Cyber Security Boot Camps by Yellow Circle

A free two-day boot camp for students ages 13-17 to learn about how cyber security protects themselves and their families.

The Yellow Circle Cyber Security Boot Camps offers a physical setting for students aged 13-17 to learn about the variety of ways cyber security is used in their everyday lives. They are exposed to a curriculum specially designed for the boot camps  to teach them the dangers of online presences and how they can protect themselves, their families, and their friends. They are also exposed to the sought after need for workers in cyber security, the benefits joining this field has, and the ways they can help their community become stronger if they have a desire to join this career path, an option in the IT field they may have not realized on their own. Students learn alongside 100 other of their friends and peers and are given the chance to work together in a collaborative way, teaching them to work with others in a professional setting, preparing them any of the future workforces they will one day join.

The Sacramento region has the potential of being the next major California Technology Hub. Because of this, it is crucial that the area be equipped with well informed cyber security personnel. Through the Cyber Security boot camps, students learn the importance of cyber security, how to stay safe online, create digitally secure environments, and that a career in the field is not only available but in demand. Teaching Sacramento's high school students about these topics and the opportunities it possesses, Sacramento can gain experienced and enthusiastic employees who are driven in keeping their home and their community safe and secure.

The Yellow Circle Cyber Security Boot Camps offer students a place equipped with the tools to be educated on the importance of the field and how it is used to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, as well as the career opportunities available. The Cloud Based Computer Lab is a service that is also free to use, and is accessible from anywhere with internet access and stores everything online instead of on a system. This provides a way for students who can’t afford equipment or programing to practice IT skills a way to do this, by being able to use the computer lab at schools, community centers, or libraries.

The Yellow Circle Cyber Security Boot Camps work to educate students in an effort to eliminate future risky mistakes that can cause the students and their families harm. Partnering with organizations that work with digital identification systems, the boot camps can become incorporated into a broader program to do more than just provide systems, but to educate users as well.

The Cyber Security Boot Camps only require students to pre-register before the event, and upon the day the only thing the students must do is check in and learn. The Cloud Based Computer Lab offers a place for students to take their newly learned skills from the boot camps, and practice what they have learned and experiment with new concepts. The computer lab only requires students to go to the Yellow Circle website, click on the student button, select their desired plan, sign up, and get started creating.

Both the boot camps and computer lab do not require equipment to be owned by users. The boot camp's activities are designed with lack of equipment in mind, and therefore, activities are hands on with physical activities for students to learn with. The computer lab is accessible from any place with internet access and the student's projects are saved on the cloud to allow for students to not need to own the computer they are working on and download programs.

Over the next five years, Yellow Circle will work to make more connections with organizations that share the vision of educating students on the importance of cyber security and how it keeps them and their families safe. The organization is also working to expand not just nationally, but globally, by connecting with people across the world who wish to host these useful boot camps and use the computer lab.

Currently, Yellow Circle is working with the City of Sacramento and Intel to host a total of eight boot camps across eight separate counties as well as the schools used as the venue for the events. The City of Sacramento and Intel has aided in funding the boot camps to ensure the events remain free to students and strengthen the surrounding communities. The schools have provided an encouraging environment for the students to learn, eat, and socialize in and set the tone for a successful learning environment.

The President and CEO, Navneet Grewal, has been working in the Information Technology sector for over 15 years. His recent work includes designing, deploying & supporting opensource software based cloud environments with capabilities to provide self-service & on-demand virtual data-centers. Navneet has been looked upon as an expert when it comes to virtualization using technologies from VMWare, Microsoft, Openstack, Openshift, & RedHat. These years of experience and understanding of the field ensures sponsors, donors, and other organizations that the need being met by Yellow Circle is dire and something needed to strengthen the community and keep students safe.

With aid from grants, donors, and sponsors, as well as funds from the board members, Yellow Circle generates the revenue needed to continue operation. Over the almost five years the non-profit has been active, returning sponsors and increased interest from the City of Sacramento has given more opportunities for the non-profit to grow and continue. The cloud based computer lab also offers levels ranging from free to $20 a month with varying perks to aid in the bringing in of revenue.

All collaboration is helpful in growing Yellow Circle's visibility and the availability of the Cyber Security Boot Camps. Mission Billion Challenge offers an additional way for more students to have access to these two day events and benefit from the life long skills learned at these events.

Some of the major barriers Yellow Circle has faced with the Cyber Security Boot Camps is the difficulty of advertising to schools and computer clubs the availability of these events. Reaching out to schools, students, and parents is necessary to continue these boot camps and turn them into an annual event so students who were to young or unable to attend previously are able to receive the chance of their peers.