Evolve Security Academy
Evolve Security Academy Overview and Guide
Evolve Security Academy is a Chicago-based cyber security bootcamp for aspiring and experienced cyber security experts. While it’s only one of the many cyber security bootcamps in existence, Evolve Security Academy sets itself apart through the services and quality of education it offers. We’ll cover all of this in our Evolve Security Academy review blow.
Expect to learn more about the bootcamp’s curricula, its unique apprenticeship program, financing options, and more.
What You Need to Know About Evolve Security Academy
Evolve Security Academy offers cyber security bootcamp programs, each with an intensive curriculum that is followed rigorously throughout the program. Evolve Security Academy makes its programs accessible by sticking to a part-time learning format that’s held in-person and online. Note that due to the pandemic, in-person classes have been suspended.
- Cost: Part-Time (in-person): $14,500, Part-time (remote) $12,500
- Schedules: Part-Time
- Courses Offered: Cybersecurity Security Fundamentals, In-person Cybersecurity Bootcamp, Remote Cybersecurity Bootcamp, OSCP Bootcamp
- Upcoming Start Dates: April 2021, June 2021, August 2021, October 2021
Evolve Security Academy Curricula: What Can You Study?
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Evolve Security Academy is one of the most intensive cyber security bootcamps in the tech industry. It offers four programs, all of which are designed to hone students into professional cyber security experts.
Cybersecurity Fundamentals
As the title implies, this is an introductory course to cyber security. Covering six modules, this program lays out the foundations of cyber security and walks you through the basics of Linux, computer networking, and ethical hacking.
As the program moves forward, you will also learn how to create your personal home lab so you can continue learning outside of class. During class, you get access to use the school’s CyberLAB simulation platform to give you that real-life cyber security experience.
The Cybersecurity Fundamentals is also a prerequisite to those who wish to attend Evolve Security Academy’s immersive programs.
Cybersecurity In-Person Bootcamp
As far as a full-course meal goes, this is the main dish. The Cybersecurity In-Person Bootcamp takes place in Chicago and runs part-time for 20 weeks. The first four weeks of the program are conducted through live online instruction. The remaining 16 weeks are held in person in the Evolve Security Headquarters.
This bootcamp program offers an extensive curriculum. You’ll learn about security program management, scripting for security, security operations architecture and threat modeling, cryptography, and threat hunting.
The curriculum also extends to hands-on technical labs, one-on-one competency assessments, job preparation, and a security apprenticeship. During the apprenticeship, you’ll find yourself conducting a security assessment for a non-governmental organization using the Evolve Security services methodology.
Remote (Live-Online) Cybersecurity Bootcamp
This program follows the same curriculum as the Cybersecurity In-Person Bootcamp. The only differences are that this program is held remotely, and it’s cheaper than the in-person program. The program requires 320 total hours of live training and 88 hours for homework within 20 weeks.
OSCP Bootcamp
The OSCP bootcamp is a little different from the others. It is designed for people who want to become Offensive Security Certified Professionals. The OSCP certification is a must-have for those who want to specialize in ethical hacking and progress into senior-level penetration tester roles.
While the typical preparation period for the OSCP exam lasts between six months and a year, Evolve Security Academy’s OSCP Bootcamp trains its students in under five months. It also gives students access to its CyberLAB even after the bootcamp program. This way, they can keep practicing before sitting the certification exam.
Evolve Security Campuses: Where Can You Study?
Evolve Security has an on-site campus in Chicago and a fully functional remote program.
- Chicago
- Online
Evolve Security Academy Schedules: When Can You Study?
Full-Time
Evolve Security Academy does not have a full-time schedule. All the classes are designed part-time and held at night to meet the needs of working professionals.
Part-Time
All classes at Evolve Security Academy are part-time. Classes are from Mondays to Thursdays from 7pm to 9pm, and every other Saturday from 10am to 3pm.
