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.

 

Showing 76 - 100 of 221


  1. Nexus at University of Michigan Engineering Cybersecurity Impact Bootcamp is a live online, 40-week, part-time cybersecurity bootcamp. The program was built ... Learn more about Nexus at University of Michigan Engineering Cybersecurity Professional Bootcamp by ThriveDX.

    David Newman

    5Graduate - Course: Cybersecurity Professional Bootcamp - Online

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Great Introduction to IT

    The boot camp prepared me for my career transition into IT. Since I was new to IT, it helped give me a wide breadth of knowledge so I could land a job in IT. I
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    Divergence Academy is a technical training provider based in Addison, Texas that offers courses in data science, cybersecurity, and cloud engineering. The fu... Learn more about Divergence Academy.

    Edward McGee

    5Graduate - Course: Cybersecurity Professional Penetration Tester - Dallas

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: A great experience

    I found the curriculum easy to follow, backed by industry professional instructors. With great administrative support.
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    Kable Academy is a technical program based in Cincinnati, Ohio that offers bootcamps in Web Development, Cybersecurity, IT Support, and Network Support bootc... Learn more about Kable Academy.

    Daniel Hoffman

    5Graduate - Course: Cybersecurity - Cincinnati

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Fast, Unique, Great Experience

    I came into Kable Academy, not knowing anything about computers, let alone cyber security. This course took me 3 months to complete. I had the fortune of having
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    Bethel Tech offers 33-week part-time, full stack web development and data science bootcamps online. Bethel Tech is powered by Woz U and web development stude... Learn more about Bethel Tech.

    Ranika

    5Graduate - Course: UI/UX - Online

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    NGT Academy is an immersive, military-grade cybersecurity bootcamp in California, Texas, and online. NGT Academy was founded by two Air Force veterans with t... Learn more about NGT Academy.

    Young man with the a drive to be the best I can be.

    5 - Course: Full Stack Network Engineer (FSNE) & Cyber Security Accelerator - Online

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    Says: FSNE Program

    This program helped me learn and grasp concepts I could not on my own so fast. Gained familiarity with Routing, Switching, Dynamic routing along with Firewalls,
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    FVI School of Technology’s Web Developer program is a 9-month bootcamp designed to turn beginners into full stack web developers in Miramar, Florida. This co... Learn more about FVI School of Technology.

    Daniel Usani

    5Graduate - Course: Web Developer - Miami

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    Says: Full Stack Web Developer

    FVI TechLaunch was something I wanted to try out and see how it went but the very first week of attendance I was very impressed at how stuctured the curriculum
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    University of Kansas Boot Camps are 24-week, part-time web development, data analytics, and cybersecurity courses. The full stack curriculum includes HTML, C... Learn more about KU Boot Camps.

    Javier Morales

    5Student - Course: Full Stack Flex - Part-Time - Kansas City

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    Says: Wonderful Roller-coaster experience.

    "I decided to embark on this course because I like technology and I was drawn to the idea of becoming a software developer. I retired as a classical ballet danc
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    Quickstart Learning, Inc. is an online tech provider that offers non-credit online bootcamps in Cloud Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Science and Analytics,... Learn more about QuickStart.

    Donald Lloyd

    5Graduate - Course: Cybersecurity Bootcamp - Online

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Cyber Security

    I was looking to change careers from retail to IT. If you're looking for an opportunity to learn at your own pace while still working or taking care of a family

  9. University of Central Florida Cybersecurity Impact Bootcamp is a live online, part-time, 40-week cybersecurity bootcamp. Bootcamp students will become profic... Learn more about University of Central Florida Cyber Defense Professional Certificate by ThriveDX.

    Jorge Vazquez

    5Student - Course: Cyber Defense Professional Certificate - Orlando

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Great Experience

    Being taught by experienced professionals that are recognized on their field and scope, that are able to translate such technicisms into human for everybody to
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    Arizona State University (ASU) Bootcamps offer 24-week, part-time courses in cybersecurity, coding, data analytics, or financial technology, and an 18-week, ... Learn more about Arizona State University Bootcamps.

    Matthew Moriarty

    5Student - Course: Full Stack Web Development - Part-Time - Online

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: In depth introduction to full-stack development

    I'll start by saying this course is challenging, and very fast paced, but immensely rewarding. If you are looking to get an actionable foundation that gives you
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    Magnimind is a 15-week data science bootcamp in Santa Clara, California. Students will learn core data science skills such as Python, SQL, Probability and St... Learn more about Magnimind.

    Bayu SukmantoBayu Sukmanto

    5Graduate

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  12. California State University (Long Beach) Digital Skills Bootcamps is an online technical skills provider that offers Cybersecurity and Software Development p... Learn more about California State University (Long Beach) Digital Skills Bootcamps by ThriveDX.

