Are you ready for a new career?
CyberWorks is a workforce development initiative to help address our nation’s critical cyber workforce shortage by preparing career-changers for new roles as cyber defense analysts. Through expert online instruction and hands-on learning, this intensive 22-week program prepares students to enter the cybersecurity workforce as Tier 1 Security Operation Center (SOC) Analysts, a position with an average starting salary of $72,229.
A life-changing opportunity
A limited number of full-tuition grants are available for those who qualify (application required) thanks to funding provided by JPMorgan Chase and a grant funded by the National Security Agency (NSA) to establish a national, certificate-based cybersecurity workforce development program called CyberSkills2Work. Most applicants are able to participate at no cost, making CyberWorks a life-changing opportunity for many participants.
A new path for underemployed and underrepresented groups
CyberWorks meets the needs of transitioning veterans, first responders and career-changers from historically underrepresented groups, such as women, people of color and people with disabilities.
Applicants should have some knowledge of computers and networking basics. The workload of these 2 online courses (Networking Fundamentals and Cyber Defense Fundamentals) is comparable to upper-level undergraduate college courses. Those ready for a career change should be prepared to make the 6-month commitment to complete the courses. We expect students to spend at least 10 to 20 hours per week dedicated to the program.
Read more on specific program topics below.
Currently, this program is open only to Florida residents over the age of 18. Candidates must be legally able to work in the United States upon program completion and must have achieved at least a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
CyberWorks is offered at no cost to Florida residents thanks to support from JP Morgan Chase and a grant funded by the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program to establish a national certificate-based cybersecurity workforce development program called CyberSkills2Work. A limited number of full-tuition grants are available for those who qualify on a first-come, first-serve basis. Application required.
CyberWorks is a 22-week hybrid course with pre-recorded online content and 3 one-hour live virtual sessions per week. The CyberWorks program includes:
- Networking Fundamentals course (6 weeks) + 3 week winter break + Cyber Defense Fundamentals course (12 weeks) = 22 week program. Online coursework includes pre-recorded seminars, virtual lab assignments, discussions, quizzes and a final examination.
- Twice a week live instructor-led evening online sessions
- Once a week virtual cybersecurity industry guest speaker lunchtime sessions
- Engaging in career development workshops and resources
- On-on-one mentorship with a career coach
- Orientation event to welcome participants to the program (in-person and virtual)
- Networking event at the end of the program (in-person)
- Participate in program evaluation surveys and interviews
- Participants who successfully complete the Networking Fundamental course and the Cyber Defense Fundamentals course will receive vouchers to take the CompTIA Networking+ exam and the CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) exam.
Networking Fundamentals
Module 1: Introduction to Networking
Module 2: Infrastructure and Documentation
Module 3: Addressing
Module 4: Protocols
Module 5: Networking Media
Module 6: Wireless Networking
Module 7: Network Architecture
Module 8: Segmentation
Module 9: Wide Area Networking
Module 10: Risk Management
Module 11: Security in Network Design
Module 12: Performance and Recovery
Cyber Defense Fundamentals
Module 1: Enterprise Threats and Vulnerabilities
Module 2: Threat Data and Intelligence
Module 3: Vulnerability Management
Module 4: Cloud Computing and Assessment Tools
Module 5: Infrastructure Controls
Module 6: Software and Hardware Assurance Best Practices
Module 7: Security Monitoring through Data Analysis
Module 8: Security Operations
Module 9: Incident Response Planning and Procedures
Module 10: Responding to a Cyber Incident
Module 11: Risk Mitigation
Module 12: Data Protection and Privacy
This 22-week hybrid course is intended to be manageable for adults working full time, but the accelerated nature of the course does demand a significant time investment. In addition to recorded seminars, online lab exercises, and quizzes, there are two one-hour live evening instructor-led class sessions and one one-hour guest speaker lunch session per week.
Participants are expected to:
- Make time to study course materials as well as outside resources as needed
- Complete all assigned coursework, including watching presentations, reviewing modules, working on virtual labs, taking quizzes, etc.
- Attend the weekly evening instructor lab sessions
- Attend the weekly virtual guest speaker sessions and/or professional development workshops
- Engage in career readiness activities and resources
- Attend an orientation session in Tampa at the start of the program
- Attend a networking event in Tampa at the end of the program
- Participate in program evaluation surveys and interviews
- Study and take the certification exam within 60 days of program completion
Participants will need consistent access to reliable internet and the following computer requirements:
For a MAC Computer:
- Must be a MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacAir, iMac (*NO IPADS*)
- No older than a 2017 edition
- With 8 GB RAM or greater
- With at least 100GB free space on the hard drive (for downloading virtual machine software, guest OS installation, and associated files)
For a WINDOWS-Based Computer:
- Running Microsoft Windows 10
- Intel- or AM-based processor (no ARM processors)
- Intel: i5 7th generation or newer with VT-x virtualization technology (at least)
- AMD: 2017 or newer processor with hypervisor technology
- 12 GB of RAM or greater
- 2.0 GHz processor speed or greater
- At least 100GB free space on the hard drive (for downloading virtual machine software, guest OS installation, and associated files)
Apply on the CyberSkills2Work website: https://cyberskills2work.org/i/ Select the following Training Program: Cyber Defense Analyst Pathway – University of South Florida: Cyber Florida
Phase 1: Eligible candidates should submit their completed application survey with required documents to be reviewed by the program staff.
Required documents that must be uploaded to complete the application include
- Current professional resume
- One recommendation letter from an unrelated individual who can speak to your academic or employment experience
- Valid photo identification
- Proof of first responder or military service documentation as applicable (for those applying for the New Skills for a New Fight cohort)
Phase 2: Once your complete application package is received, program staff will schedule a virtual interview.
Phase 3: Selected candidates are notified of acceptance and enrollment paperwork is initiated.
PROGRAM QUICK FACTS
Applications open on 16 July 2023. The deadline to apply is 16 September 2023.
Cost: A limited number of full-tuition grants are available for those who qualify on a first-come, first-serve basis. Priority consideration will be given to veterans, first responders, and members of underrepresented groups. Application required.
Schedule: The Networking+ segment runs October 30 – December 14; CySA+ segment runs January 8 – March 30.
Outcome: Students who successfully complete the course will receive vouchers to take the CompTIA Networking+ and CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) exams at no cost.
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Jason Lewis is a 2007 graduate of Clemson University’s PhD in computer science program. After graduation, he entered law enforcement, first in Atlanta and then Denver. While in Denver, Dr. Lewis served on the Colorado Electronic Crimes Task Force, which was hosted by the United States Secret Service. After medically retiring from law enforcement in 2013, Dr. Lewis returned to academia at the University of Colorado Denver, where he designed their first digital forensics certificate program. In 2015, Dr. Lewis moved to the United States Virgin Islands where he took an appointment with the University of the Virgin Islands’ Department of Computer & Computational Sciences program as an assistant professor. During Dr. Lewis’ three years at the University of the Virgin Islands, he ushered in the University’s first degree in cybersecurity and designed the program’s five foundational courses. Dr. Lewis took a position with the University of South Florida’s Department of Computer Science & Engineering in August of 2018, with the task of helping to lead their new cybersecurity bachelor’s program. In 2020, Dr Lewis joined the faculty at Florida Southern College as an assistant professor of computer science and lead of the cybersecurity program.
This program is funded in part by the National Security Agency National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) Program under grant NCAE-C-003-2020.