Career Tracks

Cyber Security

What Is Cyber Security?

Cyber Security uses a variety of technologies and best practices to protect networks, computers, software programs, and data from attack, damage, or unauthorized access. The average salary of an Information Security Analyst is $90,120.

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What is Cyber Security?

Cyber Security consists of technologies and best practices to protect networks, computers, software programs, and data from attack, damage, or unauthorized access. Cyber security is used in everything from mobile apps to web platforms. Entities like governments, banks, and shopping applications are the biggest users of cyber security, but every company needs cyber security!

How to Land a Job in Cyber Security 

According to Manju Mude, a mentor at Springboard, “The only prerequisite for cyber security is that you think and understand risks and threats.” If you’re looking for jobs and not sure if you want to commit to a bootcamp and certifications yet, she recommends starting off with a job on the compliance team of a legal department. 

Cyber Security Certifications

  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) - Earning the CISSP proves that a security professional knows how to effectively design, implement, and manage a best-in-class cybersecurity program. 
  • CompTIA Security+ - CompTIA Security+ is a global certification validating baseline skills needed to pursue an IT security career. 
  • GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) - GCIH validates a security professional’s ability to detect, respond, and resolve computer security incidents.

The 17 Best Cyber Security Bootcamps of 2021

In 2022, there are now more than 100 cybersecurity bootcamps around the world, and we've curated a list of the Best 17 Cyber Security Bootcamps. Put simply, these are the cyber security schools we would recommend to our own family and friends. No matter how many accolades a school has, make sure you do your research: read reviews, talk to alumni, take an intro course, and ask about job outcomes data.

Do I have to have a college degree to get into Cyber Security?

Over 90% of cyber security jobs require some form of degree. If you don’t already have a college degree, you should strongly consider getting a degree in Information Technology, Information Security, or Cyber Security. An associate’s degree is sufficient for some entry-level positions. A cyber security degree gives students experience in programming, statistics, ethics, computer forensics, and analytical skills. A master’s degree in Cyber Security opens doors to higher-level Chief roles as well as higher salaries. 

If you already have a college degree in any field, and you want to pivot to a cyber security career, consider a bootcamp! Most cyber security bootcamps are not for complete tech newbies – so if you’ve never coded before, you should consider a general full stack coding bootcamp first. Information Security (InfoSec) classes are a big help for beginners, too. Most security bootcamps require one to two years of IT systems or development experience. Bootcamp tuitions cost between free to $19,000, and they range in duration from 9-20 weeks. Most bootcamps offer financing options. 

Online Cybersecurity Resources

  • Conferences - There are conferences around the world for information security and cyber security at any pricepoint. You can find a community directory of conferences here
  • Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) - OWASP is a nonprofit working to improve software security. They have online learning tools and resources. They offer networking, education, trainings, and resources on their website and in person at their hundreds of local chapters. 
  • BSides - BSides host Information Security conferences that are organized 100% by volunteers. They offer hackathons, challenges, and basic learning. They also host a Slack channel you can join in the footer of their site.   
  • Meetup - Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Meetups are a great way to network, learn, and find support from your community. 
  • Youtube - Youtube is a wealth of knowledge in every field. From conference talks to vlogs, you can find cyber security community and lessons there. Here are some notable channels: 
    • Black Hat - Black Hat hosts conferences. They post conference talks to their Youtube! 
    • Troy Hunt - Microsoft Regional Director, Public Speaker, and founder of Have I Been Pwned. Troy posts Vlogs weekly as well videos of coding sessions. 
    • Habitu8 - Habitu8 teaches the basics of cyber security through tutorials. 
    • Security Weekly - Security Weekly can also be found in podcast form. This show goes over security compliance mandates every week sometimes with guests. 
  • The News - Follow the news! The breaches in the news are the very risks you’ll be discovering once you’re in the field. 

Cyber Security Jobs

Job opportunities are constantly growing for information security and cyber security professionals. There is global demand for over 8 million security professionals and we’re short by nearly 3 million. It’s safe to say, if you learn cyber security skills, you will be in demand for the foreseeable future. On the cyber security career path, most positions require a bachelor’s degree and about 30% require a certification. Many employers now accept proof of graduating from a cyber security bootcamp instead of a degree but still require a certification. Most information security jobs require a clean criminal background check as well. 

