Not all cybersecurity boot camps are the same: What you need to know

1. Different types of boot camps: Choosing the right one 

Choosing the right type of boot camp should be one of your primary considerations because this will determine how well the boot camp fits your goals, schedule and budget.  

Cybersecurity boot camps usually offer everything you need in one comprehensive package. This can include preparatory materials, expert instruction, additional training resources like books and hands-on labs, practice exams, the voucher to take the exam and more. However, each type of boot camp delivers those materials in different ways. 

Option 1: Live boot camps 

A live boot camp is a short-term, intensive training in a structured environment that typically lasts three to seven days. It is your fastest route to certification. 

The primary advantage of live instruction is the ability to have your questions answered by experienced, qualified instructors and learn from fellow students' questions. You may also form connections that can pay off down the road if one or more of your classmates has experience they can share with you when you're facing on-the-job challenges or have an opening on their team that interests you. 

Live in-person boot camp 

In-person boot camps include live instruction taught in a classroom. This means you’ll need to consider potential costs related to travel and lodging. Although travel adds to the cost, you may prefer having dedicated time and space away from the distractions of daily life, so you can focus entirely on learning and passing your exam. 

Live online boot camp 

Live online boot camps are taught over the computer, so you can train from anywhere without traveling. An industry expert leads your sessions, so the content quality equals what you get in person. You can also have discussions with classmates and enjoy networking opportunities — it’s just done online. However, you'll still need to clear your schedule and find a place to study without interruptions. 

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Option 2: Self-paced boot camps 

A self-paced boot camp is exactly as it sounds: You get access to the training materials, and you follow those materials at your own pace. A typical self-paced boot camp takes one to three months to complete. 

You’ll often get some level of guidance and support from qualified instructors who can answer your questions and clarify concepts you’re struggling with. However, it’s important to understand how that support will be delivered. For example, it could be via email, a forum, online office hours or some other method. 

With this type of boot camp, you can design your own study schedule, including how long you study for and where. This gives you the power to learn at your own pace. For professionals, this is especially helpful because it gives you the flexibility of deciding how to use your off-work hours to prep for your certification. 

Option 3: Immersive boot camps 

Immersive boot camps are designed to help you transform your skills and career options over several months of training. They're much more in-depth than the other options and provide a mix of live instruction and self-paced learning.  

One of the primary differentiating factors of an immersive boot camp, besides the longer duration, is the emphasis on career transformation. For example, a beginner immersive boot camp could be great for someone looking to transition or launch a career but needs more guidance and support than a live or self-paced boot camp. These also come with career coaching, further helping to springboard a cybersecurity career. 

In addition to training from industry experts, you’ll work on projects that showcase your new skills and help you build a professional portfolio. In other words, even if you haven't had much experience in the area you’re training, by the end of an immersive boot camp, you have both the skills and body of work to prove to employers that you're ready to hit the ground running. 

Picking a boot camp: What’s your goal? 

Each of the three kinds of boot camps is designed to prepare you for a certification exam. However, with live and self-paced boot camps, getting certified and applying your knowledge on the job is the primary focus.  

With an immersive boot camp, the program is specifically designed to help you transform your career. If you are relatively new to cybersecurity and looking for a career change, an immersive boot camp may be the best investment for you. 

For example, with Infosec's Cybersecurity Beginners Immersive Boot Camp, we teach you job-ready, in-demand skills with over 500 hours of hands-on experience to help you deeply understand and retain topics. The lessons build your skills progressively, from the basics, like computer operations, to advanced topics, like cybersecurity engineering. 

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2. What you'll learn: Evaluating boot camp curricula and objectives 

It's important to make sure the content of the boot camp aligns with your career trajectory. For example, you can ask questions such as: 

• Is the boot camp meeting standards such as DOD 8140/8570 compliance, CMMC or other workplace requirements? 
• If the goal is certification, is the training relevant and updated? 
• Is it more career outcomes-focused — preparing you for a certain role? 

Ideally, you want a boot camp led by a company with existing relationships with industry-leading organizations. For instance, Infosec has forged long-standing industry relationships with certifying bodies, partnering with CompTIA, ISACA, EC-Council, AWS and more. These certifying bodies update their certifications every few years with input from industry professionals to ensure the relevancy of the certifications. 

Understanding the value of pre-course work 

Most boot camps present a lot of information condensed over a short timeframe. To ensure all candidates have a rewarding experience, they often have supporting materials to help you prepare and start your learning before the boot camp begins. 

