7 Best Cybersecurity Bootcamps for Beginners [2023 Guide]

As more and more of the global population’s sensitive information, assets, and salaries are exchanged and stored digitally, there’s one field whose demand rises in direct correlation: cybersecurity. By 2025, it’s expected that cybercrime will cause $10.5 trillion in damages annually, and cybersecurity professionals are needed to combat this. So if you’ve decided you want to protect digital assets and become a cybersecurity professional, you’ll be pleased to know that cybersecurity professionals are in equally high demand. 

But while it’s clear that cybersecurity professionals are in high demand, the road to becoming a cybersecurity professional isn’t quite as straightforward. There are a plethora of ways to receive a cybersecurity education, but how do you know which one is right for you? 

That’s why we’ve created this guide. We’ve compiled a list of the seven best cybersecurity bootcamps to help guide your search. We’ve also got some helpful tips and information on what makes a good bootcamp, and how you can make the most out of the one you choose. 

What Is a Cybersecurity Bootcamp?

A cybersecurity bootcamp is an educational course (often administered online) that equips you with the skills and tools you need to land your first cybersecurity job. Most curricula include hands-on activities and projects that simulate real day-to-day activities on the job. While colleges are known for their long and theoretical approach to study, bootcamps are focused on hands-on training with the tools, problems, and inner workings of a typical cybersecurity role. This is because many bootcamps aim to have students ready for an entry-level job in just a few months, and some even help you land that job!

7 Best Cybersecurity Bootcamps for Beginners

Our top 7 cybersecurity bootcamps are all suitable for beginner students with no prior experience, and each feature unique strengths that cater to different individuals.

Cybersecurity Career Track by Springboard

Rating 

Switchup: 4.68

Course Report: 4.63

Careerkarma: 4.6

Average: 4.63

Overview

Springboard’s Cybersecurity Career Track aims to take students from beginner-level to job-ready in about six months. The program doesn’t require any prior cybersecurity experience and guarantees a job in the cybersecurity industry for all students who successfully graduate. 

This job-focused course includes 1:1 training and guidance with a career coach to help you plan your cybersecurity career path and give you training in networking and interview skills so you can land a job in the industry. Plus, this career support remains available to students for 6 months after graduation. 

However, a career coach is not the only professional you get one-on-one time with during the Springboard Cybersecurity Career Track program. You will also be assigned a mentor, with whom you’ll meet regularly. These mentors are industry professionals working with leading companies, and they can provide you with assignment guidance and industry insight, as well as answer any questions you may have.

The curriculum used by this course focuses heavily on allowing you to study, analyze, and tackle real-life scenarios faced by typical cybersecurity analysts. This approach aims to equip you with the skills and experience you need to match market demand and walk into an entry-level job and thrive from day one. 

Best For

Springboard’s Cybersecurity course is suited for individuals aiming to change careers within a year. The target audience is aspiring cybersecurity professionals who want to start their journey now. 

In terms of the learning style, the support-heavy structure is perfect for individuals who aren’t comfortable with full-on self-study. The curriculum provides structure, and mentors and career coaches provide tailored answers to unique questions to help you overcome problems efficiently and effectively. 

Price

The Springboard Cybersecurity Career Track has a full tuition fee of $11,340 (or $9,900 when paid upfront) and offers a range of payment options to cater to a range of needs. The course fee also includes the fee for the CompTIA certification.

Cybersecurity Analytics Bootcamp by Fullstack Academy

Rating 

Switchup: 4.86

Course Report: 4.86

Careerkarma: 4.5

Average: 4.74

Overview

Fullstack Academy provides one of the longest-running Cybersecurity bootcamps on the market and is endorsed by the city of New York (which offers a full scholarship to its applicable residents). 

The course does not include a job guarantee but aims to take students from zero to job ready in 13 weeks (full-time) or 26 weeks (part-time). Graduates of the course have been hired at companies such as the New York Times, Accenture, and the IRS. 

Available to students with no previous experience, the only entrance requirement is a soft-skills test that assesses your analytical thinking and logical reasoning. 

Best For

Fullstack Academy focuses on providing students with as many hands-on skills as possible in order to equip them for a cybersecurity role. This is a great approach for individuals who prefer to learn by doing, with multiple labs, projects, and workshops designed to mimic real-life professional scenarios.  

Price

The full tuition fee for the Fullstack Cybersecurity Analytics Bootcamp is $15,980. However, scholarships are available for New York residents, veterans, and women. 

Cybersecurity Bootcamp Online Part-Time by Coding Dojo

Rating 

Switchup: 4.58

Course report: 4.44

Careerkarma: 4.4

Average: 4.47

Overview

Coding Dojo offers a part-time, 24-week online Cybersecurity Bootcamp that gives graduates access to lifetime career coaching after completion. The course includes CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA CySA+ exam vouchers so students can earn themselves certification that is recognized worldwide. 

