With cybersecurity becoming an increasingly lucrative field, you might be thinking about switching career paths but unsure where to start. Do you go back to college, spend another tens of thousands of dollars on a brand new degree? If you’re just looking to get the required certifications and industry knowledge, where can you go to get everything you need and cut off anything unnecessary? It can be hard to know the next step to take when starting out, let alone what will benefit you most financially.
Fortunately, with the growing need of companies, small businesses, and even governments to protect against hackers, there’s a rising industry of educational boot camps that might just meet your needs. Cybersecurity Bootcamps are spread across the U.S., offering classes that will teach you all the Skills training group necessary to get started in months. While some programs can cost as much as a semester at a public university, attendees graduate quickly and are ready to jump into a job, usually for a much, much lower overall cost than attending a 2 or 4-year university.
Cybersecurity Bootcamps aren’t for everyone, but if you’re thinking you might want to attend one, here are a few facts that might help you determine if they’re the right fit for you.
A Brief Overview of Bootcamp Benefits
How Do Bootcamps Work?
The general gist of how Bootcamp programs work is that they’re high-intensity educational programs that run from 8 to 36 weeks, depending on the courses you choose, how you layout your schedule, and if you decide to pursue a specialization. While most Bootcamp programs will not award you an academic degree after the program has run its course, they will offer you certifications that are necessary to begin working as a Cybersecurity Consultant.
The primary benefit of attending a Bootcamp is the ability to transition quickly into a cybersecurity job; bootcamps are made to meet the growing need for organizations to defend themselves against cyberattacks, and so the goal is to get students in and out within a few months. It’s significantly faster than most college programs, providing all of the essential training and, should you choose it, training in a specialization.
How Much Will You Spend at a Bootcamp?
The cost of Bootcamp programs also tends to vary, depending on whether you’re registered as a full-time or part-time student, which provider you wind up going with, and whether you choose to take only essential classes. A 3 to 6-month program with most providers will cost you around $8,000 to $20,000, with most full-time, fully immersive programs running the higher end of the spectrum. The good news is, while this may seem like a lot, this is the cost of one semester at a university for the full Bootcamp experience, after which you’ll be completely ready to enter the workforce.
There are also options for part-time students that go below the lower end of the spectrum, costing students roughly $1,000 to $5,000 for the whole program. In order to find the option that saves you the most money, you’ll want to get a good idea of what programs are available, as different providers will have different programs to suit every kind of lifestyle. Bootcamps are made to accommodate everyone from people working day jobs and attempting to switch careers to full-time students looking to jumpstart their careers; a part-time camp might be the way to go if you’re looking for a flexible schedule and to spend the least money.
Bootcamps: A Post-Pandemic Well of Opportunity
If you’re one of the folks looking to transition careers quickly after the pandemic made you rethink some things, cybersecurity bootcamps might be right up your alley. If you’d rather take the collegiate route, never fear: some cybersecurity bootcamps are also offered through colleges. They might be the best way for you to get the certifications you need to practice your new craft.
Whatever you choose, it’s good to have an idea of the options available to you – and with cybersecurity bootcamps being one of the most competitive, cost-effective options out there and the pandemic still offering workers an opportunity to transition careers, there’s never been a better time to enroll.