Cybersecurity Bootcamp: Live-Online

 When I joined Evolve Security Academy, I had just graduated with a degree in Computer Science and had no real cybersecurity experience. I understood technical concepts, but I did not know how security worked in practice.Evolve gave me that bridge. The program is hands on and focused on real world work. We analyzed traffic, ran vulnerability scans, worked in SIEM tools, mapped findings to MITRE ATT&CK, and wrote professional reports. One of the most valuable experiences was working with a nonprofit organization to conduct a full risk assessment. We identified risks, documented findings, and provided recommendations, which made the learning feel real and impactful.Evolve also provides strong career support through a dedicated career coach who helps with resumes, LinkedIn, job applications, and interview preparation. That guidance made a big difference for me.I came in with no cybersecurity background and left ready to step into the field as a cybersecurity professional. 

The Evolve Academy bootcamp is a good entry for anyone completely new to tech and looking for a career start in cybersecurity. Having different instructors who are actively working in the field teach in their respective areas meant getting quality teaching across all topics. Every instructor was engaged when teaching and always eager to help. The small lab sections allowed every student to ask questions and really dig deep into any misunderstandings.

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.

 After thorough bootcamp research, I confidently chose Evolve. Post-completion, the exceptional quality and experience surpassed my expectations, solidifying my decision. The invaluable skills gained continue to propel my career journey, making it a truly rewarding choice. 

The staff at Evolve Academy very much cares about making sure you succeed and indeed makes it their priority, and offers so many options towards your career in cybersecurity. The entire culture at Evolve Academy was very welcoming of people from all backgrounds into the field of cybersecurity and building up our knowledge, and more importantly, confidence towards achieving our goals. The job prep sessions are amazing and the networking skills we've developed are invaluable regardless of where we take our future.

I feel very fulfilled with my choice in this program. Every instructor was amazing. I learned more than I expected to and I feel confident about my career in this industry due to this bootcamp. If anyone is thinking about enrolling, they should take the plunge immediately. They will be forever grateful. 

I need to share some key insights after attending Evolve Security Academy's Cybersecurity boot camp. While some may speak highly of the academy, my experience left me disheartened and wishing I had spent my time and resources elsewhere.
The academy's teaching model appears sound initially, as it assigns each student a Teacher Assistant (TA), usually a graduate from the previous cohort. However, this quickly becomes an issue as these TAs are more proctors than instructors, often resorting to Google when challenged by a question and simply relaying unsolvable queries back to the main instructor.
The course costs $13,950 for 240 equivalent class hours, plus an expected additional self-study time outside of the 2-hour evening classes. Upon reflection, better value and industry recognition could be achieved through a similar-priced course from SANS, an established name in the cybersecurity field.
While the fundamentals of IT and cybersecurity are initially touched upon by Evolve's more adept instructors, the post-fundamentals course swiftly degenerates into a hurried overview of the multifaceted domains of cybersecurity. This felt like a superficial tour, with an excessive emphasis on penetration testing, possibly a veiled upsell of their Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) preparation course.
Despite the curriculum boasting hands-on material, many instructors seemed more engaged in troubleshooting legacy lab exercises dating back to 2019/2020 than actual teaching. This lack of attention to the teaching material, which in part needed to be updated, hampered learning and often led to network failures, including during the final practical web application assessment.
Including Python coding was a welcome thought, but the lessons were a rushed, last-minute addition that felt like an afterthought rather than an integral part of the curriculum.
In terms of career support, Evolve fell drastically short. The "support" mostly consisted of rehashed slideshow presentations and brief, 30-minute 1-to-1 career coach sessions that ended abruptly, with no follow-up. One disheartening experience was when a career coaching day was wasted playing an unrelated trivia game due to a lack of planning.
The alumni panel presented to us seemed unprepared for the job market, needing more fundamental IT skills such as Windows system administration and active directory management. Post-cohort, they applied to over 100 jobs only to be routinely dismissed.
The course began promisingly, introducing basic tools and techniques useful in the cybersecurity field. However, an executive preferred flashy, engaging content over substantive, job-relevant information. This epitomizes the short-sightedness of the institution.
I left the boot camp with a shiny final certificate but woefully under-equipped for most entry-level cybersecurity jobs. I was left to supplement my education on my own. The academy is more focused on monetary gain than genuinely imparting quality education.
I would implore prospective students to consider these points carefully before deciding. More effective and value-for-money cybersecurity programs are available that genuinely prioritize student development and career success.

I was somewhat unsure when I started the bootcamp.  There are so many options out there, was I making the right choice?  After starting, my choice was confirmed again and again.  The instructors were experts in their field, the content was thorough, the TA's showed interest in helping others and I learn, alumni were generous in helping and networking, and even others in the industry had heard good things about Evolve Academy.  All in all, a choice well made.

Having been brand new to the field of Cybersecurity I feel that the curriculum offered was a great jumping off point.  The structure exposes you to a lot of the different aspects/sub focuses of cybersecurity so that you can decide what interests you. It gives you the knowledge to know enough about a subject to be able to apply it, and to know whether it is something that you would like to continue pursuing. The classes build on themselves until at some point you realize that you have learned a lot and that you can apply the knowledge to future units. The final exams are both challenging and affirming, a reflection of real world application of our training.   I think Evolve Security has set up a great ongoing support group and I am looking forward to remaining connected to the folk that I have met.

