Laboratory Experiences Designed by Students
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Blending foundational IT skills with hands-on operations, national competitions, and real-world internship experience, EFSC’s Cybersecurity program serves as an employment pipeline for the Space Coast’s thriving Information Technology industry.
“Between L3Harris, Northrop, Health First, and other local employers, there are a lot of cool opportunities here on the Space Coast and beyond,” said program assistant professor Nicole Dyess. “As alumni enter hiring-management positions, we’ve built up this little Cyber Titans network. They’re constantly asking me for my best students and their résumés.”
With over 20 years of experience in specializations like systems engineering and network security, Dyess brings her diverse skill set into the classroom. Students learn cryptography, network architecture, data extraction, malware identification, and phishing investigation in an environment where confidence- and community-building are as critical as real-time forensics simulations.
Laboratory Experiences Designed by Students
One of these immersive lab experiences, the Palm Bay Cyber Range Lab, features an air-gapped network where students can perform pen-testing, incident response drills, and live attack simulations. The Cyber Range Lab’s gamer-style vibe takes inspiration from series like Mr. Robot, featuring LED lights, cutting-edge machinery, and even an arcade console.
“The students built much of our lab environment themselves. That sense of ownership gives them real résumé experience,” said Dyess.
It’s not the only lab designed by the program’s students. Andrew Klinsic, who is completing his Cybersecurity & Network Systems A.S. degree before continuing to his Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree in Cybersecurity, contributed heavily to designing the College’s Cyber Van. This lab-on-wheels allows mobile outreach opportunities with the community, libraries, high schools, and middle schools.
“As we designed the Cyber Van, we had to consider constraints with power and equipment. It’s all real experience we can put on a résumé,” said Klinsic, who enjoys performing live demonstrations for public awareness. “In the van, we demo phishing attacks—what the victim sees versus what the attacker sees—to help others become more aware of scams.”
As students teach the public and youth about cybersecurity, they also build confidence and reinforce their skills.
“The technical documentation the students produced for the Cyber Van is some of the best I’ve ever seen,” said Dyess.
In-Demand Certifications and Industry Training
Students interested in completing EFSC’s BAS degree in Cybersecurity typically begin with the two-year A.S. in Cybersecurity & Network Systems, which provides students with both a strong foundation and technical prerequisites for their four-year degree.
Additionally, students can consider beginning their academic journey with one of EFSC’s six College Credit Certificates (Network Server Administration, Network Infrastructure, IP Communications, Network Support Technician, Network Virtualization, and Network Security), which can be used to build toward their two-year degree.
Although students can alternatively complete an Associate in Arts degree as part of their BAS pathway, Klinsic found the A.S. in Cybersecurity & Network Systems to be the right choice for him.
“I wanted to get technical classes before I went on to the bachelor’s, so I swapped into the A.S. degree,” he said. “If you do the A.A., you’re doing more general education. I wanted the prerequisites that really matter for the bachelor’s.”
The program is designed so that certain courses articulate to certifications like Security+, Linux+, or Network+, which are highly sought-after by employers.
“Once students finish the required courses, they can complete the CompTIA Boot Camp prep and get a free voucher to sit for these important exams,” said Dyess. “For example, Security+ is an absolute requirement for cybersecurity roles, especially with DoD-compliant companies.”
Klinsic is currently completing the Network Security Fundamentals course, which prepares students for the CompTIA Security+ certification, including the applied questions where students must demonstrate cybersecurity-related skills in real-time.
“Security+ is legally required depending on the project you’re working on,” he said. “It’s essential for many IT and federal roles. Employers expect you to have the certificate and be able to learn on the job.”
Community Support & the Cybersecurity Club
Sponsored by Nicole Dyess, EFSC’s Cybersecurity Club proudly upholds EFSC’s prestigious Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense designation by the National Security Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, while also providing students with access to exam preparation, peer support, and events like the National Cyber League competition.
For Klinsic, joining the club in his first semester and meeting other students interested in cybersecurity convinced him to switch his degree.
“The club’s main purpose is helping you get your foot in the door through community events, professional networking, and skill building,” said Klinsic. “It’s all about who you know—especially in cybersecurity, where you work long hours in stressful environments. Your employers need to know they can work with you, trust you, rely on you.”
“L3Harris hired three or four new grads straight from our club recently,” added BAS Cybersecurity student Steven Lay. “Once you get into one of those companies, you can go anywhere—especially if you get your security clearance.”
