Cybersecurity
Operational security, system hardening, threat detection, incident response, and compliance fundamentals.
Program Overview
The Cybersecurity program focuses on building defensive security skills, understanding threats, and learning how to protect systems and data.
Students learn security fundamentals, system hardening, threat detection, incident response, and practice implementing security controls and monitoring systems in real environments.
This program prepares students for roles in security operations, security engineering, and compliance.
Core Skills
Security Fundamentals
- CIA triad and security principles
- Threat modeling and risk assessment
- Authentication and authorization
- Cryptography basics and PKI
System Hardening
- Operating system security configuration
- Patch management and updates
- Firewall rules and network segmentation
- Secure service configuration
Threat Detection & Response
- Log analysis and monitoring with SIEM
- Intrusion detection systems
- Incident response procedures
- Threat intelligence integration
Vulnerability Management
- Vulnerability scanning and assessment
- Risk prioritization and remediation
- Security testing and validation
- Compliance and audit preparation
Certification Pathways
Students are prepared for security certifications including:
- CompTIA Security+ certification
- CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst)
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)
High Plains Technology Initiative provides grant assistance for certification exam costs for eligible participants.
Real-World Projects
Students work on practical security projects such as:
- Hardening Linux and Windows server environments
- Implementing security monitoring and alerting systems
- Conducting vulnerability assessments and remediation
- Developing incident response playbooks
- Deploying defensive security tools and systems
Ready to Build Security Skills?
Apply to join the High Plains Technology Initiative apprenticeship program and start learning cybersecurity.
Apply Now