Evolve Security: Find Top Courses & Training Locations

Evolves’s boot camps include more than fifty sub-topics in one immersive, extensive program. The school includes an apprenticeship for each student and offers extensive job placement support.

At Evolve Security Academy, students develop hands-on experience in cybersecurity. The school was co-founded in 2015 by partners Paul Petefish, a cybersecurity professional and entrepreneur, and Andrew Hamilton, a financial analyst. Since its inception in Chicago’s 1871 co-working space, the school and its related direct cybersecurity services business has expanded into their own dedicated headquarters in Chicago with offices across the US. In 2019, Newsweek named Evolve Security Academy in their Top Technical Schools. In 2021, the school released a “State of the Cybersecurity Workforce” report offering guidance on the current landscape of and future trends in cybersecurity for businesses and industry professionals. Evolve Security Academy emphasizes personal connections and community support, and students in their cybersecurity bootcamp provide security services to nonprofits before graduation.

School Locations

From the beginning, Evolve Security has made its home in Chicago. The school has since relocated from 1871, but its new headquarters is now just a few blocks away from its original location in downtown Chicago. In-person students can attend classes steps from the Chicago River, conveniently located near several hotels, restaurants, and public transportation, including several bus stops and the Washington/Wells L station.

Subjects Taught at Evolve Security

Evolve Security Academy focuses exclusively on teaching students cybersecurity, with an emphasis on penetration testing. Other training centers also provide top-notch instruction in cybersecurity, both in-person and online. Prospective students can compare their education options with Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool, which shares listings for cybersecurity classes and bootcamps.

What Classes Are Available?

Evolve Security Academy runs a preparatory program and two bootcamps. Students in the Cybersecurity Fundamentals course get an orientation to the industry, its major tools, and the cybersecurity workflow. Students work with Linux and computer networking, build their own cybersecurity lab at home, and practice solving problems on the school’s simulation platform. In Cybersecurity Bootcamp, students continue their orientation to cybersecurity, expanding their education in computer networking before diving into cybersecurity strategies, open-source intelligence, cybersecurity threats (including Advanced Persistent Threats), offensive and defensive security, cryptography, and best practices for incident response. Advanced cybersecurity students can study in the school’s OSCP Bootcamp to prepare for their Offensive Security Certified Professional exam. Students in this course gain practice in examining applications, networks, and systems, looking for vulnerabilities and locating threats. In addition, students develop familiarity with using the tools for penetration testing and with the protocols for reporting on pentest results.

Class Formats

Evolve Security Academy offers both in-person and live online bootcamps, as well as their on-demand Cybersecurity Fundamentals course. The Cybersecurity Bootcamp runs for 20 weeks on a part-time, evenings-and-weekends schedule, either in-person in Chicago or live online. Students in the Cybersecurity Bootcamp earn 290 CPE hours and receive a free voucher to take the CompTIA Security+ certification exam. The OSCP Bootcamp runs for 18 weeks on a part-time, weekday-evenings schedule, live online only. Students in this course earn 240 CPE hours and two vouchers to take the OSCP exam. Bootcamp instructors are all cybersecurity professionals currently working in the industry, and students maintain access to the Evolve Security Academy CyberLAB after graduation for continued practice.

Admissions Process

In order to apply for either bootcamp, students must complete an online admissions application. Cybersecurity Bootcamp applicants will then participate in a personal and technical interview to assess the candidate’s learning abilities and familiarity with computer systems. Having studied the Cybersecurity Fundamentals course can give students a technical boost for the interview. Applicants to the OSCP Bootcamp must be advanced students of cybersecurity, having either graduated from Cybersecurity Bootcamp, a college or graduate degree in the computer sciences, relevant CompTIA certifications, or at least three years of industry experience. The Cybersecurity Fundamentals course is open to all learners.

Pricing & Payment Options

Tuition for Evolve Security Academy bootcamps runs in the range of $9,250-$14,500, depending on the course and the mode of instruction. Students can finance their tuition through Ascent. Merit-based partial scholarships are available, and the school works with the GI Bill. The Cybersecurity Fundamentals course is completely free.

