Defensive Cybersecurity Pathway

University of West Florida

About This Program

UWF CyberSkills2Work offers a short-term, intensive training program designed to grow and diversify the cybersecurity workforce in the areas of systems administration, cyber defense, and AI. The program offers four pathways in an asynchronous and online learning environment. Each provide training, industry certification prep, job-matching support, program support resources, and a career path to the growing field of cybersecurity for transitioning military personnel, transitioning first responders, veterans, military spouses, women, underrepresented minorities, and government employees.

About This Pathway

The Defensive Cybersecurity Pathway is designed to prepare participants for cyber defense analyst and related work roles, which use defensive measures and information collected from a variety of sources to identify, analyze, and report events that occur, or might occur, within the network in order to protect information and information systems from threats. Participants will also learn how to evaluate and implement security protocols and practices within their employer’s organization.

Eligibility

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  • Must be a veteran, transitioning service member, first responder, woman, military spouse, underrepresented minority, or government personnel.
  • Must have at least a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent. (School transcripts of the highest level education completed are required.)
  • Must have some IT or cybersecurity experience

Prerequisites

Need at least 1 year IT experience, or a Network+ certification, or have previously completed the UWF System Administrator pathway.

Cost

Free

Target Work Role(s)

Cyber Defense Analyst

Delivery Format

Asynchronous Online

Level

Intermediate

Industry Certifications Included

  • CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst CySA+
  • CompTIA Security+

Start And End Dates

  • 2025-02-03 -- 2025-08-29

Duration (In Weeks)

30

Pathway Courses

  • CompTIA Security+ Prep Course
  • Critical Infrastructure Security
  • Penetration Testing
  • EC-Council Generative AI for Cybersecurity
  • CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Prep Course

Digital Badges Awarded

Participants will be presented with digital badges upon the completion of each course and the successful passing of industry certification exams, contingent on the inclusion of a certification exam prep course in the pathway. Additionally, graduates of the pathway will be awarded with a pathway badge.