Here are some of the most common cyber security job titles:

  • IT Security Analyst
  • Network Security Engineer
  • Cyber Security Analyst 
  • Security Sales Engineer
  • Data Systems Analyst
  • Data Security Analyst
  • Systems Security Administrator
  • Network Security Administrator
  • Network Security Engineer
  • Information Systems Security Manager
  • Chief Security Officer

Cyber Security Job Description

Depending on the position, cyber security professionals safeguard information systems by identifying, troubleshooting, and solving any security problems. They protect the system by building or maintaining firewalls, defining access privileges, and controlling structures. They may be asked to anticipate requirements by evaluating trends and assessing the current state of the security system. The cyber security professional will perform upgrades and regular maintenance. Some cyber security roles will require the Engineer or Analyst to communicate with clients and create performance reports. 

What Does a Cyber Security Engineer or Cyber Security Analyst Do?

The duties of Cyber Security Engineers and Cyber Security Analysts differ from company to company. A Cyber Security Engineer might analyze computer networks and ensure they run securely, try to predict possible security issues, and design computer systems equipped to deal with disruptions and attacks. A Cyber Security Analyst plans and carries out security measures to protect a computer network. Analysts should expect to be evaluating and tracking threats, monitoring network security, and executing plans. 

Brian teaches Cyber Security at Evolve Security Academy and describes his career in cyber: “My first full time job in cyber security was at a major insurance company. I focused on application security, security operations, and vulnerability management. I also worked on their Computer Security Incident Response team. Later, I worked for an e-commerce startup. I built their security team and established their security program while they scaled from small startup to booming e-commerce platform.”

Cyber Security Salaries

Cybersecurity Job Average Salary
Information Security Analyst $90,120
Systems Security Administrator Salary $106,000
Network Security Administrator $110,000
Chief Security Office (10 years of experience) $140,000

Cyber Security Skills

Depending on your cyber security role and the company you’re working for, you’ll need to know some programming, operating systems, and cloud computing systems. Here are the skills most cyber security bootcamps will teach: 

  • Computer Network and Security
    • Firewall Administration
    • Encryption
    • Network Protocols
  • Data Systems Security Protocol
  • Hardware and Software Systems 
    • Amazon Web Services (AWS) - AWS is a secure cloud computing services platform offering computing power, storage, and enterprise applications. 
    • VMWare - VMWare is a virtualization and cloud computing software provider.
    • Linux - Linux is a family of open-source operating systems. 
    • Windows - Windows is a graphical operating system developed and published by Microsoft.
  • Knowledge of security trends and government regulations

For higher level positions, you’ll need deeper knowledge of: 

  • Networking Architecture
  • Authentication Practices
  • Security Administration
  • How to translate security policies and procedures into technical architectures
  • How to install, monitor, and maintain network security solutions

For a security job at any level, you’ll need to know the OWASP Security Principles: 

  • Injection
  • Broken Authentication
  • Sensitive Data Exposure
  • XML External Entities
  • Broken Access Control
  • Security Misconfiguration
  • Cross Site Scripting (XSS)
  • Insecure Deserialization
  • Using components with known variables
  • Insufficient logging and monitoring

Cyber Security Soft Skills

In addition to technical skills, a good Cyber Security career starts with soft skills. If you want to get into a management or an officer role, you will need to be able to communicate with and manage a team effectively. You’ll need to know how to establish respectful communication with everyone from clients to Administrators and Engineers. Other important soft skills include keeping up with the news, continuous learning, and vigilantly looking at things through a cyber security lens. 

Should I learn to code for cybersecurity?

Whether you need to learn to code to be a security professional depends on two things: your desire to “hack” and where you want to get a job. Only a small percentage of cyber security professionals play the “hacker” role. If you don’t want to be a hacker, you’ll need to understand coding fundamentals but you don’t have to be a coder to be successful in cybersecurity. If you want to work for a software company like Google or Twitter, they will most likely expect you to know how to code. Most cyber security bootcamps require students to be proficient in a scripting language like Ruby, JavaScript, Python, or Perl and operating systems like Windows and Linux. 

