Cyber Bootcamps are the rage right now, but like anything else that requires spending your time and money, the buyer needs to be careful in selecting a reputable camp, that is cost-worthy, and productive (especially those in the middle of a career change).
Finding the Perfect Cybersecurity Boot Camp
Here are some basic guidelines I would suggest looking over before enrolling in the closest one to your door.
1. Check out everything free or near free first.
Why? Because before $13-$19k of your hard-earned GI bill walks into someone else’s life, you need to get a feel for the material to even see if it is for you. Both Harvard and Syracuse have free courses sponsored by vendors that cater to veterans and many other schools offer at least a class or two at no cost. Cybrary is another outlet, which offers some free classes.
Finally, in my opinion, the absolute best free resource for cyber training is the FedVTE online portal which offers a voluminous amount of various courses for both the veteran and public.
2. Look closely at who is creating and teaching the content.
If it is a university, do not be fooled by their representation of who owns the camp. Many are developed and taught by “for profit” entities that may or may not have a good reputation (was every contractor who did training for the military high quality? Nope.).
We hold a “mini” boot camp that lasts one week for HS students each summer. It consists of three days of class instruction followed by two days of Capture the Flag style competition. Every bit of it is developed, taught, and mentored by my students and myself.
While it is one of the most rewarding things to do in a university setting, it is also exhausting and challenging to pull off in such an organic manner. The thought of a multiple-week setting for adults created the same way is something I cannot even imagine in terms of required effort. Thus, I completely understand the need to bring in contractors to teach the subject matter.
I am not inclined personally to recommend avoiding one camp or another, as I have not attended any of them. You really need to research the subject thoroughly on their own.
While I am suspicious of online reviews, I have found the discussions on computer education and hacking on Reddit to be mostly genuine and helpful. I have disdain for most social media, so for me to endorse a platform for quality content is saying something.
There are some companies that you will see repeatedly criticized to avoid and the posters will often go out of their way to offer free solutions for the reader. It is also imperative you understand the difference between synchronous and asynchronous instruction and whether the former fits your life.
3. Will the boot camp training and degree help you get a job?
Possibly, but so will industry certifications, college degrees, experience, and reputable recommendations.
Some employers will want a bit more than a thirteen-week 0-to-100 education from a “for-profit” vendor. Somehow, you will have to convey to them that you know how to apply that education through research projects, your GitHub page, work experience, or other forms of certifications/education.
