SecureSet Academy

This program taught me what I needed in order to start my new career outside of the military. I had no previous experience in cyber security or computers in general and am now working in the industry with a wonderful company. This course starts at the... Read More basics and grows into a very challenging technical experience.

SecureSet invests in its students and its curriculum. The instructors are phenomenally knowledgeable on their subjects, talent is definitely grown in each of the students that graduate, and it is not solely classroom driven. There are 400+ hours of hands... Read More on experience, career services and management training, regular outside speakers that come to the campus, and a number of opportunities that arise outside the normal curriculum. I recommend and support this school.

At first I was very nervous about an intense Cyber Security program like this transitioning from studying Medicine in College, but it was the best experience ever and all of the instructors and faculty were very supportive and patient throughout the whole... Read More semester. The Instructors were always available and ready to answer any questions if needed and the best part yet I had amazing classmates working alongside me from different backgrounds in life which made it even better.

I came into SecureSet from a development background not knowing what to expect but what I received went beyond anything I could have. The instructors and my fellow students were the best resources I could have asked for. My toolbox is overflowing and... Read More I've only glimpsed the wide world of cyber security. SecureSet does more than teach you, it introduces you to the culture, the very essence of cyber security. Shout out to Kimberly for all her hard work!

I started from ground zero. I knew nothing of cyber and within a year I started in a junior level as opposed to an entry level position. Even after graduating I wanted to learn what I missed, and continued to grasp everything I could. I went back to campus... Read More and they were more than happy to let me sit in classes. Great school and completely worth every minute of it. They teach everything you need in six months where a conventional school will take 4 years to complete.

Read this if you are seriously considering the Secure|Set Core program in Colorado Springs and want to hear if it is worth the investment of time and money. I’ll cut to the chase and say that for me, hands down, the answer was “ABSOLUTELY”. Please know... Read More this review is 100% written from my point of view and is lengthy, but I feel that if you are considering investing this much in yourself, you deserve as much info as possible. On a side note, I have read some of the other recent reviews and I respect the opinions of those authors, but I can only speak to my own experiences.
Let’s start here… This program could be for you if:
- you are interested in learning a ton about the big picture regarding cybersecurity and you are thinking about pursuing a career in that field.
- you can work in teams for just about everything. (There are just as many, if not more, projects that require work to be handed in as a group, even essays and papers).
- you are willing and have time to work very hard every day including weekends for 5 months straight in order to learn as much as you can. (On weekdays I was at the school 8am-6pm and would do more work at home once I had a little time with the family.)
- you are not dissuaded by technical, mental, social and time management challenges (they will come daily).
- you want the opportunity to form incredibly strong friendships and professional relationships with classmates and industry representatives.
- you can acknowledge where you need help, seek that help and heed any advice you get.
- you are willing to accept that in spite of putting in so much time effort and money, and growing by leaps and bounds, this program does not guarantee that a job will land in your lap instantly. It might… but there is just no “for sure” about it.

Still interested? Read on. I can’t say enough about the instructors and staff in Colorado Springs. In addition to the full-time staff, we had a couple adjunct instructors that were AMAZING. In my experience everyone, without exception, took time to help me when I asked and went well beyond just what the curriculum required. Even the before mentioned adjuncts would help with resume tweaking and job hunting. The key here is that I did ask for help, and asked a lot. The instructors do stay busy helping students or they might have additional administrative roles, so you have to occasionally be patient, and maybe even remind them to get back to you. You just have to take ownership of making sure you get the attention you need.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you get credit for and are expected to participate in the career services classes, which are sometimes networking events. In my opinion they are extremely valuable opportunities. If I had a schedule conflict and couldn’t make a networking event, I would hear the other students talking about people they had met at the event, and I would feel I missed out on a great opportunity. I’m no social butterfly by any means, but I do recognize that networking is a weakness of mine. As difficult as it was to motivate for those events, I personally valued the chance to work on that skill.
Even though I loved every minute of being in class at Secure|Set, the program is not without its warts and bumps. The curriculum is accredited, and that makes it difficult to implement sudden, sweeping changes. Because of that and the speed at which technology changes, many of the labs (graded technical exercises) have outdated instructions and links that are no longer relevant. Frustrating to say the least, yet, not without its opportunities to learn and work with the instructor as a class. I feel that the faculty at Colorado Springs are aware of this issue, want to improve, and are making moves to do so. It’s just not a speedy process being that they have to involve and seek approval from their own leadership. Lastly, Colorado Springs is a mecca for DoD and the military, and the job market reflects that fact in a big way. The vast majority of cybersecurity jobs require a clearance, certification and STEM related degree, and there is no shortage of people who meet that criteria. At many events the first question to the students will be, “who is military and who has a clearance”. I don’t have a solution for that fact, again that is just the environment in this location right now and I feel it’s worth mentioning.
Okay, finally, it you do decide to invest in yourself and enroll in this program I highly recommend preparing as much as possible before the start of class. First, there is the Secure|Set Prep class. It can serve as a “taste test” if you are not sure IT is for you and it can give you a starting place for studying on your own. Also, if you don’t already have the Security+ you may want to study and try to get it before class starts. It takes a huge burden off your plate and allows you to seriously apply for jobs much sooner in the program.
As for me, at this point in time I am still on the hunt for employment. I continue to work on what I learned in class and seek out social and networking engagements. I have invested what I can with Secure|Set and the ball is in my court to keep it going. I am still in touch with Kimberly Hessler who leads the career services. She is amazing and is still mentoring me (and others) as I keep going down this path. I would honestly do it all over, time and time again if I could. And that was my experience.

