Evolve Security Academy

Pros: The course was amazing, it created a solid push for me to obtain the OSCP certification. I've acquired new and valuable skills and techniques, which will be surely helpful for me in the future career. Other than that, I've met new friends, who shares the same goals, we talked and shared things with each other, which meant a lot to me.   

After the course, I felt like my knowledge was strongly consolidated and was ready to tackle the exam.

[Update April 2024]: I passed the OSCP with 90 points.

Cons: There is one small thing that I'd recommend, is to update the CyberLab platform, I perceived that some of the contents aren't up-to-date. For example, Buffer Overflow has been announced to be removed from the OSCP exam; therefore, it might not relevant unless there is a public exploit available for it. The Control Panel features can be further improved, especially, the search function. I couldn't search for the machine name at the time I did the course.

Overall, I'd give a solid 4/5. There is also another giveaway, as always, OSCP is not meant for new comers to penetration testing, as the bootcamp is really intensive, so the amount of knowledge is also huge. Therefore, build a solid foundation in penetration testing before taking the bootcamp so that you can make the most out of it.`

I recently transitioned from graphic design to cyber security, and I'm grateful for Evolve Academy's support. Despite no prior IT knowledge, the transition was smooth due to their comprehensive assistance. Step-by-step guidance, teacher availability, and recorded lectures provided a personalized and flexible learning experience. Collaborative classes pushed me out of my comfort zone, and concerns about isolation were alleviated by a supportive virtual community. Mike, an exceptional teacher, guided me with patience. Now actively seeking cyber security opportunities, I feel well-prepared and confident, thanks to Evolve Academy's thorough training. The skills acquired surpass those from a Google Cyber Security course. This investment equips me to handle real-world scenarios, setting me apart in the job market and boosting my overall confidence.

I really enjoyed the class.  It is run by a great group of instructors who really want you to succeed.  They take the time out to answer even the most nagging questions you might have floating around.   I recommend this class for anyone who wants to get into Penetration Testing and pass the OSCP.  It gives you tons of hands on and you get access to Offsec Learn One for a year as well.  PEN-200 but you get so much more to practice on like proving grounds etc.  If your serious, then this is your class.  Enjoy and good luck to you all.

This is a great boot camp for getting a well-rounded education to prepare for an entry-level career in cyber security. The instructors were amazing! Great support, very timely. The one thing people need to realize before jumping into something like this is that this company is a business and like all businesses, they are in it to make money. That being said, I feel that the salesperson that I worked with was a little too "Cyber jobs are falling out of the sky!" and not as realistic as too how difficult it is to obtain an entry-level job in this field with no experience at all. I'm not bitter about anything, and I'm happy I took the course, I just wish I knew a bit more about the market in trying to find a job in this field.

I came into this program knowing nothing about cybersecurity and now I feel confident in so many things I didn't even know existed. I got to know a lot of people and connect with them on LinkedIn. I am an introverted person but this helped me get in contact with so many people not even in the cohort. I am thankful and honored to have gone through this program and appreciate anyone that helped me along the way. I highly recommend Evolve Academy to anyone interested in cybersecurity! 

I had an awesome experience at Evolve Security. 
When COVID happened, I got furloughed from being an operations manager and it kind of pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me want to do something different. I decided to invest in my career by gambling with enrolling in a cybersecurity bootcamp. Initially, I had couple other options as well but decided to go with Evolve since not only they're a top-ranked bootcamp but because they have a very student-centric curriculum, and that was very important to me. Throughout the 5 months at Evolve, we learned from blue team to red team topics and the fundamentals like networking- they really made the career transition a very applicable thing. If I can do it, so can you. The instructor for my cohort was very engaging and knowledgeable, the assistant instructors were really supportive. Best of all, I've made lifelong friends from my time at Evolve. Thank you :) 

My experience with Evolve will never be forgotten! Personally I did not have any type of an IT background and this bootcamp had everything I needed to start my journey. The lectures and labs were easy to digest, but also became increasingly more difficult as the course continued. Purposefully done so that the instructors can see how you handle challenges as well as guide you in the correct direction, this also was helpful in creating your own personal methodology for certain tasks. Instructors were ALWAYS available and would actually take the time to guide you through things that may not "click" initially. If your lucky enough to have a instructor like my group did, they may even stay on after class to do further challenges with you (TryHackMe/HackTheBox)!

Just like anything else, you will get out of the course what you put in! Plenty to learn on your own but the real fun of this bootcamp was the opportunity to network/learn with all the instructors and students. The cohort itself is pretty large but you are split into smaller groups were you will spend majority of your time. This is were participation is key, luckily I was in a group that was very active and many of us are now friends outside of the camp with plans to meet at DEFCON.