Career Support Services

Students in the Cybersecurity Bootcamp begin receiving intensive career support in the final units of the course. One unit is dedicated to a hands-on apprenticeship, during which students provide supervised security assessment for a nonprofit client. The final unit is dedicated to participating in career coaching and mock interviews, preparing job application materials, and networking with alumni and employers. In addition, all bootcamps students receive support for taking the relevant cybersecurity certification exam to credential their training.

Alumni Outcomes

Evolve Security Academy advertises that 94% of their alumni land jobs within six months of graduation. In addition, the school says that their alumni’s “median total compensation” clocks in at $68,000. The school details their outcome metrics on their FAQ page.

What Do Students Say?

Since 2015, alumni from Evolve Security Academy have been sharing their experiences studying in the school’s programs. Graduates appreciate the helpful and collaborative learning atmosphere, the supportive instructors and career staff, and the structure of the curriculum, especially the fact that courses are offered on a part-time schedule. Students also positively review the hands-on learning, both in the practice labs and from each other. One graduate shared, “Being able to work through boxes together with people from different backgrounds and skills levels was an invaluable experience that truly changed the way I approach boxes and my overall penetration testing methodology.” The workload is intense and the pace is intensive, which can be daunting for students new to the field. “It is a lot of information within a relatively short period of time,” as one graduate said, “but if you stick with it and stay up on the course materials and labs, by the end, you will see it all come together.”

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Collaborative learning environment helps students build community
Hands-on learning enables students to develop practical experience for the workforce
Knowledgeable and supportive instructors guide students through the curriculum

Cons:

The intensive pace can be challenging, especially for students who are also working
No full scholarships are available for students who are not studying on the GI Bill
Student outcomes are not independently verified

Top Courses at Evolve Security

Find the perfect course for you at Evolve Security. We’ve selected 3 of Evolve Security’s most popular courses. View the course catalog at evolvesecurity.com

Cybersecurity Bootcamp
Beginners can take this class that starts with the core principles for cybersecurity: CIA (Confidentiality/Integrity/Availability), Defense-in-Depth, Authentication, and Authorization. Participants also learn about networking communications systems and security...
Locations:
- Chicago
- $14,000
- 20 Weeks
- See provider
- Beginner
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Cybersecurity Bootcamp
Beginners can take this class that starts with the core principles for cybersecurity: CIA (Confidentiality/Integrity/Availability), Defense-in-Depth, Authentication, and Authorization. Participants also learn about networking communications systems and security...
Locations:
- Live Online
- $12,500
- 20 Weeks
- See provider
- Beginner
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OSCP Bootcamp
As an OSCP exam prep course, students are provided with the information they need to know to pass their test. Topics covered include PTES, Bash and PowerShell scripting, PowerShell Empire, Port tunneling, and proxy chains. Additionally, participants study...
Locations:
- Live Online
- $7,250
- 18 Weeks
- See provider
- Beginner
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showing 3 of 3 courses

Subjects Taught at Evolve Security

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity refers to the protection of internet-connected assets. These assets can include servers, systems, hardware, software, and data. Cybersecurity professionals work to prevent and defend companies, governments, organizations, and individuals from cyber-attacks that seek to interrupt service or compromise data. These experts must stay informed about new technologies and threats.

In-Person Cybersecurity Classes Live Online Cybersecurity Classes Cybersecurity Bootcamps

Featured Classes from Noble Desktop

Top Certificate Programs

Top Courses

Featured Classes from Noble Desktop

Top Certificate Programs

Featured Classes from Noble Desktop

Top Certificate Programs

Top Courses

Featured Classes from Noble Desktop

Top Certificate Programs

Top Courses

Evolve Security

School Locations

Subjects Taught at Evolve Security

What Classes Are Available?

Class Formats

Admissions Process

Pricing & Payment Options

Career Support Services

Alumni Outcomes

What Do Students Say?

Pros & Cons

Top Courses at Evolve Security

Cybersecurity Bootcamp

Cybersecurity Bootcamp

OSCP Bootcamp

Subjects Taught at Evolve Security

Cybersecurity

Map of Evolve Security Locations