Build the Next
Generation of
Defenders.
A structured, hands-on mentorship programme for students entering cybersecurity and professionals advancing their careers — delivered by certified practitioners with real-world experience in South Sudan and beyond.
The greatest threat to cybersecurity is not technology — it is the shortage of skilled human defenders. This programme exists to close that gap in South Sudan and across East Africa, one mentor-mentee relationship at a time.
A 12-week journey from
fundamentals to job-ready
The CyberForge Mentorship Programme pairs mentees with experienced cybersecurity practitioners. It combines theory, practical labs, live projects, and career coaching to produce job-ready cybersecurity professionals.
Build Job-Ready Skills
Equip mentees with practical, employer-demanded skills across the cybersecurity domain spectrum — not just theory.
Accelerate Certification
Guide mentees through structured preparation for CEH, CompTIA Security+, CISA, CISSP, ISO 27001 LA, and Cloud Security certifications.
Build South Sudan’s Talent
Develop a pipeline of locally certified cybersecurity professionals who understand the African operating environment.
Create a Professional Network
Connect mentees with industry practitioners, potential employers, and a peer community of fellow cybersecurity professionals.
Enable Career Transitions
Provide a structured pathway for IT generalists, students, and professionals from adjacent fields to pivot into cybersecurity.
Portfolio Development
Guide every mentee to complete a real-world capstone project that demonstrates applied cybersecurity skills to future employers.
Two tracks, matched
to where you’re starting
Students & Career Starters
No prior cybersecurity experience required.
- University or college students studying IT, Computer Science, Engineering, or related disciplines
- Recent graduates seeking to enter the cybersecurity field for the first time
- IT professionals (helpdesk, network admin, system admin) transitioning to security roles
- Career changers from non-IT backgrounds with a strong interest in cybersecurity
- NGO and government IT officers seeking to formalise their security knowledge
Working Security Professionals
Minimum 2 years IT/security experience required.
- IT managers, system administrators, and network engineers seeking to specialise in security
- Information security officers, compliance managers, and GRC professionals
- SOC analysts and incident responders looking to advance their technical depth
- Professionals targeting senior certifications (CISSP, CISA, CISM, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor)
- Security consultants and vCISOs seeking structured professional development
Not a passive online course
Mentees work directly with certified cybersecurity professionals from CyberForge who operate in the same East African context. Labs use real-world tools and scenarios drawn from actual client engagements (anonymised).
In-Person Workshops
Monthly full-day workshops at CyberForge HQ, Juba. Hands-on labs, group exercises, and peer presentations.
Virtual Sessions
Weekly 90-minute one-on-one mentor sessions via kMeet. Flexible scheduling to accommodate working professionals.
Cyber Lab Access
24/7 access to CyberForge’s virtual lab environment — simulated networks, attack scenarios, and forensics tools.
Two tracks. One mission.
Each track runs 12 weeks across 8 modules, combining theory, tooling, and a hands-on lab in every module.
Track A — Foundations · Zero to practitioner in 12 weeks
Cybersecurity for Students & Career Starters
Cybersecurity Fundamentals
- CIA Triad, threat landscape & attack types
- Networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, ports)
- Operating systems security (Windows & Linux basics)
- Introduction to cryptography and PKI
Threats, Attacks & Defences
- Malware types: ransomware, trojans, worms, spyware
- Social engineering, phishing & BEC attacks
- OWASP Top 10 web vulnerabilities
- Firewalls, IDS/IPS & endpoint protection
Identity, Access & Network Security
- Authentication, MFA & identity management (IAM)
- Network segmentation, VPNs & zero-trust concepts
- Wireless security & attack vectors (WPA2, Evil Twin)
- Cloud security basics (AWS/Azure/Infomaniak)
Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Introduction to ISO 27001, NIST CSF & COBIT 2019
- Risk assessment methodology & risk registers
- Data protection: GDPR, FADP & African data laws
- Security policy writing and evidence collection
Ethical Hacking Essentials
- Penetration testing methodology (reconnaissance to reporting)
- Tools: Nmap, Metasploit, Burp Suite, Wireshark
- Web application testing (SQL injection, XSS, IDOR)
- Writing professional penetration test reports
Incident Response & Digital Forensics
- Incident response lifecycle (NIST SP 800-61r2)
- Log analysis: Windows Event Logs, Syslog, SIEM basics
- Basic digital forensics: disk imaging, memory analysis
- Evidence preservation and chain of custody
Cloud & Application Security
- Cloud shared responsibility model (AWS, Azure, Infomaniak)
- Cloud misconfiguration risks (S3 buckets, IAM over-permissioning)
- Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
- DevSecOps: integrating security into CI/CD pipelines
Capstone Project & Career Readiness
- Capstone: full security assessment of an assigned organisation
- Presentation of findings to a panel of CyberForge practitioners
- CV review, LinkedIn optimisation & interview preparation
- Certification exam coaching: Security+, CEH, ISO 27001
Certification Ready
Prepared to sit CompTIA Security+, CEH, or ISO 27001 Foundation within 90 days of graduation.
Employment Ready
Portfolio of 8 completed labs and a capstone project demonstrating real-world skills to employers.
Network Ready
Access to the CyberForge Alumni Network, job referrals, and ongoing professional community membership.