The cybersecurity learning path can be a journey that you do on your own, but having a group like the Evolve Security network behind you makes things way more engaging and just overall FUN!

Awesome Experience. I can confidently say all of the professors were amazing and the network alone was worth the cost of admission. Coming from someone who is not in the IT space, I believe this Bootcamp is very much what you make of it. You can "sit in the back of the class," going at your own pace, or you can actively participate in conversations, share your screen in labs, and receive valuable live feedback. It's a little nerve-wracking at first, but trust me, you'll get the most out of this course if you participate and share as much as possible. Overall, this course was expensive but worth the money.

The Evolve Security Academy has been a great experience. From the moment you log on to the class, you're greeted with encouragement, excitement, and everyone on the staff willing and wanting to help you succeed both personally and professionally. A daunting subject like cybersecurity is made easy thanks to the structure of the class and the help of fellow students and instructors. I'm excited to continue my cybersecurity career thanks to Evolve. I would 100% recommend the course for anyone interested in entering the cybersecurity field. 

If you're willing to put in the work and spend hours learning the material; this Boot Camp will pay off.  The team at Evolve Security provided the structure I needed to stay focused and get my OSCP.  We did have an instructor change half way through bit they recovered well and it did not interfere with the flow of the course.  The team cares about the students and makes themselves available at all hours.  They have a little work to do with the new changes to the exam but I am confident they'll adjust.

I really could not have picked a better boot camp! I learned way more about cybersecurity than I imagined I could. First of all the scheduling was great. I'm sure it helped all of us with not getting burned even with all of the information we learned throughout the entire 20 weeks. The instructors as well as the assistant instructors were so knowledgeable, patient and helpful. Everyone was willing and eager to answer all of our questions that we could have had. I really loved the amount of hands on learning we did as it helped me retain a vast majority of the material that was given throughout the course. The only thing I wish that we covered more of was how to properly do write ups for security assessments, but I'm sure that can be added in for the upcoming cohorts. Our career coach was also extremely encouraging and made sure that we knew how much value we hold as cybersecurity experts and that we can SURELY pave a way for ourselves in this industry. That helped me boost my confidence a lot while making my way through the boot camp. All in all I am so glad that I made the decision to attend Evolve Security academy and I 10/10 recommend anyone else considering this school to go for it.Mor

The education I have received from Evolve Cybersecurity Academy has been exemplary. The course has given me the ability to participate in cybersecurity competitions I never thought possible and to apply the knowledge I have learned in my current job as well as into the future. The staff, instructors and assistant instructors as well as fellow students within the cohort have all been supportive. They have all been a positive influence in my life. Thank you Evolve Cybersecurity Academy. 

I want to preface this review by stating that, at the time of this review (8/19/2021), I am employed by Evolve Security. However, if I did not think highly of them as a company I would not have accepted their offer.

I have a background in web and mobile application development, so some of the topics covered I already knew, such as Python programming. Having said that I still learned more than I thought was possible in such a short amount of time. At times it felt like I was drinking knowledge from a fire hose.

The curriculum, teachers, labs, and collaborative work time made the fire hose of knowledge manageable and incredibly enjoyable. The instructors were all industry veterans with a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience, and on top of that were some of the nicest people I've met.

I made friends that I know will remain friends for years to come. I don't regret a thing! If you enjoy learning and continuously growing as a person and are interested in the cybersecurity industry I recommend you at least inquire with Evolve Security to get a feel for them as a company and an educator.

This program was extremely good at having enough of a blend of "hold your hand" and self-accountability. I went from being extremely technologically ignorant and slow, to now understanding ports, scans, and so much more I now feel embarrassed to not have even heard about. They were extremely organized and helpful and still remain helpful even after students have passed. And its a phenomenal community to be a part of.

Evolve Academy has a comprehensive information security program. The curriculum is comprehensive and surprisingly in depth. Online classrooms with full labs provide hands on experience. You aren't just sitting in a lecture, you are learning hands on skills that are applicable across the industry. The instructors are experienced professionals with years of experience. The Assistant Instructors are culled from previous classes and are very knowledgeable. It's an excellent learning environment that values their students. Your classmates make for an excellent start to your professional network. Look forward to internships and job coaching for a great value! 

