North Alabama Cyber Security Class
## ​Class Details
 This class introduces students to cyber security topics, with a focus on the AFA CyberPatriot competition. Students will work together in teams to secure virtual machines running different operating systems, as well as build and secure virtual networks.
Dates: August 2, 2024 - January 25, 2025
Time: 1pm - 2pm
Location:
GigaParts
6123 University Dr
Huntsville, AL 35806

Meet the Instructor:

Jake Williams started working on computers in high school and has not looked back. He has spent the past five years as an IT security manager developing cyber strategy, managing a team, analyzing and communicating risk, and ensuring standards compliance. He has been leading a CyberPatriot class for homeschoolers in that time, as well as being involved in local cybersecurity organizations. One of his passions is mentoring others going into cybersecurity, especially underrepresented groups. Outside of work, he has been heavily involved in the local youth recreational soccer league as a coach, referee, and volunteer board member.

Competition Info:

The CyberPatriot competition takes place over four different weekends, and students are expected to be available for a 6-hour window during the competition weekend: Oct 24-27, Nov 14-16, Dec 12-15 and Jan 23-25.

For more information contact Jake Williams

Register

CyberPatriot Competition

CyberProtex is excited to support CyberPatriot! If you are not familiar with the CyberPatriot, it is the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition and has over 2000 teams nationwide.

The competition puts teams of high school and middle school students in the position of newly hired IT professionals tasked with managing the network of a small company. In the rounds of competition, teams are given a set of virtual images that represent operating systems and are tasked with finding cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the images and hardening the system while maintaining critical services in a six hour period. Teams compete for the top placement within their state and region, and the top teams in the nation earn all-expenses paid trips to Baltimore, MD for the National Finals Competition where they can earn national recognition and scholarship money.

CyberPatriot Curriculum

  • Unit 0: Cyber Ethics
  • Unit 1: Introduction to CyberPatriot and Cybersecurity
  • Unit 2: Online Safety
  • Unit 3: Computer Basics and Virtual Machines
  • Unit 4: Principles of Cybersecurity
  • Unit 5: Microsoft Windows Security
  • Unit 6: Windows File Protections and Monitoring
  • Unit 7: Introduction to Linux and Ubuntu
  • Unit 8: Ubuntu Security
  • Unit 9: Additional Training Topics and Tips

​See our Community page for more on our youth outreach and good resources for anti-cyberbullying information.