~ Rich

It was not an easy decision at first to come to SecureSet in Colorado Springs. I was living in Texas and burnt out in the industry I was working in. I have always had an interest in computers and was looking at a Data Science program in Austin or the... Read More Cyber Security Core Engineering program at SecureSet. I visited both places. After my visit to SecureSet and meeting with Kimberly Hessler (Career Services) and Abe Thompson (Campus Director), it was clear that SecureSet was the place to be. They showed me that they were more concerned and focused on the students than on the bottom line. And, amazingly, this held up throughout the entire program, it wasn't a run of the mill sales pitch. The instructors were great, very knowledgeable, and willing to take the time to help you out one on one. Kimberly brought in employers weekly and taught us the soft skills needed to network and obtain a job. There was some hiccups with some the labs/homework, but the instructors were more than willing to help work through the hiccups. Overall, I can't imagine a more supportive and better school to come learn cyber security and break into the industry. I am glad made the choice to go to SecureSet and proud to be a SecureSet alum.

I enrolled in the CORE engineering program for the fall of 2019 (graduated Dec 20, 2019) with little to no experience in IT/Cybersecurity. I heard about the school just about 2 weeks before the school started and enrolled once i attended their CTF provided... Read More from SecureSet. I met with the Director and one of the Instructor at the CTF and decided to give it a go with this school instead of another which I almost signed up for (a school where I would have ended up paying little of $14k for four CompTia certs; ITIL, A+, Network +, and Security +.) With SecureSet, they have no intention of giving you cert program. Rather give you wide range of different fields and exposures and consisting of labs. Sure, some of the labs are broken - this is where you learn to stick with your cohorts to figure way out like in real life with anything, not just cyber or IT. Got to be able to work as a team. I think I have received more help from other cohorts, especially from my own group, then I have helped others but they are there for you if you need them, at the least for me they were including the instructors.
This school was by no means easy ride. To me, personally, I have had second thoughts a couple of times. But I knew that I made choice to attend the school, then give everything you got. Get to school before it starts and leave school when you think you are just before ready to break your computer screen. Unless you are talented and/or skilled in this industry. I had neither. All I have had was dedication, stuck with it and made it through. I'm looking forward my future now.
Oh, there is one lady who is the Career Services teacher/instructor named Kimberly. You might want to listen to her. She has no idea of technical aspects. She will get you to do thing you may not be comfortable with like meeting strangers and talk. She bring possible employers to the school. It's not always but she does and if not most of the people she brings to school are one way or another related to employers in our town. If you do things that Kim has asked you to do, by far you would probably in better situation than any other schools in town including Universities. Who bring people to you? Kim. Rest is up to you to follow up. I made my choice to loosely follow up with Kim just because the way I am socially, not a smart choice. Why? I see other with job offers and some already hired during school just because they follow up with Kim or her advice. Worst technical teacher, BEST teacher to get to know to get yourself into the industry. Don't worry even after you have graduated, she will still help you if you ask. She's that nice.

I'd do it the same way all over again. I'm happy to have gone through the program. Transitioning out of the military, I really don't know much about Cyber Security and all that it entails until I went through this (CORE) program. I was challenged mentally,... Read More intellectually and emotionally with the courses on offer but with dedication and the help of all the amazing instructors, I made it through the program. While going through the program, I used to think I don't know anything still but when I meet some of my colleagues with years of experience in IT/Cyber Security and I'd say something related to Cyber and they'd look at me twice wondering how I've known so much in couple of months. This is a program I'd recommend to anyone trying to break into Cyber Security or someone transitioning out of the military and looking into the next career.

I highly rate this school, but first you need to know this…

As the title alludes to... if you don't put yourself into it; you won't get anything out of it. Prior experience is nice. Being smart is good. Knowing how to turn on a computer helps...BUT; passion,... Read More desire, drive and persistence are what you need to be successful here. Show up early; leave late and do what they tell you. If you don’t, then be the best burger flipper you can be. Anything worthwhile needs to be achieved or else everyone would be doing it.

Don’t hide from life’s opportunities. I was probably the second oldest student they ever had… I asked, and I was. So with old-people vitamins in hand, I went back to school. Old?…I was in the workplace before computers were common, let alone networked and I learned how it all works in 20 weeks. The understanding of not just the “nuts and bolt”, but the industry best practices, laws, policies and risk management its a huge part of it. There is a technical portion too; network security, cryptography, systems security and more…YOU WILL BE CHALLENGED! It can be intimidating, but then you realize the other students in your cohort (yes, cohort) are in it with you. The instructors are also in it with you and the career adviser will be knee deep in your business to get off your rock and meet and greet the hiring organizations THEY BRING INTO the school to meet you. Kinda like your first high school dance so don’t hug the wall.

When you finish the program, you will feel like you need more time…education…something. You will not feel ready. Here is the shocking truth, if you did all the things I wrote about; then you are industry entry ready at a minimum and those feelings are normal. What about me. I just graduated 12-20-2019 from the CORE program, I got fat on the holidays, I have some meetings coming up with a company I am interested in… and, well. The next paragraph hasn’t been lived yet. Make a plan and stick to it, and when you finish then maybe we will be working together in the future.

Cyber Willy