Learning Cybersecurity at 4Geeks Academy

The Cybersecurity Bootcamp at 4Geeks Academy includes strict adherence to ISO 27001 practices, lifetime career support, and a job guarantee! From learning to code to using today’s top cybersecurity tools, the curriculum team at 4Geeks Academy breaks down what students will learn in the bootcamp. Learn how 4Geeks Academy prepares its cybersecurity students for a diverse range of cybersecurity and networking roles with high salaries. 

What makes cybersecurity such a good career path, and will it still be an in-demand field in 2025?

Cybersecurity is one of the best careers to get into if you are looking for a safe, reliable tech role with a high salary. Salaries are amazing in the cybersecurity field. With an average salary of $120K-$150K, cybersecurity specialists can make a little bit more than software developers. 

Cybersecurity skills will be needed for a long time because demand is skyrocketing. The cybersecurity market is expected to double by 2030. Currently, 57% of companies are experiencing a shortage of cybersecurity talent amidst increasingly sophisticated cyber threats and attacks. Microsoft has pledged to invest $20 billion in cybersecurity measures by 2026. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a growth of at least 33% in cybersecurity jobs from 2023 to 2024; this is a growth rate that is faster than other careers in tech, including software development. 

Artificial intelligence is not a threat to the field but a tool. While it will augment the sophistication of attacks, ethical hackers will also use AI in their defense tactics.

What types of cybersecurity and/or networking roles does the Cybersecurity Bootcamp at 4Geeks Academy prepare students for?

The bootcamp is a mix of technical skills, frameworks, and regulations, which gives our students the foundation to land roles as Penetration Testers, Incident Response Specialists, Vulnerability Analysts, Security Analysts, Compliance Analysts, Firewall Administrators, Network Security Engineers, Cybersecurity Auditors.

Is there pre-work for the cybersecurity bootcamp? 

Yes, our pre-work includes algorithm skills, networking, and virtualization. Students will also learn Python. The pre-work will help students perform better at the bootcamp or in their future cybersecurity responsibilities.

What is included in the cybersecurity bootcamp curriculum at 4Geeks Academy? 

When students begin the bootcamp, there is a strong focus on networking, using Package Tracer. Students will learn to build and configure networks, network protocols, and security fundamentals. They will use Virtual Box, and create security networks with multiple machines. We dive into Linux, the command line, creating and managing servers, managing users and groups, backups, and server optimization. Students will start simulating attacks like Spoofing and DDos, and we will teach them how to prevent attacks with best practices, firewalls, ACL, etc. We go over each step of penetration testing with a strong technical focus, while following the best framework practices and industry standards like NIST and ENS.

Our bootcamp curriculum includes Red Team and Blue Team. In Red Team, students learn how to exploit the majority of vulnerabilities on the market because we base the syllabus on the OWASP Top 10, which includes Broken Access Control, Broken Authentication, SQL Injection, XSS, LFI, SSR, Cryptographic Fail, and more. During the Blue Team unit, students learn how to prevent most vulnerabilities using Demilitarized Zones, Firewalls, EDR, SIAM, and other blue team techniques. At the end of the program, we focus on regulations and ISO 27001 standards.

How many weeks does it take to complete the cybersecurity bootcamp? 

Like most of our programs, we designed this part-time course to be completed in 20 weeks. Students should expect to dedicate around 20 hours a week to the program.

Who are the instructors for the cybersecurity bootcamp? How are they trained?

The syllabus was developed by Daniella Maissi, a researcher at the OWASP Foundation, a leading organization in cybersecurity. We also have the support and validation of Chema Alonso, a prominent ethical hacker in Spain known for uncovering significant vulnerabilities in OAuth authentication, Android operating systems, and more. Additionally, all our instructors are senior professionals working in cybersecurity roles, ensuring they bring relevant, real-world experience to the bootcamp.

What kinds of educational support does 4Geeks Academy offer?

As part of our mentoring services, we have released our own AI mentor that helps students in real-time with immediate answers throughout the bootcamp. Our AI mentor is personalized to understand the students’ skills, needs, and current projects. It's fully integrated into our learning platform and compliments the unlimited lifetime mentoring services we already offer.

Will students be participating in labs during the bootcamp? 

Cybersecurity is a skill set with more concepts and industry verbiage than computer science or other technical careers, so we work hard to create challenges and projects to introduce students to these things. Labs are assigned for 99% of the days a student spends in the bootcamp. Students will be hacking or preventing hacks during most projects, and they will document those hacks using industry standards like ISO 27001. For example, during one project we give students a computer that has a few vulnerabilities and we ask them to find them, exploit them, fix them, document them, and implement prevention mechanisms.

Does the cybersecurity bootcamp prepare students for any industry-recognized certifications?

In lieu of certifications, we focus on teaching students about ISO 27001 because we know it is very important to follow those practices to succeed in the cybersecurity professional world. It has impacted our entire syllabus, and we dedicate a whole week to it. We ask students to follow best practices for every activity they do. When they graduate, they will have followed the ISO 27001, NIST and ENS frameworks, and they will have learned much of what they’ll need for cybersecurity certifications like ITF+, CISA+, CASP+, PenTest+. 

Is there an ideal student for 4Geeks Academy’s cybersecurity bootcamp? 

We don’t require any previous technical knowledge to enroll in our cybersecurity bootcamp. Applicants should be prepared to have enough time to focus on an intensive program like this one. If you have a background in networks, software development, or IT you will probably perform better at least during the first few weeks of the program.

What kinds of career support can 4Geeks Academy’s cybersecurity students expect?

We are proud to offer unlimited, lifetime career support and a Job Guarantee! When you are about to graduate, you get access to our career support courses and sub-modules, and you get assigned a career coach who will help you for the rest of your life but is particularly focused on helping you get your first job after you graduate.

Our career services include:

• Building your resume, LinkedIn profile, and online presence. We have developed an internal AI that helps students draft their resumes in compliance with industry standards.
• Learning about job hunting strategies and how to network correctly and prepare for the technical and behavioral interviews.
• Applying to jobs and networking to gain visibility.
• Attending coaching sessions with our career experts.
• Interview training with mock interviews and/or specific tailored training.

Find out more and read 4Geeks Academy reviews on Course Report. This article was produced by the Course Report team in partnership with 4Geeks Academy. 4Geeks Academy is a coding bootcamp based in Miami, FL, training in Full Stack Software Development, Data Science and Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, and Applied AI. With 10 locations across the US, they offer part time, online programs as well as hybrid and in person programs.