NYCEDC and Fullstack Academy Launch Cyber Bootcamp to Strengthen Cybersecurity Workforce in NYC
Program Offers Low-Income New Yorkers Access to Cybersecurity Careers with Full-Tuition Scholarships
First Cohort Currently Underway for 24 Students; Applications Open for September Program
NEW YORK, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Fullstack Academy, one of the longest-running and most successful technology bootcamps in the nation, have announced the launch of the Fullstack Cyber Bootcamp. Eligible New Yorkers will receive a full-tuition Cyber NYC Bootcamp Scholarship in an effort to increase access to cybersecurity career opportunities for low-income students and professionals in New York City. The first Cyber Bootcamp cohort began earlier this month with 24 students who received full-tuition scholarships.
The announcement of the Fullstack Cyber Bootcamp is part of Fullstack Academy’s existing partnership with NYCEDC and its Cyber NYC program, a $100 million public-private investment to make New York City a global leader in cybersecurity and create 10,000 jobs.
“NYCEDC is building a new generation of cyber talent in New York City,” said NYCEDC President and CEO James Patchett. “Through Cyber NYC, Fullstack Academy’s Cyber Bootcamp will prepare students and young professionals from diverse backgrounds for local jobs in cybersecurity. NYCEDC is excited to be part of this ambitious initiative, which will close the readiness gap and deliver good paying, in-demand jobs for New Yorkers.”
“The potential impact for New York City in building its cybersecurity workforce is significant, but it can only be achieved by broadening access to education,” said Nimit Maru, co-founder, Fullstack Academy. “Thanks to our partnership with NYCEDC, we’re helping to realize this potential and fuel the local economy.”
“With the Cyber Bootcamp, we’re taking students from novice to in-demand cybersecurity professional in just 17 weeks; from there, we can connect students with local employers to begin making meaningful progress toward the Cyber NYC goal,” added David Yang, co-founder, Fullstack Academy.
The $7.8 million partnership between NYCEDC and Fullstack Academy, a certified MBE and a subsidiary of Zovio, includes over $2 million in scholarships to 150 students with diverse backgrounds who come through LaGuardia Community College’s Cyber Bootcamp Bridge program. Through the Bridge program students will receive professional development and career counseling servicing in addition to training in the fundamentals of cyber security that will enable their success in the Fullstack Bootcamp and cybersecurity careers thereafter. Students admitted into the Bridge program will be eligible to attend both the Bridge and the Bootcamp for free.
The Fullstack Cyber Bootcamp program qualifies students for two specific cybersecurity roles—Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst and Penetration Tester. The curriculum includes lectures, workshops, red team/blue team training, and hands-on cyber-attack simulations. The 17-week, full-time program will teach both “red team” (offense) and “blue team” (defense) skills and will train students to use state-of-the-art cybersecurity tools, as well as for multiple advanced cybersecurity certifications.
“Cybersecurity is growing at a rapid pace, with both the private and public sectors making critical investments in talent and innovation,” said John Paul Farmer, New York City’s Chief Technology Officer. “I’m excited about the City’s partnership with Fullstack Academy, whose accelerated training program will serve as a launchpad for students and professionals interested in good-paying, in-demand jobs in this growing field.”
“The Fullstack Academy Cyber Bootcamp is an excellent opportunity for NYC’s tech students to fine tune their skills in the burgeoning cybersecurity industry,” said City Council Member Peter Koo, former Chair of the Technology Committee. “Thank you to EDC and Fullstack Academy for their partnership and commitment to ensuring our local NYC tech talent receives the resources it needs to succeed.”
"In this 21st century era, continuously finding new and innovative ways to rise and meet the challenges that cybersecurity threats present to society is critical," said City Council Member Paul Vallone, Chair of the Committee on Economic Development. "The Fullstack Academy Cyber Bootcamp will train, certify and prepare New York City's next generation of cybersecurity professionals and launch them into highly in-demand and vital cybersecurity careers, making our City more prepared to inventively face the challenges of tomorrow."
“Fullstack Academy has the same vision of high-quality education, requiring students to earn their success, that we have at Offensive Security,” said Jim O’Gorman, Chief Strategy Officer, Offensive Security. “We are proud to have Penetration Testing with Kali Linux and the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certification be part of their new Cyber Bootcamp, and excited to see the success of the program as it opens new doors for the students and brings needed talent into an understaffed industry.”
Accepted students begin with the Foundations program, which is an online course aimed at ensuring every student enters the bootcamp at the same skill level. The second phase is the on-campus program that prepares students to be Penetration Testers (red team skills). In the final six-week phase of the program, students will learn blue team skills, which will qualify them to work as Security Operations Center (SOC) Analysts.
Throughout the program, Fullstack’s Career Success team will prepare New Yorkers to fill an anticipated 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings by 2021. The team will provide guidance on optimizing resumes and LinkedIn profiles, interview preparation, and networking opportunities. Graduates will also benefit from ongoing access to Fullstack Academy to stay motivated on the job search, craft cover letters, correspond with recruiters, and negotiate offers.
Applications are currently open for prospective students who meet NYCEDC requirements and are interested in joining the next cohort that begins September 2, 2019. Fullstack Academy and NYCEDC will award 12 full-tuition scholarships for the September cohort. The deadline for applicants who qualify for the scholarship is July 21, and all other applicants may apply by August 19. Attendees in the September cohort, and future cohorts, may not all be full-tuition scholarship-eligible students.
To learn more about the Fullstack Cyber Bootcamp and the application process, please visit https://cyber.fullstackacademy.com.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation creates shared prosperity across New York City’s five boroughs by strengthening neighborhoods and creating good jobs. NYCEDC works with and for communities to provide them with the resources they need to thrive, and we invest in projects that increase sustainability, support job growth, develop talent, and spark innovation to strengthen the City’s competitive advantage. To learn more about our work and initiatives, please visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
About Fullstack Academy
Fullstack Academy opened in 2013, after co-founders David Yang and Nimit Maru opted to devote themselves full-time to building a coding school. Since then, they’ve expanded to Chicago and established the Grace Hopper Program, the first all-women coding bootcamp in the nation to offer deferred tuition. Fullstack Academy and Grace Hopper Program graduates have gone on to work at Google, Facebook, Amazon, various Fortune 100 firms, and countless start-ups. Fullstack Academy is a subsidiary of Zovio. More details can be found at http://www.fullstackacademy.com or at http://www.gracehopper.com. For more information, contact Emily Rose Prats at [email protected].