    Steven Vu

    5Graduate - Course: Cybersecurity Professional Certificate Program - Online

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Gained Knowledge and Experience

    TDX cyber security professional boot camp gave me what I needed to get a foot in the door to IT. I built a solid cyber security concepts foundation and gained h
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    EducaciónIT offers live online bootcamp, with programs in Java Standard 11 Web Programming (7 weeks), Python Programming (4 weeks), Data Analytics (4 weeks),... Learn more about EducaciónIT.

    Alejandro Pundyk

    5Student - Course: Bootcamp Full Stack Web Developer - Online

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    Says: Gran espacio para el aprendizaje!!!

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    Washington University Boot Camps offer 24-week, part-time Data Analytics, Cybersecurity and Coding programs. The data curriculum includes programming in Exce... Learn more about Washington University Boot Camps.

    Nate Master

    5Student - Course: Full Stack Flex - Part-Time - St. Louis

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    Says: This Program Changed my Life

    I give my full endorsement to the Washington University Full Stack Development Boot Camp. My only regret is not taking advantage of it sooner, and if you're rea
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    GeeksHubs Academy is a coding school that offers 10- and 12-week bootcamps in Full Stack Development, Agile Project Management, Product Design, DevOps, Cyber... Learn more about GeeksHubs Academy.

  16. Hofstra University’s Continuing Education department offers non-credit online bootcamps: Cloud Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Science & Analytics, and ... Learn more about Hofstra University Bootcamps by Quickstart.

    Daniel GreysonDaniel Greyson

    5Graduate - Course: Data Science Bootcamp - Online

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    5Student - Course: Front End Developer (Part-Time) - Online

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    Woz U

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    Woz U is an EdTech enterprise that offers 33-week online software development, cybersecurity, and data science courses. Students will learn full stack develo... Learn more about Woz U.

    Jacqueline Thompson

    5Student - Course: Data Science - Online

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: Ready for Data Analysis

    From the moment that I begin my journey last August to working towards attaining my certification I was excited. It is not an easy decision to learn a new skill
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    ID Bootcamps offers multiple bootcamp options including Programming and Full Stack Web Development, Data Science and Machine Learning, Cybersecurity and Ethi... Learn more about ID Bootcamps.

  20. Northeastern Illinois University’s Office of Community & Professional Education offers non-credit online bootcamps in Artificial Intelligence and Machine... Learn more about Northeastern Illinois University Bootcamps by Quickstart.

    Justine ParkerJustine Parker

    5Graduate - Course: Cybersecurity Bootcamp - Online

    Verified Via LinkedIn

    Says: based on my experience, this course is exceptional

    I have always had interest in computers and I.T. So I thought the field of cybersecurity would be a good fit for me. The idea of cybersecurity is a fascinating
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    Monash University Boot Camps offer part-time web development courses, data analytics, cybersecurity, financial technology (fintech), digital marketing, and U... Learn more about Monash University Boot Camps.

    Jarrad Sutherland

    5Graduate - Course: Cybersecurity - Online

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    Says: Helped get my dream job

    Monash University Cybersecurity Bootcamp was an amazing 6 month experience, during this time we would be online 3 nights a week 6:30-9:30 and often I would need

  22. NC State Digital Skills Bootcamps are online, technical provider offering programs in in Cybersecurity and Software Development. The bootcamps prioritize han... Learn more about NC State Digital Skills Bootcamps by ThriveDX.

    Kaden Dean Hansen

    5Graduate - Course: Software Development Bootcamp - Online

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    TruTek is a training provider offering 16-week, instructor-led or self-paced Cybersecurity Risk Management Framework (CRMF) bootcamp. Courses are offered onl... Learn more about TruTek.

    dimeji

    5Graduate - Washington

    Verified Via LinkedIn

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    Excellent training. The course was great and I was able to work with different groups where I learn alot about team work and time management. The hands-on proje
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    Code Labs Academy offers bootcamps covering topics like cybersecurity, data science, UX/UI, and web development. Bootcamps are available live online or in-pe... Learn more about Code Labs Academy.

    Bouzeboudja Bahaa EddineBouzeboudja Bahaa Eddine

    5Student - Course: Web Development - Online

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    TechLaunch Academy offers 9-week and 18-week IT certification training programs where students train for certification exams to prepare for a career in IT. T... Learn more about TechLaunch Academy.

    Travis Major

    5Student - Online

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    I attended online courses through VET TEC. A lot of information comes at you in a short amount of time so it is imperative that you make sure to set back plenty

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