Flex
There is no self-paced program at Evolve Security Academy, but you still get to enjoy some degree of flexibility through its part-time schedule.
Evolve Security Academy Tuition
The tuition at Evolve Security Academy ranges between $12,500 and $14,500. These are payable through one of three payment options. One can also apply for scholarships or settle their payments with the GI Bill.
Evolve Security Academy Financing and Payment Options
- Upfront Payment: Students who opt for upfront payment need to make the full payment on or before the first day of school. If you choose the upfront payment option, you will get a $250 discount on your tuition.
- Loan Financing: Evolve Security Academy has partnered with Skills Fund to provide loans to students who cannot afford to pay upfront. Skills Fund offers one of two repayment options: interest-only and deferred-tuition. Only US citizens and permanent residents can apply for a Skills Fund loan.
- Installment: The installment option allows you to split your payment into two. Pay 50 percent before classes start and the remaining 50 percent by week 10 of the program. Don’t opt for this plan if you have no guaranteed way of paying the second installment.
- Scholarships: Evolve Security Academy offers merit-based scholarships to students with exceptional skills. The application process involves writing a compelling essay that explains why you deserve the scholarship. Veterans can also use their GI Bill benefits to cover part of their tuition at Evolve Security Academy.
Evolve Security Academy Admissions: How to Get In
The school has a six-step admission process that you must complete before you can start classes. In the past, the entire process was a combination of online and in-person activities. Now, everything takes place online until further notice.
Evolve Security Academy Application
Visit the official website of Evolve Security Academy and fill out an online application form. Don’t forget to write your contact details, so the school can reach out to you with more instructions about the interview, which is the second step.
This is followed by a review by the admissions board, acceptance stage, enrollment, and completion of the prep bootcamp program.
Evolve Security Academy Interview
In-person interviews are currently unavailable, so the advisor will schedule a telephone interview with you. During the interview, they will ask about your background, education, availability, and any prior experience in cyber security.
If you don’t have any, don’t fret. The prep bootcamp program will give you the foundational knowledge you’ll need to keep up with the immersive program. What’s more important during the interview is to show how committed you are to undergo intensive training and see it through.
Evolve Security Academy Admission Rate: What Are My Chances of Getting In?
Evolve Security Academy does not publish its admissions rate. However, the school is likely to have an extremely selective process as reflected in how small its class sizes are with about only six students per cohort.
To increase your chances of getting into Evolve Security Academy, you must brush up on your knowledge of cyber security. Consider taking a free online course before turning in your application. This will give you an edge during the interview.
Evolve Security Academy Outcomes: Will I Find a Job?
There are no job guarantees at Evolve Security Academy, but your chances of getting a job after graduation are high especially if you undergo the apprenticeship program. So far, several graduates from the bootcamp have gotten jobs in places like IBM and Accenture. Some grads have also gotten jobs at Evolve Security right after graduation.
Job Placement Services at Evolve Security Academy
Evolve Security Academy has a job placement rate of 94 percent. According to a 2020 report from the company, most students get cyber security roles and related positions within six months from graduation.
Students who already had cyber security jobs before attending the bootcamp reportedly got a 48 percent salary increase afterward, with salaries averaging at $65,000 per year.
Should You Apply to Evolve Security Academy?
Applying to Evolve Security Academy may be an excellent choice if your goal is to start a cyber security career in less than a year. Below are other factors you need to consider.
- Merit-based Scholarship: There aren’t many bootcamps that provide fully funded merit-based scholarships to students. Some bootcamps offer external scholarships, while others only offer a discount. With the right skills, you can get a full-ride scholarship at Evolve Security Academy.
- Cyber Security Demand. There are thousands of vacant cyber security positions in the United States, and they’re not limited to tech companies alone. You can work in any company that relies on big data and needs security.
- Apprenticeship: All of Evolve Security Academy’s bootcamp programs include an apprenticeship program. During the program, students complete assignments using real-world information from companies in need of cyber security services.
