Even as schools, colleges and universities have returned to traditional, in-person instruction in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the availability of alternative online education programs only continues to grow. Online bootcamps are one such example that provide students the opportunity to receive an industry-specific education as an alternative to a formal degree program.  

Cyber security bootcamps are one of many bootcamp offerings, but they’re also one of the most popular and make up 8.5% of all tech bootcamps, trailing only behind UX/UI design, data science and coding bootcamps. With the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimating that the employment of information security analysts will grow 28.5% through 2034, there’s hardly been a better time to break into the cyber security industry with a quality bootcamp education.  

Discover cyber security bootcamps for you

Online cyber security bootcamp overview  

Online cyber security bootcamps are compact training programs designed to prepare students for entry-level roles in the cyber security industry. Though most are offered online, there are many bootcamps out there which are also offered in an in-person or hybrid learning format.  

The vast majority of cyber security bootcamps are offered by one of two types of providers: independent organizations like skills academies and training companies, or academic institutions like colleges and universities. A third but much less common option is eligible training providers or ETPs, which are providers that a state has deemed eligible to provide training services under the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA). Because of this, they often have scholarships available for their students.  

Most online cyber security bootcamps cater to beginners, and therefore require zero or very little prior experience or education in the field. This is one of the reasons they can be such an attractive option for people wishing to break into the field, because if they don’t already have a computer science or related degree, then they need to learn the basics from the ground up.  

Most online cyber security bootcamps cater to beginners, and therefore require zero or very little prior experience or education…

Even if a bootcamp is for beginners, some require applicants to take a basic skills test to make sure they at least have enough general knowledge of technology and/or reasoning and communications skills.  

Other bootcamps may specify that they are intended for slightly more advanced students, which usually means people that already have some kind of education or professional experience in cyber security or computer science. Beyond that, some cyber security bootcamps are geared towards existing professionals who are already established in the field and want to expand their expertise even further.  

Like beginner-friendly programs, more advanced programs may issue skills tests at some point in the application process to ensure that the student has the sufficient baseline knowledge to do well in their program.  

Cyber security bootcamps vs. bachelor’s degree programs 

If you’re curious about the benefits of attending an online cyber security bootcamp, consider how they stack up against a bachelor’s degree in the same field.  

Program type	Length	Cost	Admissions requirements	Curriculum
Online cyber security bootcamps	Length varies depending on the type of program (i.e. full-time vs. part-time), but most can be completed in a year or less	Because of their significantly shorter time frame, bootcamps usually cost a fraction of the price of a formal degree, typically between $10,000 and $20,000	Beginner-friendly bootcamps typically only require English-language proficiency, and possibly evidence of a high school education and passing a basic skills test.	Solely focused on the essential knowledge and skills needed to enter the cyber security field.
Bachelor’s degree in cyber security, computer science, or a related field	About four years of full-time study	According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of college in the U.S. is $38,270 per year (or $153,080 for four years)	College applications require a high school diploma and often a sufficient cumulative GPA, letters of recommendation, personal essays, standardized test scores and more	In addition to relevant computer science classes, bachelor’s degrees require taking many general education courses in other subjects

What to expect: curriculum and learning experience  

The bootcamp experience can vary a lot depending on whether you sign up for a full-time or part-time program, but the similarities lie in what you’ll learn. All programs are designed to teach you the vital skills and knowledge areas necessary to break into the cyber security field, such as:  

• Network security (Wi-Fi, ethernet, etc.) 
• Coding/programming basics 
• Operating systems 
• Penetration testing 
• Different types of attackers, security threats and how to respond to them 
• Security architecture 
• Foundations in cryptography/cryptanalysis  
• Identity and access management  
• Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and their applications in cyber security  

Programs also usually include a final capstone project that you can add to a portfolio of work to show future employers. For a cyber security bootcamp, for example, the capstone project may be conducting a full hypothetical penetration test and associated report, or something similar.  

Most bootcamps, regardless of learning format, connect students with a career coach or mentor to discuss tips for finding a job after graduation. They may help explain the different opportunities available in the field and what you’re qualified for, help you narrow in on the type of job you want and simply answer questions you may have about how to leverage your education to your benefit. 

Full-time programs

Full-time programs typically require you to be online five days a week. You have to participate in live lectures and activities known as synchronous learning, which is not much different from a traditional classroom other than the fact that you are learning remotely instead of in a brick-and-mortar classroom. Since they’re compacted into a shorter time frame, full-time programs can be a more rigorous experience.   

Although each program may do things a little differently, it’s common for your day to start with live lectures from your instructors in the morning, followed by a break for lunch and then hands-on activities in the afternoon where you practice the concepts learned earlier in the day. Often you may be asked to split into teams and work with a small group of classmates. Also, you may have to complete additional homework assignments outside of scheduled class time. This typically includes several individual and group projects sprinkled throughout the program.  

Part-time programs

Part-time programs often don’t have the live virtual classroom component that full-time programs do. Instead, you learn asynchronously, which means you can log on at any time and progress through the course materials (pre-recorded lectures, videos, required reading, activities, quizzes, etc.) at your own pace.  

But just because you may not be interfacing with instructors or classmates daily doesn’t mean you learn entirely in a silo. There are still opportunities to chat with classmates in online discussion forums and collaborate on group projects throughout the course. Plus, part-time programs should allow you to meet with your instructor(s) individually throughout the program to check-in, answer questions and make sure you’re progressing through the course in a timely manner.  

Find your cyber security bootcamp today

Choosing the best online bootcamp for you 

Before enrolling in a cyber security bootcamp, you want to make sure that the program you choose can meet your needs and set you up for the career you want. By taking the time to explore a few vital decision-making factors, you can feel confident in the choice you eventually make.

Career paths for graduates

As a successful graduate of an online cyber security bootcamp, you may qualify for many different entry-level roles in the cyber security and information technology (IT)/information security (IS) fields. Though each specific job has its own qualifications set forth by the employer, you should be equipped with the skills to at least get your foot in the door. In fact, many bootcamp providers boast impressive hiring rates for their graduates, stating that the vast majority of them land a relevant job within a year (or often much sooner) after graduation.  

Consider a sample of some of the jobs you might qualify for with an online cyber security bootcamp in your back pocket: 

Next steps

After virtual education exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no surprise that online bootcamps have stuck around and continued to grow in popularity for their flexibility, accessibility and cost-effectiveness. Cyber security is one of the most popular bootcamp program topics, giving students the essential technological skills needed to break into an industry which is projected to grow rapidly in the coming decade and beyond.  

One of the best parts about bootcamps is that most don’t even require you to have a college degree, meaning practically anyone who’s eager to learn about cyber security can receive the education they need to get started. If you think you’re ready to take the leap, start searching for cyber security bootcamps today to get one step closer to your perfect fit. 

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