How a cybersecurity boot camp helped me gain confidence and expand my career

Data is everywhere, and it's not as secure as many of us think. There are regulations and compliance requirements meant to protect us online, but they aren't doing enough.

In fact, last year saw a 78% increase in the number of data compromises — an all-time high. I want to help people with these security challenges. I want to support organizations as they address data theft, mistreatment and fraud, especially for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who are too often susceptible to online abuse. I want to make the internet safer for everyone. And the best way to start was to sign up for a cybersecurity boot camp.

The next step in a cybersecurity career

Before my boot camp, I had been in the information security field for two years with a wonderful company, PG Forsta. I loved my work, which ranged from managing a queue of phishing reports to learning to identify tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs), indicators of compromise (IOCs) and indicators of attacks (IOAs). I also built automations to improve detection and response times. I could spend hours going down rabbit holes on vulnerability management, cloud infrastructure and password breaches. 

When I learned the Infosec Ethical Hacking Dual Certification Boot Camp could help me earn my CompTIA PenTest+ and EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certifications, I knew it would help expand my career into other areas.

I also felt it was important for me to become certified. Some people believe you should leave your identity at home — clock in, do your job, clock out — and whatever you do on your own time is your private business. But that attitude prevents people from being themselves at work and discounts their experiences. In technology, that can lead to propagating normative attitudes in customer-facing applications, and it diminishes the very harmful impacts of targeted online harassment and abuse.

As a pansexual, non-binary person, I know how meaningful it is for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to have a visible presence in the industry. For many LGBTQIA+ people, the internet is the sole place where we can live authentically, and yet, it’s still not safe. Cybersecurity needs to hear more from us (and our allies!) because it’s only through many loud voices that we draw attention to online bullying, DDoS attacks against LGBTQIA+ resources and data breaches that are actually targeted hate crimes.

Ultimately, I chose the Ethical Hacking Boot Camp because I feel a calling in information security. Infosec is more than just checking boxes on compliance audits and preventing phishing attempts. It’s about protecting people.  

Making the personal professional

The Ethical Hacking Boot Camp explores the multiple domains covered under the EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and CompTIA PenTest+ exams. That Infosec found a way to offer these certifications together in an intensive five-day boot camp was incredibly attractive. In addition to applying to the boot camp, I applied for (and received!) an Infosec Accelerate Scholarship.

Beyond the skills I would acquire at the boot camp, I considered how the CEH and PenTest+ certifications would benefit my career. They would open doors to new opportunities, but more than that, I imagined myself being able to sit at any security table and have something valuable to say.

I love my work, but as a non-binary, out-and-proud person, I sometimes struggle to feel like I belong. Not entirely believing in yourself can influence how others perceive you, too. Certification would prove to myself and others that I have what it takes to make a difference in this space.

Long days, lots of knowledge

For all of its benefits, the process was still daunting. Taking time off work and putting everything aside to dive deep into cybersecurity topics for a week was exciting, but it was a lot. And what if I went through it all and didn’t pass the exams? Fortunately, Infosec offers an Exam Pass Guarantee: if I didn’t pass either exam on my first attempt, I’d be offered a second chance at training and the exam — at no extra cost. 

That sealed it for me: I could do this.

The team at Infosec was great from the start, and they were as excited about my journey as I was. They explained the value behind each training I was considering and how it could further my goals. Their enthusiasm was a great motivation throughout the boot camp.

We had a lot of material to cover, so the days were long, from 10:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. The first part of the day was devoted to lectures. In the second part, we applied what we learned and put our ethical hacking skills to the test in the simulated environment. The long-term benefits started on day one when our instructor invited us to an awesome Discord server where we could access educational resources and engage with other security professionals.

The boot camp gave me the knowledge to pass both certification exams, and today, I’m an information security engineer and Certified Ethical Hacker. 

Gaining a stronger, more skilled voice

The biggest benefit of the Ethical Hacking Boot Camp is how it’s made me feel: I know I’m a subject-matter expert whose voice deserves to be heard on any security topic. I’ve achieved my vision of being able to bring a trans voice to any security conversation — something the LGBTQIA+ community and the industry both need. People reach out on LinkedIn and say, “It’s great to see a trans person make big moves in the security industry!” I’m proud to provide that visibility.

The boot camp became an opportunity to generalize in my career instead of having to pick a niche. Yes, these certifications look great on a resume, but more importantly, they look good to organizations that might not have access to an in-house cybersecurity team. Now, I can share my expertise with 501(c) organizations like The Trevor Project, LGBTQIA+ resource centers at public universities or anyone else who lacks the funding or expertise to undertake a major security overhaul.

The Ethical Hacking Boot Camp gave me the skills to lead an organization through testing and remediation — and close their security gaps to protect them from the biggest challenges in the digital space. I have the certifications to assure them they can trust me.

Make the investment in yourself

Having “CEH” next to your name doesn’t mean much to some people, but it means a lot to those in the know, including me. I put in the time and effort to invest in myself, and I feel like I couldn’t have done any better.

To someone considering the Ethical Hacking Boot Camp, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s one of the best things you’ll do for your career. Take the time, make the investment and swim in that world. It’s been transformative for me, not just as an engineer, but also as a person. I share Infosec’s vision of making the digital world a better place by putting people at the center of cybersecurity. I wanted to make the internet safer for everyone, and now I have the expertise to do it.