The bootcamp was intensive and the curriculum touched on every thing you need to know to start a career in cybersecurity. This is from zero to hero of cybersecurity. For those considering a change in career, this bootcamp is the way to go. It is also a good training to grow cyber skills for people who have been in the field but have limited technical exposure. The boot camp will easily replace a cybersecurity degree. The main instructor and the TAs are knowledgeable and committed to the students.​ Hands-on labs and projects were well planned out and it is a good exposure to make you ready for jobs. The career coaching sessions provide you with all you need to land a job during or by the end of the bootcamp. You can never regret going through this training.

I had a great experience with Evolve. They provide a great learning environment for both total beginners in the tech space and people with experience. It prepares you for you career with plenty of career coaching and one-on-one time with the instructors. There is a focus on getting hands-on experience with many of the tools you will use throughout a cybersecurity career.

Evolve Academy may have been my only cybersecurity bootcamp, but I would not have wanted to take any other. The instructors are very knowledgeable and create a warming environment where students aren't afraid to be wrong or ask questions. They are very hands on in making sure you succeed both in the bootcamp and in the work field! The material provided in the bootcamp covers every cybersecurity topic with multiple approaches to each to help individuals find their perfect way of learning.

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.

Just like being a procrastinator can be a negative way of coping for some, others might find themselves at an advantage in delaying tasks. It could allow time for more planning depending on the task; some are more focused and pay more attention to details under pressure coming up with ideas or solutions that one would not have otherwise considered. It lets the person finish other tasks, increasing motivation to get them done and work efficiently. It all depends on the person and how well they are at sticking with a task and their calendar. Those who are more intrinsic might find that active procrastination helps them get something out of a task. 

Evolve Security Academy was the best option I researched for getting into the Cybersecurity world using my veteran’s GI Bill benefits. Throughout the whole cohort you are given ample amount of time and assistance to learn and grow. My cohort was split into 4 separate groups to make it easier to learn with a Teacher Assistance leading each group. My TA was amazing and provided so much relevant information as she was once a student through Evolve and now is working as a Cybersecurity Analyst for a Cybersecurity Firm. This bootcamp is a lot of fun, but you must be prepared to sacrifice some of your personal time to grow.As for the veteran aspect I couldn’t praise Evolve Security Academy enough! Our cohort was online for 20 weeks that was supposed to be guaranteed paid by the VA GI Bill. The VA decided to stop funding online classes that were meant to be in person in July 2022. Evolve Security Academy tried resolving this issue with the VA but the VA didn’t budge. Evolve Security Academy helped us veterans in the cohort and did not charge us for this incident and ate the cost for the rest of our time. This was such a class act and I can’t say enough praise worthy things about how this was handled by Evolve Security Academy.

As a transitioning service member, I was looking for hands-on cybersecurity program that would allow me to use my veteran benefits. Doing some research, I came across Evolve, and WHAT A BLESSING! I am extremely happy with myself for joining Evolve AND completing the program. Evolve has absolutely changed my life, setting me on the right direction to begin a cybersecurity career. In only six months, I have a vast amount of experience, learned a ton about the industry, and my resume is on point! Evolve really takes time with their students and have the most amazing instructors, all of whom are industry professionals. I am walking away from this program with a ton of knowledge and connections. What more can you ask for? I would recommend this program to anyone looking to transition into cybersecurity and gain hands-on training.

I started the bootcamp with limited knowledge about IT and cybersecurity and in 6 months my knowledge has increased ten fold. The instructors were so personable and engaging and used real life scenarios and knowledge to enrich each learning topic that was covered. The bootcamp covered many aspects of Cybersecurity and allowed students to get a holistic thinking of the different areas. Every question was encouraged and every student was eager to learn and happy to study with me even late hours after work. The classmates and the TA's were so supportive and I have built such a strong network that has and will extend past this bootcamp. I have developed so much as a leader, student, and professional because of this bootcamp. It is a lot of hard work, dedication, and patience but looking back, this bootcamp has opened so many doors for me and I would recommend to those interested to go into this field.

The overarching experience beginning to end was amazing. From the interaction between the whole class to the amazing instructor Mike Creaney, I've made friends for life and established a real love for security technology!

I found that the classes being live helped a lot, especially the time they were held as worked perfectly for my work schedule.  I feel more confident to acquire a security based IT role with the new knowledge and resources gained. I was recommended this by a former coworker and I've really enjoyed it.  I will be recommending it for anyone I know who may want to go into cybersecurity.

Evolve Academy had a number of very knowledgeable instructors with industry experience, and getting that kind of up-to-date industry insight, along with networking connections, plus excellent career prep resources, was just incredibly valuable to me. Getting a roadmap of the whole industry and lots of hands-on exercises has also been amazing. It feels surreal how much I've learned in such a short period of time and how much my eyes have been opened to the world of information security and computers in general. So much more now feels within my reach.