Classes are capped at fifty students, and instructors never teach more than two classes in order to make sure each student has the chance for 1:1 time to get their questions answered. 

The part-time schedule of the course includes four hours of lectures a week, two hours of office hours, ten hours of workshops, and twenty hours of self-study. Group projects have students working with each other to simulate real colleague collaboration and build soft skills and technical cybersecurity skills simultaneously. 

Best For

Coding Dojo’s Cybersecurity Course leans towards self-study and as-you-need-it guidance rather than regular 1:1 mentoring, gearing it towards driven and independent individuals who enjoy working through the material at their own pace. 

Price

The upfront tuition fee comes in at $15,495 ($1,500 off), while installment plans amount to a total of $16,995 with a $1,000 deposit. A range of scholarships is available for those making a career change. 

Cybersecurity Course by Brainstation

Rating 

Switchup: 4.72

Course Report: 4.7

Careerkarma: 4.4

Average: 4.6

Overview

The part-time, 10-week cybersecurity course from CourseBrainstation can be taken online, or at one of 10 campuses across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. 

Brainstation has developed its own online classroom software for online courses that are specifically designed to handle online lectures and workshops on cybersecurity. You’ll be able to see, hear, and interact with everything you need to during classes to get the most out of your learning experience. 

Course instructors are industry experts with years of experience in the field who continue to work at leading companies such as Google, LinkedIn, and Spotify. Learning from members of the cybersecurity workforce means that students receive up-to-date information, techniques, and insight from the industry they’re soon to join. 

Best For

The in-person options for this course make Brainstation a perfect option for those who can and want to get out of the house and interact face-to-face with their instructors and peers. 

Price

The upfront fee for the Brainstation Cybersecurity Course is $3,250, and monthly payments are $290 over 12 months. Brainstation also accepts a range of scholarships such as the Women in Technology scholarship, the Diversity and Inclusion scholarship, and the Entrepreneurship Scholarship.

Cybersecurity Pathway by Eleven Fifty Academy

Rating 

Switchup: 4.7

Course Report: 4.71

Careerkarma: 4.3

Average: 4.57

Overview

Eleven Fifty offers a 9-week full-time or a 21-week part-time Cybersecurity Pathway course that includes the CompTIA Network+ certification. Their teaching program includes the use of an expert-designed “cyber range” which simulates real-life attacks for students to experience, analyze, and tackle. 

The Eleven Fifty curriculum was designed and evaluated alongside the Cybersecurity Alliance and Fortune 100 companies.

Assembled with the aim of combatting the current shortage of security professionals, the Eleven Fifty Cybersecurity Pathway combines immersive learning, portfolio development, and career development in order to create job-ready future professionals. 

Best For

The course can be taken full-time on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or on a part-time basis on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 5 p.m to 9:30 p.m., with one Saturday class a month. Both options require the student to commit to scheduled classes, so it’s best suited for those with a regular schedule that can accommodate multiple weeks of attendance. 

Price

Tuition fees can be discussed over a call with a financing professional to help you choose the best payment methods for your situation. 

Cybersecurity Boot Camp by Northwestern

Rating 

Switchup: 2.22

Course Report: 4.25

Careerkarma: 4.3

Average: 3.59

Overview

Northwestern’s 24-week part-time bootcamp is aimed at a range of individuals, ranging from tech enthusiasts looking to enter a career in cybersecurity to those looking to expand their skills in their current position by developing cybersecurity know-how. 

Based in Chicago, this bootcamp prepares students for a range of professional certifications, including CompTIA Security+, Network+, Linux+, Server+, and Cloud+, but does not include any exam vouchers. 

By enrolling in this course, students will have access to a curriculum covering security fundamentals, systems administration, networks, and network security, defensive security, offensive cybersecurity, and certification test prep. 

Best For

As a part-time course taught through evening classes, the Northwestern Cybersecurity Bootcamp is suited for students with prior commitments such as full-time or part-time work. This also makes it a good choice for those wishing to expand their skill set and level up in their current field, as well as those looking for a career change. 

Price

Pricing and financing options can be viewed in detail during the application process. Monthly payments, student loans, and scholarships are available. 

Cybersecurity Engineering Bootcamp by Flatiron School

Rating 

Switchup: 4.63

Course Report: 4.53

Careerkarma: 4.7

Average: 4.62

Overview

Flatiron School offers two versions of its Cybersecurity Engineering Bootcamp: the “Live Program” (full-time) and the “Flex Program” (part-time). The full-time option is 15 weeks long and focuses on immersive and community learning within a cohort. This includes live lectures, lab time, and instructor-guided group work. Full-time courses can be taken online or in person. 