This is a great addition to your resume to demonstrate your ability to expertly apply your technical skills in the workplace.
Evolve Security Academy provides a faster yet equally viable alternative to a college education. Instead of spending years in school, the fast-paced bootcamp programs speed up your timeline.
With a high graduation rate and a job placement rate of 94 percent, Evolve Security Academy is a good choice for people who want to pursue a career in cyber security and related fields.
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$0-$12,500Programs Available
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9 Reviews
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Anonymous
I was part of the PRO cohort (in-person) and it has changed my perception of the security industry. From someone with limited to no experience in the field before the bootcamp, it was fast paced and challenging, but even more rewarding when you finally understood the concepts introduced. The instructors and TAs demonstrate exceptional knowledge of IT and security as well as provide further instructions when needed, but without spoiling the lab or experience. I personally enjoyed the real-life experience the most as we had the opportunity to work with a not-for-profit organization and had to deliver a real security assessment. The job support was a large part of the final weeks and really pays off for the most ambitious students as they will most likely all land jobs within the next few months after completing the cohort, at least that was my and my classmates’ experience as we all have jobs as analysts or consultants. I will finish this review by saying that students that are willing to learn and put in the effort will definitely have a rewarding experience, and grow both personally and professionally.
April 20, 2019
Anonymous
Learned so much! Course curriculum and all other covered topics were relevant and very applicable to mainstream trends and issues.
April 23, 2019
Anonymous
Evolve Security Academy is the #1 cyber security bootcamp in the world for a reason. The instructors are top-notch and often the ones who create the curriculum. Through the program, I was able to drink from the source, literally, and meet and learn from the pros in the industry in a casual, face to face setting. The Evolve experience helped me significantly in taking my CompTia certification, but went way beyond just that. I also greatly appreciated the game-changing tool set of skills and languages and the real-life, hands on training, which gave me an edge on my job interviews. Overall, I must say that this is the best investment in my future that I’ve ever made.
June 20, 2019
Anonymous
Evolve Security Academy remote boot camp. A zero regret experience.
I graduated from the 2018 remote cohort and also took the Practical Penetration Testing Course early in 2019. The latter? Excellent. In this review, I focus on the former.
The boot camp had many strong points, including the jocularity, the banter, the fun with the other students. But I will emphasize the two most important.
1) The two lead instructors.
The first gave us a gold mine of information security theory and real life stories, many which had an “insider” flavor. A glimpse at the real industry, the shocking facts, the breaches, the enemy moves, the truths the news buries. He inspired and invigorated. The second gave us the clarity, detail and guidance to get our newly gained information off the ground and put it to practical use in real world scenarios, including our final project for a real company. He launched and equipped. The complementary strengths of the two instructors made the camp balanced, thorough, and exciting. I came for a challenge. Check. The icing on the cake? Boot camp became the highlight of each day.
2) The course materials.
The academy covers everything from A to Z. Physical security. Network security. Policy. Cryptography. Social engineering. To name a few. Lectures, labs, common and unusual tools, real-world experience, and best of all, access to the minds of industry leaders who walk the walk.
On the “con” side, I pour cold water, not on Evolve Academy, but on a mindset I had. If you share my former mindset, this warning is for you. Again, to be perfectly clear, it’s no negative reflection on Evolve, but a chill to the naive mental flames looking, without the right background, to boot camp as a magic key to success.
Coming into boot camp, I had tech knowledge but lacked real world experience. I knew I had an uphill battle. Therefore, I worked diligently at boot camp. Very diligently. I finished with good grades, an inside lead from an instructor, encouragement, help from the academy, references, etc. And I’ve continued to study, refine my resume and apply to countless jobs. I even relocated from a rural area to a metro one for better job exposure. All to no avail. (I hope to report a change to this eventually, but as the unsuccessful job applications mount, I’ve lost my early optimism.) Boot camp just didn’t kick the career door open. As much as I enjoyed the boot camp, all the effort I spent has ended up being a waste (to date). The warning? Expect to need something more than boot camp to break into cyber security. Background in a different tech area. A four year tech degree.
