The USCA Summer Cyber Bootcamp was a real delight this year. It was free for the students. We changed the format to a compressed schedule and focused on serving local students and earning certifications. After 45 days, I have had 12 of 12 students pass a certification exam.
We led a cadre of students down the path to 3 cyber certifications: ISC2-CC, CompTIA Sec+, and EC-Council Digital Forensics Essentials (DFE). All 18 selected students had free ISC2 CC course and exam voucher, and Sec+ online notes and exam vouchers. Ten of them also took the Forensics class.
My classes are known for my spontaneous outbursts between Dad jokes and war stories with a heavy dose of cyber fundamentals mixed in. You gotta work hard to keep them awake for 2 weeks of 7 hour bootcamp lessons.
I hope they remember this summer as proof that “you don’t pick cybersecurity …. cybersecurity picks you”.
From 54 applicants, I had students from 5 universities, 3 high schoolers, and two non-traditional students. Some students have 2-3 years of experience in SOC or field work, some are members of Cyber Competition Teams, and others are just curious about the profession.
In addition to the vendor-supplied courses, we had a conversation-based experience where we debated scenarios, learned from each-others’ ideas and perspectives, hosted 12 guest speakers, a CTF, and (unfortunately) covered over 400 PowerPoint slides. The courses include practice tests, an ebook, and exam vouchers.
We also did my annual small business audit. Getting real world experience in 2 hours can be better than 6 hours of PowerPoint punishment. Five student teams picked five to six questions to extract information from five people we interviewed on matters ranging from CSF 2.0 GIPDRR families. We covered GRC, detection, protection, response and recovery, and user awareness training.
Here are some quotes from the students
- This has been the opportunity of a lifetime.
- It made me realize I knew more than I thought I did about cybersecurity.
- The instructors are national treasures.
- The audit was the best thing that has ever happened to me for cybersecurity.
- I learned more here in two weeks than I have in the two years I have enrolled in regular classes at the university.
- I have met and made so many friends. I have found my people.
- I hope you do this again next year and offer more advanced classes.
- The certification will help me move my resume to the top of the stack.