For students considering which boot camp to buy, the availability of pre-course work is a major factor. This is especially true for beginner certifications like Security+. We will explore this more in the following sections. 

3. Who will guide you? Researching reputation and instructors 

When evaluating boot camps, it’s important to look at the company’s reputation. A few factors you may want to consider: 

• Training history: Has the company been around for a considerable length of time or are they a relative newcomer to the training space? 
• Training outcomes: What is the track record for student success? For example, Infosec students have an average certification pass rate of 93%. 
• Student reviews: The best insight into training quality often comes from student reviews. You can read about past students’ experiences on sites like G2, TrustRadius and others. 

The most important factor in the quality of your training will likely be the expertise of your instructor. As you read reviews and evaluate potential boot camps, try to get a sense of both what students say about their instruction and the guidelines companies use for selecting instructors.  

Or hear directly from the instructors. Infosec recently hosted an open Q&A with two of our instructors, Tommy Gober and Rod Evans. Watch the webinar to learn what to expect from a live Infosec boot camp. 

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4. What support will you get? Evaluating value adds 

Boot camps vary widely in their offerings, and the differences aren't always obvious. By digging a little, you can typically figure out what differentiates the support you get from each program. 

For example, let's look at training materials. It would help if you asked questions like: 

• When do you have access to training materials? 
• How extensive are the training materials they provide? 
• Are they included in the cost of the boot camp, or do you have to pay extra? 

Similarly, you should assess the level of support provided before, during and after a boot camp. Here are some criteria you can use in your evaluation: 

• Pre-boot camp: At Infosec, you get immediate access to pre-course materials when you enroll. This helps you to prepare for your boot camp and uncover your knowledge gaps so you can maximize your training experience. 
• During the boot camp: Be sure to understand how the boot camp is structured and what your expectations are. What materials will be used during the training? If it’s technical training, will there be hands-on labs? If the primary goal is certification, is there access to practice tests?  
• After the boot camp: Is there any support offered after the boot camp? For example, Infosec live boot camps come with 90 days of extended access to recordings and other materials so you can review challenging topics. You also get access to the Infosec Skills training library so you can continue learning or start earning CPEs for your new certification. 

In addition, you should ask what happens if you fail your certification exam. Infosec offers an Exam Pass Guarantee for most live boot camps, meaning if you fail the exam on your first attempt, you’ll get a second attempt at no cost to you — and you can re-sit the boot camp for free for up to one year. 

If you take an immersive boot camp, one of the most important value-adds is career coaching. This gives you professional guidance and 1:1 coaching to help build a compelling résumé, portfolio, LinkedIn profile and more. Career coaching also comes with tips for acing interviews so you can put your best foot forward with every prospective employer. 

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5. What's the full cost? Boot camp pricing and financing options 

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the full cost of boot camps and your financing options can also tip the scales in favor of one or another. Your financial assessment should take into consideration: 

• The “full” cost: When comparing boot camps, be sure you understand what’s included — and what’s not. For example, some providers may not include the exam voucher or all the training materials, which often costs hundreds of dollars. 
• Long-term value: This is an investment, but will you expect to get a return on that investment in terms of high cybersecurity salaries, professional satisfaction or some other metric? 
• Payment options and financing: Understanding how you will fund your training is essential. Will your employer pay, will you self-pay or finance with an organization like Affirm or some other method? 

6. What's the enrollment process? Preparing for boot camp success 

Finally, you want to consider the enrollment process. Getting into the boot camp may require some prerequisites. For instance, you may have to learn certain things before getting into the program or before applying for the certification.  

It's important to manage your expectations as to what you'll get out of the boot camp and the amount of pre-work you must do. This means you must be realistic, especially when needing prior technical knowledge. 

Also, live and immersive boot camps have a “live” component to them, so you’ll have to enroll in a scheduled training with other students. With a self-paced boot camp, you can start at any time on your schedule.  

Making your decision: Boot camp comparison takeaways 

By selecting the right cybersecurity boot camp, you give yourself a distinct edge in the job market and when it comes to earning important certifications. The key to choosing the right one is consolidating all your research so you can compare them side-by-side. 

You should also develop a checklist of the criteria most important to you and see which boot camps meet your needs. Additional factors may play a role as well, such as the boot camp's physical location, flexibility with your learning schedule, and whether the company offers exam pass guarantees. 

With this guide in hand, you have everything you need to make a well-informed decision. By carefully examining the credentials and contents of each boot camp on your list, you can find one that aligns with your career goals and provides the necessary support and features.