Part-time courses with Flatiron School, however, are flexible. Taken over the course of 40 weeks, students set their own hours and work with pre-recorded lectures (with opportunities for optional live lectures). The school also offers a range of short free prep courses that allow prospective students to prepare for the course, try out the Flatiron teaching style, and gain a little knowledge of cybersecurity before committing to a bootcamp. 

Best For

Flatiron is, alongside Springboard, one of the most flexible course providers on this list, allowing students to work at their own pace. With pre-recorded lectures, students are free to work more hours during a slow week, and fewer to no hours on a particularly busy week, making this course perfect for those with a full-time job or family commitments. 

Price

The full tuition fee at Flatiron School is $16,900 with a $500 deposit when paid upfront. Other financing options include paying with a loan and paying in 12 monthly installments. 

How Do You Choose a Cybersecurity Bootcamp?

Below, we’ll provide you with a host of tips you can make use of while comparing and contrasting courses so you can find the right bootcamp for you. 

Career Objective

Different courses have different general aims and objectives, and matching those with your own objectives is important when choosing a course. Is the bootcamp a “career track” that aims to have you job-ready in 15 weeks? Or, is it a prep course that aims to produce graduates that are ready to sit certification exams? Make sure to choose a course that offers you what you’re looking for. 

Course Content

Course content is the most difficult thing for a prospective student to judge because it’s mostly a list of areas, fundamental skills, tools, and projects that you haven’t learned about yet. It’s important not to get too caught up in the tech talk and instead try to focus on the general flow and structure of the course. 

Does it start with an introduction or foundation course? Does it cover both defensive and offensive security? Are test prep and final projects included? All of these are important things to consider when picking your future bootcamp.

Cost

Most bootcamps cost between $10,000 – $15,000. If you find sites offering similar services for a fraction of the price or double the price, you should look at some reviews to make sure it’s credible.

Reviews and Ratings 

Always check reviews and ratings of the course you’re looking at. The sites we have used: Careerkarma, Course Report, and Switchup are a great place to start, but you’ll also find cybersecurity bootcamp graduates sharing their experiences on sites like Reddit. 

Schedule and Flexible Learning Options

To determine whether a course is right for you and your situation, you’ll need to look a little bit further than just checking whether the course is available online. Online courses can still have 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. classes which may not suit your schedule, so make sure to look into the part-time cybersecurity programs and flexible options offered. 

Regular Updates

Long-running course providers may have good ratings and lots of reviews, but make sure that their course content is regularly updated. A course that hasn’t been changed for multiple years would put students at a disadvantage in the fast-developing world of cybersecurity.  

Quality and Experience of Instructors

Instructors don’t need a master’s degree or a Ph.D., but you should make sure that they are cybersecurity professionals with ample experience. This ensures they can give students practical and up-to-date advice about the job and industry itself, as well as academic and theoretical knowledge.

Practical Projects

All good bootcamps, including the ones on our list, focus on hands-on application of skills and real-world experience gained through practical cybersecurity projects. This approach introduces and prepares students for the practicalities and realities of the career they are soon to enter, allowing their job search to begin right after graduation. 

Certification

Cybersecurity certifications are recognized worldwide and are a reliable way to grab the attention of hiring companies. Bootcamps that include certifications or prep students for certifications will provide graduates with a significant advantage.

Making the Most of a Cybersecurity Bootcamp

As with all types of schooling, results depend as much on the efforts of the student as the quality of the school. Keep the following tips in mind to maximize the value you get from your chosen bootcamp.

What Should You Expect To Learn in a Cybersecurity Bootcamp?

Here is a general list of areas you can expect to cover during a cybersecurity bootcamp:

• Cybersecurity Foundational Skills 
• IT Project Management 
• Host-based Security 
• Network Security
• Identity and Access Management 
• Security Assessment and Operations
• Application Security 

What Will My Schedule Look Like?

The schedule will often vary based on the school, but the hours listed below are a good indication of the kind of commitment you can expect.

• Full-time courses: Weekdays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Part-time courses: Three weekdays with options for morning or afternoon classes of around 4 hours.
• Flexible course: Hours chosen by the student.

How Can You Implement the Learnings?

Most bootcamps recommend around 15-20 hours a week of self-study, in which part-time students review lessons and work on their own personal cybersecurity projects in order to implement and practice their new skills. 

FAQs About Cybersecurity Bootcamps

If you still have questions, we’re here to tell you a little bit more about cybersecurity bootcamps.

Since you’re here…Interested in a career in cybersecurity? With or Cybersecurity Bootcamp, you’ll get a job in the industry, or we’ll return your tuition money. Test your skills with our free cybersecurity learning path, and check out our student reviews. We’re a safe bet. 🔒😉