Pros: As a remote student the class schedule worked great for my busy schedule.
           There is always either an instructor or assistant instructor their to provide assistance through out the day even outside of class hours.
           Lab work is very exciting and hands on, it helps you really understand and get a feel of what you will be doing in the real world.
           The learning environment is very inclusive, it may feel overwhelming at first but once you get to know your instructors and your classmates 
           through the break out rooms it gets a whole lot better.
           Career prep was also very helpful they were able to help me with my resume/LinkedIn/coverletter/practice interviews and many more. I would 
           recommend to take full advantage of the career prep from the beginning of the course instead of waiting till the end the same for studying for 
           security+ exam. I would also recommend to start networking within the field starting from the beginning of the course instead of waiting till 
           the end of the course.
          Students are immersed in their learning with daily lectures, followed with lab work with a smaller team. Each module ends with a recap quiz
          which will be a great help for the final exam.
          An abundant amount of resources are provided for you to practice with even outside of class or even once completing the academy.
          The slack groups you will join will also be a great opportunity for during the academy and most importantly once completing the academy and 
          entering the field as they will always be there for you assistance.


CON: N/A

Evolve Security Academy provided me the opportunity to make a mid-career shift from financial services and sales to an industry that is trending upward, and that offers potential for career advancement.  I came into the program with minimal technical expertise or knowledge, so was initially anxious about my ability to process and retain the information.  It is a lot of information within a relatively short period of time, but if you stick with it, and stay up on the course materials and labs, by the end you will see it all come together.  The instructors were very knowledgeable about the subject matter and industry, and provided a nurturing environment where I felt comfortable asking questions and participating in discussions.  Overall I had a great experience, and am happy with the results.  In fact, I was just offered a paid internship within the first month after finishing the course and certification exams.

I had a really wonderful Evolve Security Academy experience. The instructors and assistant instructors were always helpful and informative, the curriculum covered all of the foundational elements of cybersecurity. The labs gave me the hands-on experience that I needed to take what I was learning and internalize it. The internship gave me the real-world experience I needed to sell myself and my infosec skills to employers. I really enjoyed my cohort and the environment Evolve Security Academy fostered. I left the program feeling prepared for a career in infosec, so kudos to everyone who is involved in the academy. Thank you for everything you do.

When I interviewed for this course, I didn't expect them to ask me anything IT related. However, they did and I realized that the course was going to be an uphill battle. I didn't know what an IP address was and the only reason I knew what RAM stood for was because of Daft Punk's Random Access Memories. So pretty much, I started this course with knowing nothing at all.

However, by the end of the course, I was able to analyze PCAP files, create network designs, run an instance on AWS and create a LAMP stack from that instance, and gain root access on a black box. This might be cheesy, but I've never felt prouder of myself than gaining root access during that web application assessment. That was the exact moment where I knew that I'd be able to make in this career field.

Many of the teachers I learned from were experts in their fields. I got a good dose of networking, governance, cryptography, virtualization, threat hunting, incident response, and a bunch of red team tools. There's a bunch more that I was taught, but I think those are what stuck out most for me.

Bootcamps aren't for everyone and after the course was done, I went to other resources to enhance my skills. It will feel like trying to drink out of a firehouse, but the best part is that you'll still be able to access the modules after the class is finished.

I'm excited for my career and what it'll go. Evolve Security helped my find a passion that I didn't know was there. I'm grateful for their ongoing support and if you're considering joining a cohort, sign up for an interview and tell Jeremy sent you! Good luck on your search.

The cohort takes a very basic approach to cybersecurity. There's a lot of information covered from a very high level and it does give you a good picture and understanding for different aspects of cybersecurity. There are different areas that felt kind of forced and maybe should have been given more time and attention than other. The academy did provide a great learning environment with the AI's, instructors and what I found most helpful, other classmates. Honestly, I think if ESA can just touch up some of the curriculum focus a bit more and add a bit more to job support, it'd be a top notch place. Overall I am happy I took the bootcamp. It helps lay out a roadmap and expose you to a lot of information so you can make informed choices on a path within cyber.

The instructors and content for this boot-camp are excellent. It provides you with hands on cybersecurity experience that would be hard to get on your own or with any other boot-camp. The curriculum flows nicely and starts you out with basic security concepts but over the course of the boot-camp you get into high level security concepts/methods. The instructors did an amazing job at making sure that everyone understood the material and the labs before moving onto the next portion. The instructors that they have teaching this boot-camp are highly knowledgeable /skilled and were able to answer all my questions. This boot-camp offers both blue team and red team content which separates it from other boot-camps for Cybersecurity. The fact that it offers both blue/red team training and experience makes for more well rounded professionals when completing the course. You also get career coaching that aids in helping you find a position in the field. I want to make it clear that it is career coaching and not job placement, which means they will help you get your resume ready and give you tips/suggestion/methods for securing a job but it is not a job placement program. I would recommend this boot-camp to anyone looking to start or further their career in cybersecurity.