These sour grapes being set out as a disclaimer, I urge those with the right background — ninjas, experienced, etc. — not to wait. Enroll in Evolve today. You’ll have ZERO regrets.
July 24, 2019
Anonymous
I highly recommend Evolve to enhance cyber security expertise at any stage of your career. Personally, attending Evolve was pivotal for my sector switch into more hands-on work in cyber and incident response. In fact, Evolve instructors helped me identify IR as a potential professional path. Students from both technical and non-technical backgrounds will benefit and as with any program, the more time you put in the more you will get out of it. The instructors and staff are 200% dedicated to your success and are genuinely open and supportive. My only recommendation would be to carve out enough time and energy to focus on the coursework and take advantage of the tremendous resources they offer.
July 26, 2019
Anonymous
I started this cybersecurity Bootcamp not having much knowledge what so ever (I must admit I was pretty intimated at first). After just a few weeks into the Bootcamp, I was able to confidently and fluently converse with others using IT Jargon commonly found in the industry. I can’t say enough about the great instructors that made this experience fun, enjoyable and most importantly brought a surplus of knowledge from the public and private sector of the ever-growing IT corporate world. The instructor and his teaching assistants were highly attentive when students ran into a problem in the homework or labs. This Bootcamp also offers office hours before and after class, which was helpful when needing to prepare your VM for labs and assignments covered in the lectures.
I highly recommend this Bootcamp for anyone that is looking to truly improve themselves and further their career into a high growth industry. Lastly, I want to note that I took this course while working a full-time 9-5 job. It may seem like a daunting task to juggle both (and at times it could be), but our great instructor and an incredibly supportive cast of students made it much easier and manageable. The one thing that attracted me to the Bootcamp was the high rate of job placement. Many students were landing jobs mid-way through the cohort and everyone felt like the interviews were quite easy compared to the vast knowledge they had gained through the Bootcamp. The instructors also make it a priority to continuously ask interview questions throughout the Bootcamp to further prepare you for interviews.
I took time to look at a few cybersecurity Bootcamps, but ultimately chose Evolve Security (and very glad I did) !!!!
August 11, 2019
Anonymous
Want to get in cyber security career? Evolve Academy is the right place. Had and extensive training that covers most of cyber security industry topics. Trainers are experts in this domain so all my questions were answered at the highest leveI. Even if you don’t understand something this guys will make sure you do. Highly recommend this place, specially PRO boot camp if you want to get more in-depth training.
Job hunting module that is part of curriculum was super helpful and landed me in a job just after graduation so I am enormously grateful for that to Evolve Cyber Security Academy.
Keep it up!
August 24, 2019
Anonymous
The staff has an incredible way of taking complex concepts and breaking them down into digestible bits. Coming into the course without any experience in the field, I can attest to the initial difficulty of what is going to be learned. However, the staff is willing to put forth the time and effort to ensure you grasp a solid understanding of the material.
August 29, 2019
Anonymous
As a person who really thrives in a learning environment with instruction and support, I knew that it would be important for me to find a program that would offer me what I need. Initially, I was worried about the online learning environment and felt that it might be alienating. In fact, I think our class ended up being more social and connected than an IRL one because of the way the Zoom classroom is setup – we all face each other, literally. I made friends and possibly future colleagues. So, the social support component of this program is not to be underestimated. I really think the coursework is well designed. There are some hiccups here and there but honestly those difficulties seemed like a natural part of the learning process. I was super grateful to have plentiful career prep conversations, both with instructors as well as other classmates. I’ve met some really great people through Evolve’s network and I honestly feel I have earned a solid foundation for my entry into infosec.
October 6, 2019