The University of Kentucky Pigman College of Engineering has partnered with Fusion Cyber to offer a 100% virtual cybersecurity boot camp that prepares learners for industry roles.
The Cyber Risk Management Framework Bootcamp provides multi-week programs in cyber risk competency, educating in Risk Management Framework (RMF) and offering industry certifications in Security+, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). These independent programs are not UK credit-earning, and certificates are not UK-awarded.
The bootcamp, powered by Fusion Cyber, teaches participants how to help organizations assess their resilience, defeat attacks, and stay ahead of technological, legal and policy challenges.
According to the company, its curriculum has been vetted by Fusion Cyber's Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) board of advisors and teaches the RMF based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards, which are recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Experienced instructors and tutors provide support and leverage cutting-edge AI tools to ensure learner success.
Fusion Cyber is the brainchild of CEO and UK alumnus Christopher Etesse, who said one of the greatest values of his 100% virtual programs is the ample keyboarding experience they offer.
“This experience places them in real-world cybersecurity scenarios that they must solve using their new skills, Etesse said. “Through a 100% browser-based cyber range, students do not need a high-end PC or laptop to participate.”
Etesse, who earned his Master of Science in computer science in 1997, began laying the framework for this partnership with UK in 2022 to address the talent challenges the cybersecurity industry is facing. According to Statista, there are currently 755,000 open cyber jobs in the U.S.
Etesse said candidates need to be serious about cybersecurity, but prior IT experience isn’t required to be successful. Cyber Fusion places qualified students, lifelong learners and those making a career change into the fast-growing and high-need area of cybersecurity.
“Employers are desperate for cybersecurity candidates who can put their skills into practice,” said Etesse. “Our graduates know what it takes to build a high-functioning cybersecurity defense because they have already done it in our cyber practice range. As a result, they’re seeing significant increases in salary after finishing the program.”
Alumni of the Cyber Risk Management Bootcamp have secured positions in a variety of organizations, spanning both the public and private sectors. According to Etesse, those who have completed the bootcamp have landed roles at companies like Google and Lockheed Martin, educational institutions like MIT and George Mason University, and government agencies like the DoD, U.S. Navy and U.S. Army.
The industry certifications offered by Fusion Cyber serve as a great complement to computer science coursework and help connect participants to employers actively seeking cybersecurity professionals.
“The bootcamp offers trainings and certifications that the cybersecurity industry is looking for,” said Department of Computer Science Chair Zongming Fei. “UK Pigman College of Engineering partners with Fusion Cyber to provide a bridge connecting current and past students with the training opportunities that prepare them for the job market."
Learn more about Fusion Cyber and its cybersecurity certifications and their programs at https://apply.fusioncyber.co/kentucky/landing/
About Fusion Cyber
Fusion Cyber is comprised of leaders in online education and SaaS enterprise technologies used by over 100 million people worldwide, together with intelligence community veterans and cybersecurity practitioners. Our mission is to educate diverse groups of learners from varying backgrounds in cybersecurity, building a generational impact for their families while protecting businesses and our country. We are dedicated to helping our boot camp students achieve a successful and rewarding future.