The Cybersecurity Club provides access to both the National Cyber League and Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition. In the CCDC, students troubleshoot real cybersecurity work, including malware, network traffic, log analysis, cryptography, and web applications—all while working against professional, volunteer hackers.
“When you’re competing under pressure, it pushes you to figure things out,” said Lay. “And after you solve the problem, it just feels amazing—like ‘I can’t believe I got it!’”
The NCL competition, which takes place in the Fall and Spring semesters, involves more than 500 schools and 10,000 students. In 2025, the Cyber Titans competed in both individual and team-based events, earning an impressive 20th place in the Cyber Power Rankings.
“We remain tremendously proud of our Cyber Titans and the excellence they demonstrate year after year,” said College President Dr. Jim Richey. “Their success reflects their skill, determination, and strong commitment to their future careers in cybersecurity. None of this would be possible without the clear vision and dedication of Assistant Professor Nicole Dyess, whose leadership continues to be an example to others in this challenging and exciting field.”
Entering the Field
EFSC’s Cybersecurity program maintains strong relationships with local employers, providing students with built-in internship-for-credit opportunities as they enter the final year of their degree.
Trish Tackett, who is halfway through her BAS Cybersecurity degree and already employed as an engineering technician at L3Harris, looks forward to the opportunity to put her classroom experience to work in an internship.
“The internship component is optional, but I thought it would be a great thing to have,” she said. “It will help me get into the cyber area at L3Harris if I’ve already completed an internship in that same department.”
Additionally, Assistant Professor Dyess emphasizes student proactivity being key to future employment—honing and implementing skills beyond classroom and laboratory hours, as well as taking time to meet others in the industry.
“Networking is one of the most important things students can do. A lot of our job placements come from meeting industry people at events,” she said. “I always ask students: ‘What are you building at home? Are you managing your home network? Are you the family’s PC technician?’”
Graduates of the Cybersecurity program often begin with entry-level IT roles, such as help desk technicians or system administrators, before moving into more cybersecurity-related roles.
Lay, who has a background in computer programming, says it’s been helpful in his transition to cybersecurity, which provides a wide range of career paths and options.
“Cybersecurity has like 20 niches inside of niches,” he said. “There are different avenues one can go down. I know a person who went into compliance and another who went into forensics. It can appeal to all kinds of personalities, industries, and interests.”
Justin Miller, a graduate of the Cybersecurity program and EFSC alum, had the honor of leading the Cybersecurity Club as Captain in the NCL competition during his second year. He credits these hands-on experiences for pushing him to conduct further research and perform simulations that proved invaluable in finding employment.
“It taught me to be self-sufficient and independent in my job,” said Miller. “I’m employed at TechRev Inc., where I do a lot of email investigations into phishing activity. I’m learning a lot on the job as I serve others and help them stay safe.”
Looking Ahead: Growth & Emerging Technologies
EFSC continues to expand its cybersecurity program with enhanced labs, a new classroom setting in the newly opened Center for Innovative Technology Education building on the Melbourne Campus, and additional industry partnerships.
“The program keeps growing,” said Dyess. “Cybersecurity isn’t going away, and we’re keeping up with industry trends. For example, we’re training a local language model on our network so students can use AI safely in their labs. Students need to learn how to use AI well, not fear it.”
EFSC alum Cheyenne Burkhart spent more than five years working in healthcare before choosing to pursue a lifelong passion for cybersecurity. Seeing a rise in ransomware and malware attacks on hospitals eventually brought her to EFSC’s BAS program.
“Most colleges charged exorbitant tuition, but EFSC fit the criteria perfectly—their BAS program is affordable and always had class availability for any day or time I needed,” said Burkhart. “Without this program, I would not have made it as far as I have in my professional career. My employers were highly impressed with the extracurricular work I did in addition to my classes.”
Today, Burkhart works as a Security Operations Center Analyst for a local Department of Defense contractor, where daily tasks involve detecting threats and ensuring protective measures.
Whether students have a history of experience in the field or a newly budding interest, EFSC’s Cybersecurity program provides innovative laboratories, industry connections, expert instruction, and community involvement to launch any future professional’s career.
In Burkhart’s own words: “EFSC’s Cybersecurity program is one of the best around and will prepare anyone for a career in this field.”
Find out more about Eastern Florida State College’s Cybersecurity program.
If you would like to help students achieve their cybersecurity career dreams, please consider giving to the EFSC Foundation for needed equipment or student scholarships. If interested, please contact the EFSC Foundation by calling 321-433-7094 or by going to their website at efscfoundation.org.
