Experience
Transformation
Director
Branches
Instructor
Salary
Cert Courses Without Context
YouΒ passed the exam. But you still don't know how to walk into a real SOC, handle a real incident, or talk to a real CISO. Certifications open doors β they don't teach you how to walk through them.
AI Anxiety Is Real
Every week there's a new headline about AI replacing security analysts. Instead of learning how to use AI as a weapon, most people are hoping it doesn't notice them. That strategy doesn't work.
Resumes That Go Nowhere
You're applying, nobody's calling back. Your resume looks like every other candidate. You don't have a portfolio that proves what you can do. You need differentiation, not just credentials.
No Real Roadmap
YouTube videos, Reddit threads, Discord servers. Lots of information β none of it sequenced. Nobody is building a custom path for you based on where you are and where you want to go.
β YOUR INSTRUCTOR
DEREK A.
SMITH
CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM DIRECTOR, VUST Β Β·Β FORMER DHS DEPUTY DIRECTOR Β Β·Β AI GOVERNANCE STRATEGIST
Most people teaching cybersecurity learned it from a book. Derek learned it running operations that protected the United States. He currently directs the Cybersecurity Academic Program at Virginia University of Science & Technology β which means the curriculum you're getting isn't just battle-tested, it's built to the same rigorous standards he holds university students to. Before the classroom, he spent three decades operating at the highest levels of federal security, military intelligence, and law enforcement across four branches of the armed forces.
The Proof Is
In The Record.
Derek doesn't just teach cybersecurity β he's been called on by major conferences, television networks, and government agencies to represent the field at the highest levels. This is what 30 years of earned authority looks like.
Author. Researcher.
Recognized Authority.
Derek's work has been published, sponsored by enterprise security companies, and recognized globally β including placement on BookAuthority's 100 Best Cybersecurity Books of All Time, as featured on CNN, Forbes, and Inc.
The definitive career guide for anyone serious about breaking into or advancing in cybersecurity β the book this program is built around.
Buy on Amazon β
Book 1 of The AI Defender Series β the definitive guide for security professionals navigating the AI revolution.
Buy on Amazon β
Ranked #32 of the 100 Best Cybersecurity Books of All Time β as featured on CNN, Forbes, and Inc. Magazine.
Buy on Amazon β
A comprehensive guide to securing cloud infrastructure and privileged access for security leaders navigating modern cloud environments.
Buy on Amazon β
A practical security guide tailored for SMB leaders β covering the threats, strategies, and frameworks that matter most for growing organizations.
Buy on Amazon βAuthorized trainer delivering AI security certification curricula β building the next generation of AI-informed cybersecurity professionals.
Enterprise-sponsored guide on insider threat detection and mitigation β distributed to security professionals worldwide via Conversational Geek.
Third edition of the definitive guide on privileged access and server security in cloud-first environments.
Shifting organizations from point-in-time assessments to continuous security validation β the future of threat management.
The accessible guide to the gold standard of cybersecurity certification β used by thousands of professionals worldwide.
Contributing expert author alongside twelve cybersecurity leaders β clarifying the technology behind our daily digital interactions.
Featured cybersecurity expert contributing to BeyondTrust's enterprise security content library β reaching thousands of security practitioners globally.
I've Seen What Happens
When People Get This Wrong.
I served in four branches of the U.S. military. I investigated crimes as a federal special agent across multiple agencies. I directed one of the most critical biometric security programs in the federal government at DHS. And today I direct the cybersecurity academic program at a university β shaping the next generation of security professionals.
That path gives me a perspective almost nobody else in this industry has. I've been the operator, the executive, the investigator, the academic, and the builder.
After 30 years watching people try to break into cybersecurity β and after sitting on both sides of the hiring table more times than I can count β I kept seeing the same problem.
Smart, motivated people. Wrong roadmap.
They'd stack certifications, apply to hundreds of jobs, and still not get hired. Or they'd get hired and hit a ceiling at $75K because they couldn't talk strategy with leadership. Or they'd spend three years "learning cybersecurity" from YouTube and never actually build anything that proved they could do the work.
"The gap isn't knowledge. It's the translation between what you know and what an employer believes you can do."
I built the Cyber Enforcer Program because I've been on both sides of the hiring table. I know exactly what a CISO or federal hiring manager looks for β and I know exactly what's missing from most candidates.
Now add AI to the equation. The entire threat landscape is changing. The tools are changing. The job descriptions are changing. The professionals who understand how AI intersects with security will write their own compensation for the next decade. The ones who don't will be managed out.
This program is my answer to all of it. 90 days. Real outcomes. My personal involvement. No fluff.
90 Days.
Four Phases.
One Outcome.
Every phase builds on the last. By the end, you don't just have knowledge β you have a portfolio, a strategy, and a hiring-ready professional identity that stands apart from every other candidate.
Foundation & Professional Identity
We start by mapping exactly where you are and where you're going. No wasted motion. You'll understand the real AI-powered cybersecurity landscape, choose your target role with precision, and begin building the professional identity that makes employers notice you before they see your resume.
Technical Stack & AI Integration
This is where most programs stop. We go further. You'll build the technical foundation for your target certifications while simultaneously learning how AI is transforming every security function β SOC automation, threat detection, identity management, and compliance. You'll finish this phase thinking like someone who's already doing the job.
Real-World Application & Portfolio
Nobody hires you for what you know. They hire you for what you can prove you've done. In this phase you'll complete three hands-on portfolio projects built around real scenarios I managed in government and federal environments. These aren't textbook exercises β they're the kind of work that makes a hiring manager stop scrolling.
