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Career pathway

Cyber Defender (SOC)

Watch the network, catch the attack, stop the breach. The most direct route into a Security Operations Center: foundations, Security+, then hands-on detection and response.

4 courses 135 hours total $10,997 total tuition Anyone with basic IT skills who wants a Blue Team career.

Your path, step by step

  1. 1
    MD Technical School

    Cybersecurity Fundamentals

    $2,599

    Your starting point in cybersecurity: core principles, practices and terminology across private-sector and Department of Defense environments.

    20 hours Certificate of Completion Next start Oct 12, 2026
  2. 2
    $2,800

    The industry-standard foundation certification — and a DoD baseline requirement for many cyber and IT roles.

    40 hours Prepares for the CompTIA Security+ exam Next start Oct 19, 2026
  3. 3
    $2,999

    Detect, defend and respond to network attacks — aligned with DoD and NICE Framework standards.

    40 hours Prepares for the EC-Council C|ND exam
  4. 4
    $2,599

    Monitor, detect and respond from inside a Security Operations Center — one of the fastest routes into a cyber job.

    35 hours Prepares for the EC-Council C|SA exam

Other pathways

New to IT
From zero experience to your first tech job. Ethical Hacker
Get paid to break in — legally. Government & DoD Cyber
The compliance skills federal and defense employers require.