-things) ![[Pasted image 20230701153759.png]] Additionally, the app provides a powerful search function that helps users find specific information within their notes quickly. To further enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing, Obsidian supports integration with version control systems like Git. This enables users to track changes, collaborate with others, and maintain a comprehensive history of their note revisions. Obsidian's versatility extends beyond the app itself, as it offers a supportive community of users who share tips, plugins, and themes to enhance the overall experience. The app's active development and regular updates ensure that new features and improvements are continually introduced. <br> ## Functionality Obsidian is the most full-fledged modern note taking app that I've found. There really isn't anything it doesn't have the capability for that you'll need when note taking in cybersecurity. If there is something that's missing, it's very possible that there's a [plugin](https://obsidian.md/plugins) for that. Obsidian now has over 1,000 [community plugins](https://help.obsidian.md/Extending+Obsidian/Community+plugins) which extend the functionality of what you can do with it exponentially. Personally, the most important feature to me is that you can have nested folders for your notes. ![[Pasted image 20230701160906.png]] That isn't possible with many other note taking platforms, or if it is, the user interface is ugly or outdated. (I'm a big proponent of well designed UI/UX) <br> ## Design Obsidian's design philosophy is one of my favorite things about it. It has a clean, modern, and sleek interface, with tons of customizable themes if you aren't digging the default one. ![[Pasted image 20230626144712.png]] ![[Pasted image 20230626144613.png]] <br> ## Cost Obsidian is completely **free** to use. There are however two premium options that they offer. #### **Premium**: Obsidian Sync [Obsidian Sync](https://obsidian.md/sync) is Obsidian's cloud-based service that lets you store your notes on Obsidian's servers and sync them across your devices. For [security](https://help.obsidian.md/Obsidian+Sync/Security+and+privacy), Obsidian uses end-to-end encryption to encrypt the vault on your device with a custom encryption key before it's sent to Obsidian's servers. - **Key derivation function used**: scrypt with salt - **Encryption algorithm used**: AES-256 using GCM There *are* [alternatives](https://www.makeuseof.com/sync-obsidian-vault-across-devices/) to Obsidian sync if you don't want to pay the premium fee, although they do require a bit more work. >[!example] Obsidian sync is reasonably priced at **$10/mo** or $6/mo if you provide your student email address. #### **Premium**: Obsidian Publish [Obsidian Publish](https://obsidian.md/publish) is a way of simply creating a wiki, knowledge base *(Orion Cyber knowledge base is powered by Obsidian Publish)* or personal knowledge management site with minimal setup. ![[Pasted image 20230626154046.png]] >[!example] Obsidian Publish also costs **$10/mo** or **$6/mo** if you provide your student email address. ## Compatibility Obsidian is compatible with all major operating systems. ![[Pasted image 20230626145802.png]] <br> # Additional Info ## Getting Started with Obsidian Obsidian can be a little overwhelming when first starting out with it. I recommend a YouTube channel by [Nicole van der Hoeven](https://www.youtube.com/@nicolevdh) who creates amazing content on the use of Obsidian. Here are a few videos I'd recommend to get started with Obsidian: - [Overview of Obsidian](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNFF_EeFr9Y&t=2s) - [How to Get Started with Obsidian](https://youtu.be/OUrOfIqvGS4) - [Obsidian for Non-Coders](https://youtu.be/5qRVquqRH0k) - [Top 10 Obsidian Plugins](https://youtu.be/W7kTtn9empU) >[!info] Additionally, here is her Obsidian Publish site, [First Steps with Obsidian](https://notes.nicolevanderhoeven.com/obsidian-playbook/Using+Obsidian/01+First+steps+with+Obsidian/Obsidian) if you prefer reading over video. ## TrustedSec Blog Post about Obsidian [TrustedSec](https://www.trustedsec.com/) is a full-service security consulting team that is well respected in the infosec community. I recently discovered they had a blog post covering how they solved some of their note taking challenges by using Obsidian. [**Obsidian, Taming A Collective Consciousness**](https://www.trustedsec.com/blog/obsidian-taming-a-collective-consciousness/) <br> ## Migrating from Other Note Taking Platforms There are numerous guides on how to import your existing notes into Obsidian. Check out this [forum post](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/meta-migration-workflows/15252) serving as a collection of articles that outline the best ways to migrate from exiting applications.