Career Launch & Placement Strategy
The final phase is about converting everything you've built into a job offer. Mock interviews with Derek's direct feedback. Salary negotiation strategy. Federal versus private sector decision framework. And a 30-60-90 day plan for your first 90 days on the job so you arrive already thinking like a senior contributor.
Choose Your
Level of Commitment.
Three tiers. One destination. The more access you have to Derek, the faster and more certain your outcome.
Foundations
- Self-paced core curriculum (Network+, Security+ foundations)
- AI tools for cybersecurity study
- Prompt engineering for learning acceleration
- Resume & LinkedIn optimization guide
- Private Cyber Enforcer community access
- Monthly group Q&A call with Derek
- Career path mapping workbook
Accelerator
- Everything in Foundations
- Full cert stack curriculum (Security+, CySA+, Cloud+)
- AI-powered SOC workflows module
- Portfolio-building kit β 3 real-world scenarios
- Bi-weekly group coaching calls
- One resume review with written feedback
- Job search strategy guide
- 90-day structured learning roadmap
- RMF & federal compliance fundamentals
Executive
- Everything in Accelerator
- 6 private 1-on-1 coaching calls with Derek (bi-weekly, 90 days)
- Direct async voice messaging access to Derek
- Custom 90-day career roadmap built personally for you
- Full AI + Cybersecurity integration training
- DHS-level RMF & compliance deep dive
- Mock interview β Derek personally reviews and debriefs
- LinkedIn profile overhaul with Derek's direct input
- Federal hiring strategy & veteran preference guidance
- Salary negotiation playbook
- Lifetime community access
- Outcome Commitment: We keep working until you land
Not sure which tier is right for you? Book a free 30-minute strategy call β no pressure, no pitch.
The Cyber Enforcer
Outcome Commitment
This is not a refund policy. This is a results commitment.
Complete every milestone in the 90-day program show up to your coaching calls, finish your portfolio projects, and apply to a minimum of 10 qualified positions β and you will walk away certification-ready, portfolio-ready, and actively interviewing for cybersecurity positions. For clients who complete all milestones and have not yet landed an interview within 30 days of program completion, we continue working together at no additional cost until you do."
Applies to Tier 3 β Executive enrollment only. Full terms provided at enrollment.
This Program Is Built
For Specific People.
Military veteran or federal employee transitioning to cyber
Derek is a four-branch veteran himself β Navy, Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard Auxiliary β and a Service-Disabled Veteran. He understands your background, your clearance potential, your discipline, and exactly how to translate military service into a high-paying cybersecurity career. This program was partially built with you in mind.
Mid-career professional making a serious pivot
You're 35-55, established in another field, and you want into cybersecurity. You're not looking for a hobby β you're making a real career move and you need a real guide, not a YouTube playlist.
Security practitioner stuck at $70β90K
You're already in the field but you've plateaued. You need AI skills, strategic positioning, and someone who can help you make the jump to senior roles and six-figure compensation.
Anyone who needs a competitive edge as AI changes the field
You understand that AI is reshaping security and you want to be ahead of it, not behind it. You want to learn from someone who's actually operated at the executive level β not a content creator.
People looking for a cheap shortcut
This program requires real work. If you're looking for a $47 PDF that promises overnight results, this isn't it. The investment reflects the level of access, depth, and outcome commitment involved.
People who won't do the work
The outcome commitment only applies to people who complete every milestone. If you enroll and disappear, nothing changes. This program rewards commitment β it doesn't create it.
What Students Say.
"Derek doesn't just teach β he transfers experience. The way he connected real federal incidents to the curriculum made everything click. I landed a GS-12 security analyst role six weeks after finishing the program."
"I had my Security+ and CySA+ and still couldn't get interviews. Derek rebuilt my resume, rebuilt my portfolio, and coached me through two rounds of interviews. I'm now making $95K in a SOC role I love."
"The AI integration module alone was worth the entire program cost. Nobody else is teaching AI + cybersecurity at this level of practical depth. I walked out of this program with skills my colleagues are still trying to figure out."
* Testimonials reflect individual results. Results vary based on commitment, background, and market conditions.
Frequently Asked.
FREE DOWNLOAD β The Cyber Enforcer 90-Day Career Roadmap
The exact step-by-step roadmap I use with every client β yours free.
- β The 4-phase certification and career launch sequence
- β The AI tools every cybersecurity professional needs to know right now
- β The federal hiring strategy most people completely overlook
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Your information is never sold or shared.
Your Cybersecurity
Career Starts
Now.
Entry-level cybersecurity roles start at $65β85K. Senior roles exceed $150K. The AI-integrated professionals who enter this field in the next 18 months will have a decade-long advantage over everyone who waits.
The only question is whether you're going to build that advantage β or watch someone else do it.
No pressure. No pitch. Just a 30-minute conversation to see if this program is the right fit for where you're trying to go.
Cyber Enforcer Program β Dr. Derek A. Smith
Cybersecurity Program Director, VUST Β Β·Β Former DHS Deputy Director Β Β·Β AI Governance Strategist
ποΈ SERVICE-DISABLED VETERAN OWNED BUSINESS Β Β·Β NAVY Β· AIR FORCE Β· ARMY Β· COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
π #32 β BookAuthority 100 Best Cybersecurity Books (CNN Β· Forbes Β· Inc.) Β Β·Β πΊ Featured TV Cybersecurity Expert