What the Best Cybersecurity Education Programs Have in Common
During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, educators across the country are demonstrating how hands-on learning, industry engagement and career-focused pathways are moving students from the classroom into cybersecurity careers.
Every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month encourages individuals and organizations to think more intentionally about online safety. Since 2004, the annual campaign has raised awareness of cybersecurity risks and promoted practices that make our digital lives more secure.
As important as those efforts are, cybersecurity awareness alone won't solve one of the industry's biggest challenges: developing the talent needed to secure the future.
Across the country, educators are working to address that challenge long before students enter the workforce. From high school career and technical education programs to community colleges, schools are running cybersecurity education programs that start with technical fundamentals and move into hands-on practice.
While these programs serve very different student populations, they often arrive at the same conclusion about what helps learners succeed. Their experiences offer insights for any educator looking to strengthen a cybersecurity program and help students find pathways into technology careers.
1. Successful cybersecurity programs start with strong IT foundations
Cybersecurity education starts with how computers and networks actually work.
Before students can learn how to secure technology, they need to understand how it works. That's why many educators start with operating systems, networking and troubleshooting fundamentals rather than jumping directly into cybersecurity concepts.
At Jordan Academy for Technology & Careers (JATC) in Utah, instructor Mark Ogden found that many students arrived with years of experience using smartphones and Chromebooks but little exposure to Windows, Linux or enterprise IT environments. Rather than assuming students already understood the fundamentals, he has built a program that starts with operating systems, file management and networking concepts before moving into security and cyber forensics.
This approach shows up at other schools too. The strongest cybersecurity programs recognize that students need to understand the technology they're protecting. Starting with a foundation in core IT skills not only prepares learners for cybersecurity topics but also gives students flexibility if they pursue networking, cloud, support or infrastructure careers.
2. Lab time over lecture time
Students develop cybersecurity skills by doing the work.
At JATC, students didn't just participate in a cybersecurity competition. They designed one. Juniors and seniors created the challenges, tested the scenarios and ran the event for younger students, giving participants a hands-on introduction to cybersecurity while reinforcing their own technical and leadership skills.
At Mahoning County Career & Technical Center (MCCTC) in Ohio, students gain practical experience by repairing devices, supporting teachers and troubleshooting technology across campus. The work resembles the types of responsibilities they'll encounter in entry-level IT positions and helps them apply classroom learning in a real-world environment.
At Ogeechee Technical College in Georgia, students participate in cybersecurity competitions such as SkillsUSA events and the National Cyber League. They created a cybersecurity club that meets regularly to go beyond the curriculum, serving as a hub for collaboration and competition preparation.
These experiences help students build confidence and gain valuable exposure to potential career opportunities. Ogeechee Tech Program Director Terry Hand has seen firsthand how participating in competitions helps students: “They’re getting jobs even before they graduate now, which is huge.”
3. Employer connections keep programs relevant
Technology evolves quickly. Cybersecurity evolves even faster.
Ogeechee Tech and JATC both stay regularly engaged with employers, industry leaders and graduates to ensure students learn skills that align with workforce needs.
At Ogeechee Technical College, local employers participate in an advisory board that helps identify hiring trends, evolving skill requirements and changes in the tech landscape. Similarly, JATC works with an industry advisory council that includes CIOs, CISOs, CTOs and other technology leaders who provide guidance on workforce readiness and employer demand.
Many educators also look beyond employers and learn directly from former students. Hand believes some of the most valuable insights come from graduates themselves. He regularly asks alumni what skills matter most in the workplace and what they wish they had known sooner, then adjusts the curriculum to reflect what's happening in the field.
This ongoing feedback helps programs continually refine to match real-world expectations.
4. CompTIA certifications help students connect learning to opportunity
CompTIA's industry-recognized certifications appear throughout these programs, and educators describe them as proof a student can hand to an employer or an admissions office. For students exploring cybersecurity careers, a CompTIA credential can also serve as an early signal that they're developing skills the industry recognizes.
At Ogeechee Tech, CompTIA certifications are built into the curriculum. Coursework is intentionally aligned with credentials such as CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+, helping students validate their skills while still in school. Because the exams include performance-based questions rather than just multiple-choice, instructors can use them to benchmark hands-on skills against an industry standard.
Across Florida, high school educators have seen a similar impact. As cybersecurity programs have expanded statewide, CompTIA certifications have become a key part of helping students demonstrate skills before they have any work history. Students earn credentials while still in high school, creating a clearer pathway into college and careers.
Certifications carry more weight when students can also point to something they built. Ogden frequently hears from employers that credentials matter, but so does initiative. Employers want candidates who have gone beyond studying for an exam and demonstrated their abilities through competitions, internships, projects or technical leadership opportunities.
5. Multiple paths into the cybersecurity field
These programs don't define success in just one way.
Some students continue on to college. Others enter the workforce. And some discover a passion for a different area of technology altogether.
Ogden sees value in all of those outcomes. He often reminds his students, "Whatever job you're doing, you're going to be on the internet, and you're going to be using a computer." Whether they become a cybersecurity analyst, network administrator or pursue a completely different profession, digital literacy continues to create opportunities.
Ogden has also seen the impact of cybersecurity education extend beyond employment outcomes. Over the years, he has watched technology careers create what he describes as "generational change," opening doors not only for students but for entire families. The opportunities gained through technical education can improve economic mobility for multiple generations.
That helps Ogden measure the success of the program by what happens to his students after they leave.
Building the future cybersecurity workforce
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is often associated with stronger passwords, phishing prevention and safer online habits. Those messages remain important, but long-term cybersecurity resilience depends on people.
The experiences of these educators demonstrate that effective cybersecurity education relies on a common set of principles:
- strong technical foundations
- hands-on learning
- industry engagement
- meaningful credentials
- flexible pathways that allow students to pursue different goals
As organizations continue searching for cybersecurity talent, these schools are showing that workforce development starts long before a candidate applies for a job. It starts in classrooms where students are building skills and finding opportunities they may never have considered.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cybersecurity Awareness Month?
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an annual campaign held every October to promote online safety and help individuals and organizations understand cybersecurity risks. Government agencies, businesses, schools and community organizations participate by sharing resources and encouraging safer digital practices.
Do students need a college degree to begin a cybersecurity career?
There is no single path into cybersecurity. The programs highlighted here prepare students for several options, including college, continued technical education and entry-level IT employment. Some students use certifications and work-based learning to begin gaining experience directly after high school, while others continue into postsecondary cybersecurity or computer science programs.
Which certifications can help students develop cybersecurity skills?
Students often begin with certifications that validate foundational IT knowledge before advancing into cybersecurity. The schools featured here use certifications such as CompTIA Tech+, A+, Network+ and Security+, depending on the students’ experience and the structure of the program.
How can a school establish a cybersecurity program?
Schools can begin by establishing strong IT foundations, adding hands-on labs, and connecting coursework to industry credentials like CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+. Inviting employers to advise on relevant skills, along with partnerships with colleges, industry organizations and local businesses, can also create internships, dual-enrollment options and clearer pathways after graduation.
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