Track B — Advanced Practitioner · Specialist depth in 12 weeks
Cybersecurity for Working Professionals
Enterprise Security Architecture
- Zero Trust Architecture design and implementation
- Security reference architectures (SABSA, TOGAF, NIST)
- Network security architecture — segmentation, DMZ, SD-WAN
IS Audit & Compliance Mastery
- IS Audit methodology (ISACA standards, IIA frameworks)
- Conducting ISO 27001 internal and third-party audits
- GRC platform implementation and evidence automation
Advanced Penetration Testing
- APT simulation: Living-off-the-Land (LOTL) techniques
- Active Directory attacks: Kerberoasting, Pass-the-Hash, DCSync
- API security testing: OWASP API Top 10
SOC Operations & Threat Intelligence
- SIEM architecture, use-case development & detection engineering
- Threat intelligence: MITRE ATT&CK framework application
- SOAR playbook design and automated response
Advanced Incident Response & DFIR
- Advanced memory forensics with Volatility
- Malware analysis: static and dynamic techniques
- Threat hunting: hypothesis-driven investigation methodology
Cloud Security Engineering
- Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) implementation
- Container security: Kubernetes, Docker hardening
- Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK) and KMS
vCISO & Security Leadership
- Building and presenting a cybersecurity business case to boards
- Security KPIs, metrics, and executive reporting dashboards
- Managing a cybersecurity budget and vendor selection
Advanced Capstone & Certification Sprint
- Capstone: deliver a full IS audit or red team engagement report
- Present findings and recommendations to CyberForge leadership
- Intensive exam coaching: CISA, CISSP, CISM, ISO 27001 LA
Senior Certification Ready
Prepared for CISA, CISSP, CISM, or ISO 27001 Lead Auditor within 60 days of graduation.
Leadership Ready
Equipped to operate as a vCISO, Senior Security Analyst, or IS Auditor with a demonstrated project portfolio.
Partner Opportunity
Top graduates considered for CyberForge associate consultant roles and partnership opportunities.
Certifications we prepare you for
CompTIA Security+
Industry baseline for all entry-level security roles. Vendor-neutral, globally recognised.
CEH — Certified Ethical Hacker
EC-Council’s ethical hacking certification. Covers pen testing tools and methodology.
CISA — Certified IS Auditor
ISACA’s premier IS audit certification. Essential for audit, compliance, and GRC careers.
ISO 27001 Lead Auditor
Internationally recognised standard for information security management systems.
CISSP
Gold standard for senior security professionals. Covers 8 security domains.
Cloud Security (CCSP/AWS)
Cloud security practitioner certification aligned to CSA CCM and shared responsibility.
Five steps, start to graduation
Apply & Assess
Application form, skills assessment, and a goal-setting interview.
Mentor Match
Paired with a practitioner based on your goals, track, and learning style.
Weekly Sessions
90-min 1-on-1 mentoring, plus group workshops and lab time each week.
Live Projects
Real-world lab scenarios, CTFs, and a capstone engagement.
Graduate
Certificate, portfolio, certification prep, and alumni network access.
Invest in your next role
Foundations Track
Full 12-week programme · Payment plans available
- 12 weeks of structured mentorship (90-min weekly 1-on-1 sessions)
- Access to CyberForge virtual lab environment (24/7)
- All study materials, lab guides, and practice exams
- 3 in-person workshop days at CyberForge HQ, Juba
- CyberForge Foundations Certificate + mentor endorsement letter
- Lifetime access to the CyberForge Alumni Network
Certification exam vouchers (Security+, CEH) available at a discounted rate as an optional add-on.
Advanced Track
Full 12-week programme · Payment plans available
- 12 weeks of advanced mentorship with senior certified practitioners
- Full lab suite: SIEM, pen test, forensics, cloud environments
- All study materials including CISA/CISSP/ISO 27001 prep packs
- 3 in-person advanced workshop days + 1 field engagement visit
- CyberForge Advanced Practitioner Certificate + senior endorsement
- Priority consideration for CyberForge associate consultant roles
CISA, CISSP & ISO 27001 LA exam vouchers available at discounted partner rates.
CyberForge Access Scholarships — 20% of All Places Reserved
We believe talent should never be blocked by cost. CyberForge reserves 20% of places on every cohort for full or partial scholarships, prioritising female applicants, students from underserved communities, and candidates from government or NGO backgrounds in South Sudan.
Reserve your place
| Cohort | Track | Start Date | End Date | Format | Places | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cohort 1 — Q3 2026 | Track A | 01 September 2026 | 22 November 2026 | Hybrid | 20 | Open |
| Cohort 2 — Q3 2026 | Track B | 01 September 2026 | 22 November 2026 | Hybrid | 12 | 4 Left |
| Cohort 3 — Q4 2026 | Track A | 05 January 2027 | 28 March 2027 | Hybrid | 20 | Open |
| Cohort 4 — Q4 2026 | Track B | 05 January 2027 | 28 March 2027 | Hybrid | 12 | Open |
Five steps to enrolment
Submit Application
Complete the online form with your CV, a 200-word statement of purpose, and preferred track.
Skills Assessment
A 30-minute online assessment used for track placement, not rejection.
Interview
30-minute online or in-person interview to discuss your goals and commitment.
Offer & Enrol
Receive your offer letter, mentor match, and cohort schedule.
Orientation Day
Meet your mentor and cohort, and receive your lab access and roadmap.
South Sudan Needs
Cyber Defenders. Be One.
The digital threats facing our governments, NGOs, businesses, and citizens are real and growing. Apply today and join the next generation of cybersecurity professionals trained right here in Juba.
Phone: +211-92-202-8312
Location: Jondoru Residential Area, Juba, South Sudan