FEATURED SCHOOLS

Schools may compensate Course Report for featured placement.

 

Displaying schools 51-75 of 226 in total

  1. 55
    Reviews
    1
    Course

    CyberNow Labs offers a 20-week, part-time, online Cyber Security Analyst bootcamp. For the first 8 weeks of the bootcamp, Cyber Security Analyst bootcamp stu... Learn more about CyberNow Labs.

    Dylan Munson

    5Graduate - Course: Cyber Security Analyst - Online

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Real-World SOC Experience

    This is an experience I will not soon forget. The whole program is full of passionate, knowledgeable instructors. The people I met in the program will likely be
  2. 52
    Reviews
    6
    Courses

    Big Nerd Ranch is a mobile app development and design firm and training company that has led one-week intensive bootcamps since 2001. Hosted at their Atlanta... Learn more about Big Nerd Ranch.

    MikeMike

    5Graduate - Atlanta

    Verified Via GitHub

    Says: Worth every penny..

    The complete immersion into the subject matter is fantastic. I attended the iOS Dev and by the end of the course, I was not only skilled but confident in those
  3. 51
    Reviews
    1
    Course

    CyberCamp is an online, part-time, 24-week cybersecurity bootcamp led by Israeli cybersecurity experts that bring years of experience working in both the pub... Learn more about CyberCamp.

    Marco

    5Graduate - Course: Cybersecurity - Online

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Satisfied

    Great course and well structured, from basics to advanced techniques, full of tips, tools, sites, CTF etc.Nice videos and very well done and detailed slides.Als
  4. 50
    Reviews
    5
    Courses

    NEOLAND offers 10-week full-time and 20-week part-time digital bootcamps in UX/UI Design, Data Analytics, Full Stack Web Development, and Cybersecurity in Ma... Learn more about NEOLAND .

    Giulia GuglielmettiGiulia Guglielmetti

    5 - Course: UX/UI Design Bootcamp - Madrid

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: UX/UI Bootcamp - Best experience of my life

    I can't even find an adjective to describe how much I am grateful for this course. I've attended the Full-time UX/UI Bootcamp and it's more than worth it. Raúl
  5. 49
    Reviews
    9
    Courses

    TechProEducation offers online bootcamps in Data Science (26 weeks), Full Stack Automation Engineer (21 weeks), Cyber Security (16 weeks), AWS & DevOps E... Learn more about TechProEducation.

    Erol Işıldak

    5Student - Course: Full Stack Automation Engineer - Online

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Advice!

    I am an engineer of electrical and electronic and after seven years in my career I decided to change the journey of my life. Like everyone can image easily it i

  6. University of Utah Professional Education Boot Camps offer 24-week, part-time web development, cybersecurity, data analytics, and UX/UI courses. The full sta... Learn more about University of Utah Professional Education Boot Camps.

    Chris

    5Graduate - Course: Full Stack Web Development - Part-Time - Salt Lake City

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Full Stack Web Development

    I began my teaching myself some programming languages but quickly realized that I didn't have a lot of direction. There is an infinite amount of information on
  7. 44
    Reviews
    12
    Courses

    ThePower Education is an online tech platform offering a 36-week, part-time full stack coding bootcamp, RockTheCode. ThePower Education also offers online co... Learn more about ThePower Education.

    Andrea Iñigo lara

    5Student - Course: ThePowerMBA - Online

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Gran experiencia

    ThePowerMBA: donde la educación se encuentra con la emoción empresarial. 💥💡Estudiar un MBA nunca fue tan emocionante. Las lecciones son tan adictivas que me enc
  8. 44
    Reviews
    0
    Courses

    UC Davis Boot Camps are 24-week, part-time web development, data analytics, UX/UI, and cybersecurity courses, and an 18-week digital marketing course. The fu... Learn more about UC Davis Boot Camps.

    Mack D.Mack D.

    5Graduate

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Rigorous, Fast-Paced, Dense, Rewarding

    I knew I wanted to do something tech related, but didn’t quite know for sure. I did some research and came across the UC Davis Full Stack Web Development Codin
  9. 44
    Reviews
    6
    Courses

    UNC Charlotte Boot Camps offer 12-week, full-time and 24-week, part-time courses in web development, 24-week, part-time courses in data analytics, cybersecur... Learn more about UNC Charlotte Boot Camps.

