Evolve Security Academy

It was such a privilege to have participated in this boot-camp. Even if I haven't yet landed a cybersecurity job (don't know why), but I think I acquired enough skills to be able to do any entry-level cybersecurity job out there, and even more advanced... Read More ones.

Evolve Security Had a vast amount of information to learn from, I loved the course material as it is updated and fresh. The instructors do an amazing job at teaching the material and are very patient with students that needed help. The school is a lot... Read More of fun and very hands on. They also help with job searches in the cyber department, highly recommended to anyone that struggles with job searching after they have obtained their certification!

Pros:
-Great material
-very Knowledgeable staff
-Extra fun activities for the students to increase skills(safe pentesting)
-Getting real world experience with other company's to see what it's like.
----Most importantly----
You get the most out of the course in person which I would recommend you taking for the more hands on experience!
Cons:
-Short time span: If the Course was longer we could spend more time on the material.

But Overall Evolve Security is an amazing school if you want to increase your knowledge on cyber security and I highly recommend Evolve to anyone that is trying to advance in their career of cyber security. I really want to thank the instructors for all the help and support they have giving me on my journey on learning the material!

I attended Evolve Security online bootcamp in 2018 fall.
Pros:
-Hands on curriculum. Lots of real life examples of different security tools and projects.
-Management is very engaged with every process of the bootcamp. They constantly talk to students... Read More and get feedback to make sure everything in on track.
-Price was not as expensive as other bootcamps when I attended in 2018 fall.
-Evolve security has a very well connected and supportive community. It will be a great resource for any professional to be part of that community.
-If you complete assignments and projects, you will know more than enough to get an entry level job in security field.

Cons:
-Cant remember many. However class materials and assignment resources can be organized better on the bootcamp website. Some other students did not complain about this, but I sometimes would get confused about what is where & due dates. Teacher assistants and group chat was always available if you needed help.

I completed Evolve's remote bootcamp in 2019. Here's why I recommend it:

-Good for working professionals: I was able to complete the bootcamp online while working full-time in an unrelated field.

-Good for people with a nontechnical background/desiring... Read More a big career change: I was about 10 years into my career in the nonprofit world when I started Evolve. The degrees I had were strictly humanities-focused. I'd taught myself basic front-end web dev skills at various points, and always yearned to get more technical. Evolve's teachers and curriculum gave me the structure I needed to establish foundational knowledge in cybersecurity. It wasn't always easy, and it was intimating at times to be studying alongside others with plenty of IT experience already, but I kept up. I had enough confidence towards the end of the course to take a lead role in the vulnerability assessment our cohort conducted for a real client organization.

-Good for getting connected to the community: Evolve is a very supportive crew. Even as a remote student, I was given the opportunity to connect in various ways with numerous Evolve staff, alumni, and its broader network from early on. These connections helped me effectively leverage my Evolve education to secure a full-time cybersecurity job a month or so after finishing the bootcamp. I'm so grateful.
-Good exposure to industry tools: I'm almost a year into that security job now, and using many of the same tools I was first exposed to during Evolve. Just the other day, I dug up some of my Evolve lab materials because they were relevant to something I'm about to use more in my work.

All said: I'm a fan!

Attending this bootcamp was my first step into the infoSec world and I am not sure I could have chosen a better place to start. I did lots of research and eventually landed with Evolve Security Academy.

What you learn in this bootcamp is undeniably immense... Read More and exactly what hiring managers are looking for. If you already work in the tech industry then the skills will be applicable immediately as they have for me.

If you read reviews for other bootcamps you will often hear that it's either a hit or miss depending on the instructors, I can tell you that every instructor at Evolve will have you wishing that they could have all been your instructor.

The only fault with this course is that it eventually had an end. Ha. I actually loved it so much that I became an instructional assistant for this very bootcamp. This is one family that you want to join and never leave!

Evolve Security Academy is worth every penny. I needed a career change and had some familiarity with computers but nowhere close to the level required for even an entry level IT job. Andrew saw the passion I had and I started Evolve Security Academy online... Read More a short time after. The remote bootcamp felt just like I was in a class. We had the opportunity to work in large groups, small groups, and one on one with instructors if we needed the extra help. We weren't just watching videos or listening to lectures, it was hands on learning the tools needed to succeed in the industry. Evolve Security Academy goes beyond that because starting a career in any industry takes more than knowing the tools. Evolve Security Academy helped us with resume building, crafting our LinkedIn page, and networking with others already in the industry. I can't say enough good things about Evolve, from the leadership, instructors, assistants, and even other alum. My current and future success is because of Evolve. If you are thinking of a career change to information security, I highly recommend it because there are endless opportunities. This is an investment for your future and if you are looking for a great school with great leadership, instructors, and support (during and after the bootcamp), Evolve Security Academy is the best choice.

I appreciate the hands on aspect and the instruction was very good. I would have liked to been assigned a mentor and perform the site survey at a time good for the class. I am currently studying for the Security Cert Exam and would like to do more practical... Read More training/exercises.

This experience allowed me to understand self-motivation and how to survive in the industry. The only con I can think of is not keeping up can have you playing catch-up. This bootcamp covers almost every sect of possible cyber security jobs. When you... Read More find a certain module you get interested in, it is valuable to dive deeper in your own time.

I took this bootcamp back in spring 2018. It was amazing. There was so much material to learn. I don't think anyone could learn all this material all on their own. The instructors were top notch and to this day I keep in touch with them. I don't regret... Read More ever doing this bootcamp.

I graduated as part of Evolve Security Academy's Winter 2019 In-Person cohort. I've never attended a Cybersecurity bootcamp but I have been doing IT for 10+ years. It was a pleasure learning and working with the other students, and although my background... Read More gave me a big advantage the environment never felt competitive or cut-throat. We were all there to learn and explore the field of cybersec/infosec. Meeting other individuals from different backgrounds and industries was also very refreshing. It was also the first time I used the GI Bill to cover tuition and the administrative staff was very helpful every step of the way.

The instructors were wonderful. They are industry professionals doing active cybersecurity work in the daytime and come to teach in the evenings. I thought it was great having an actual team of instructors teaching throughout the entirety of the bootcamp rather than just having a single instrcutor the entire time. They each shared their unique backgrounds, methods, and experiences that brought great insight to the diversity of the field.

Now I realize that there are other methods to learning about Cybersecurity aside from attending a bootcamp. I chose to enroll in the in-person cohort becuase I felt a sense of commitment after having gone through the enrollment process with ESA and the VA for tuition. I did it for the dedicated learning environment and the in-person professional networking which I thought was a great value.

Now being in the field of IT, things can change and develop rapidly. With that in mind I think the curriculum was curated as an introduction to scratch the surface of the many specialties in the field. We covered topics from Scripting, Networking, Pen-testing, and Cryptography amongst others. The labs we completed simulated real world situations. It was a lot to take in and can be very daunting to someone with no technology background but the instructors did their very best to ensure the students understood the subject matter. You can't teach everything in 16 weeks, but I think they did a wonderful job teaching us the fundamental methodologies to become a successful cybersecurity professional.

Although I was not seeking employment during my time, I believe the time spent on career preparation really brought great value. I really wish I had something like that prior to entering the field. The instructors and career prep coach each brought their personal insight to to the job seeking process. Evolve also organizes frequent webinars and in-person meetups. These sorts of events are a great way to introduce and welcome outside individuals to the local cybersec community and offer the opportunity to network with other industry professionals.

If anyone is looking to explore and dive into the field of cybersecurity, I would gladly recommend Evolve. It was an phenomenal 16 weeks and your relationship with ESA stays with you. The experience really is career changing.