    Erica Osborne

    5Graduate - Course: Cybersecurity - Part-Time - Charlotte

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Building an analytical mindset in a positive collaborative environment

    I am a career changer transitioning from 22 years in healthcare to cybersecurity. For the past 3 years cybersecurity has sparked my interest, so I decided to ta
  10. 44
    Reviews
    6
    Courses

    UC Irvine Boot Camps offer 12- and 24-week web development programs and 24-week, part-time data analytics, UX/UI, and cybersecurity programs, and an 18-week,... Learn more about UC Irvine Boot Camps.

    Brian Wang

    5Student - Course: Full Stack Flex - Full-Time - Irvine

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Great Project Based Learning Environment

    The bootcamp is definitely tough and fast pasted, but I think it is a good learning environment. The class is designed so that you learn the basics and then pra

  11. UC San Diego Extended Studies Boot Camps offer 12-week, full-time and 24-week, part-time web development courses, and 24-week, part-time data science and cyb... Learn more about UC San Diego Extended Studies Boot Camps.

    Noah Sullivan

    5Student - Course: Full Stack Flex - Part-Time - San Diego

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: UCSD Extended Studies Full-Stack Development Bootcamp

    Review of UCSD Extended Studies Full-Stack Development BootcampBy Noah SullivanIn the past three months, I have gone from a novice with no experience in comput
  12. betek-logo

    BeTek

    4.88
    42
    Reviews
    6
    Courses

    BeTek is an online technical provider that offers 24-week, part-time and 16-week, full-time online bootcamps in Front End Development, Back End Development, ... Learn more about BeTek.

    Santiago Chicangana Garcia

    5Graduate - Course: Data Analytics (Full-time) - Online

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Enriquecedor

    Es una oportunidad de crecimiento importante , pues de experiencia propia puedes ver un aumento en el conocimiento desde el día uno hasta ya el cierre del curso
  13. 42
    Reviews
    4
    Courses

    DevLeague offers full-time and part-time courses in full-stack web development and cybersecurity in Honolulu, Hawaii. DevLeague aims to provide mentorship an... Learn more about DevLeague.

    Jenn AhunaJenn Ahuna

    5Graduate - Course: Full Stack Javascript Full Time Session - Honolulu

    Verified Via GitHub

    Says: Bootcamp like no other

    Hello review seeker, I just finished DevLeague a couple weeks ago… be prepared for a long but genuine review of Hawaii’s only coding bootcamp. Let me also prefa
  14. 42
    Reviews
    2
    Courses

    UCR Extension Boot Camps offer 24-week, part-time web development and cybersecurity courses. The full stack curriculum includes HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery... Learn more about UCR Extension Boot Camps.

    Cesar Infante

    5Applicant - Course: Full Stack Flex - Part-Time - Riverside

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: My Journey

    Hello to everyone reading this! 👋 I came into this bootcamp with very minimal experience in programming I come from being a warehouse lead. I wanted a career ch
  15. 37
    Reviews
    4
    Courses

    Techtorial Academy is a bootcamp based in Chicago that offers live online or in-person, full-time bootcamps covering topics like software design/development ... Learn more about Techtorial Academy.

    Inna Halambets

    5Student - Course: Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) - Chicago

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Amazing school

    Embarking on the Techtorial SDET Bootcamp journey was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Transitioning from a non-technical background, I was seeking a
  16. 37
    Reviews
    6
    Courses

    University of Minnesota Boot Camps offer a 12-week, full-time and 24-week, part-time web development courses, 24-week, part-time data analytics, cybersecurit... Learn more about University of Minnesota Boot Camps.

    Jacob Stegman

    5Graduate - Course: Cybersecurity - Part-Time - St. Paul

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Worth the Battle!

    Throughout the 24 weeks this bootcamp lasted, I had doubts on whether I would be able to complete it. I can say after that 24th week, I am glad I sticked to it.
  17. 35
    Reviews
    5
    Courses

    Rice University Boot Camps offer a 12-week, full-time web development course, 24-week, part-time, web development, data analytics, cybersecurity, financial t... Learn more about Rice University Boot Camps.

    Manal BayoumiManal Bayoumi

    5Graduate - Course: Data Science and Visualization - Part-Time - Houston

    Verified Via GitHub

    Says: My boot camp experience was amazing!!!

    I have enjoyed my boot camp very much. It helped me think outside the box. For the first time in my life, I found something that I belong to. It was a great opp

  18. UConn Boot Camps offer part-time, 24-week, web development and cybersecurity courses. The full stack curriculum includes HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, Boots... Learn more about The University of Connecticut Boot Camps.

    Ava Reyes

    5Graduate

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Informational, Intense, Hard-Won

    This bootcamp provided me with hands-on experience in real-world cybersecurity scenarios prevalent today. It equipped me with an array of technical skills beyon
  19. 31
    Reviews
    5
    Courses

    Southern Methodist University (SMU) boot camps offer 12-week, full-time and 24-week, part-time web development courses, 24-week, part-time data science, fina... Learn more about SMU Boot Camps.

    Andres Garcia

    5Graduate - Course: Cybersecurity - Part-Time - Dallas

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Best Decision Ever!

    When I first considered a career path, I wanted something that was not only exciting but also offered ample growth opportunities. After careful research, I disc
  20. 30
    Reviews
    5
    Courses

    Quickstart Learning, Inc. is an online tech provider that offers non-credit online bootcamps in Cloud Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics and Visualiz... Learn more about QuickStart.

    Alexander Friedrichsen

    5Graduate - Course: Cybersecurity Bootcamp - Online

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Exactly What Was Needed

    All five of my rating categories being 5 stars is for a reason. My personal experience with QuickStart hasn't been a short one because occasionally staff and re

  21. Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) Boot Camps are 24-week, part-time courses in full stack web development, data analytics and cybersecurity. The full st... Learn more about Case Western Reserve University Boot Camps.

    Dan Kopac

    5Student - Course: Full Stack Flex - Part-Time - Cleveland

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Excellent Learning Experience

    I came into the boot camp knowing very little about development and came out knowing more than I thought I ever would it’s a great way to sharpen your mind and
  22. 26
    Reviews
    7
    Courses

    TurnToTech offers full-time, 10 to 16-week mobile development and part-time, 30 to 36-week cyber security bootcamps based in New York, New York. TurnToTech a... Learn more about TurnToTech.

    Eugenio LopezEugenio Lopez

    5Graduate - Course: Android Bootcamp - New York City

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Great place to begin your software engineering path.

    As a former full-time Android student and current Mobile/Android Developer, I can confidently say that TurnToTech has played an immense role in starting my care
  23. 25
    Reviews
    1
    Course

    Founded by former National Security Agency (NSA) analysts, Level Effect is a cybersecurity education and training provider offering a 12-week Cyber Defense A... Learn more about Level Effect.

    James Jolley

    5Graduate - Course: Cyber Defense Analyst Program - Online

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Best practical training hands down

    If you are passionate about learning, and developing your skills in cybersecurity, look no further than this course. Having recently graduated from the bootcamp
  24. 25
    Reviews
    3
    Courses

    Vanderbilt University Boot Camps offer 12-week, full-time, and 24-week, part-time courses in web development; 24-week, part-time courses in data analytics an... Learn more about Vanderbilt University Boot Camps.

    Sidney Edwards

    5Graduate - Course: Full Stack Web Development - Part-Time - Nashville

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: If I can do it anybody can.

    I am a single mom of a young daughter and I also have a full time job. I decided to join the boot camp because I wanted a career that I could be proud of and th

  25. San Diego State University (SDSU) Digital Skills Bootcamps is an online technical skills provider that offers Cybersecurity and Software Development programs... Learn more about San Diego State University Digital Skills Bootcamps by ThriveDX.

    Adrienne Brown

    5Graduate - Course: Cybersecurity Bootcamp - Online

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Genuine Support

    The teachers in this program were exceptional, providing unwavering support throughout both the ups and downs of the coursework. Beyond the classroom, they also

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