Success in Cyber Security
at your fingertips
Success in Cyber Security
at your fingertips
I’m here to shorten the learning curve.
cyber security coach & instructor
KENNETH ELLINGTON
How it Started
My story into Cyber Security certainly wasn’t linear. My father, a software engineer himself, encouraged me to explore and follow down the tech path.
I certainly didn’t take to it initially. It all started with struggling through a Code Academy in the 7th grade. To be honest, I hated it. I turned my back on the tech path (for the time being) and instead pursued Business Administration.
After transferring to USF for Business Management, I felt like I needed a special something to boost my resume. My father, once again, suggested IT. Only this time, I decided to take it seriously.
Beginning a Career in IT
I was eager to learn IT by doing it in the real world. During my college summers, I worked as a Deli Clerk at Publix Supermarkets.
One of the biggest things that I teach my students is to let people know what your desires and goals are so they are able to speak on your behalf when you’re not present.
That’s exactly what I did.
I told my Store Manager that I was interested in doing IT. When I met the IT guy, Rick, he unveiled a whole new world to me, including the surprisingly massive and complicated Cyber Security department at Publix.
What started as a resistance in childhood soon became a deep fascination for me. I dove headfirst into every challenge, completing every task on my list until I was finally offered the internship for IT at Publix. I saw how much of a direct impact my willingness to learn had on my budding IT career.
How it Started
My story into Cyber Security certainly wasn’t linear. My father, a software engineer himself, encouraged me to explore and follow down the tech path.
I certainly didn’t take to it initially. It all started with struggling through a Code Academy in the 7th grade. To be honest, I hated it. I turned my back on the tech path (for the time being) and instead pursued Business Administration.
After transferring to USF for Business Management, I felt like I needed a special something to boost my resume. My father, once again, suggested IT. Only this time, I decided to take it seriously.
Beginning a Career in IT
I was eager to learn IT by doing it in the real world. During my college summers, I worked as a Deli Clerk at Publix Supermarkets.
One of the biggest things that I teach my students is to let people know what your desires and goals are so they are able to speak on your behalf when you’re not present.
That’s exactly what I did.
I told my Store Manager that I was interested in doing IT. When I met the IT guy, Rick, he unveiled a whole new world to me, including the surprisingly massive and complicated Cyber Security department at Publix.
What started as a resistance in childhood soon became a deep fascination for me. I dove headfirst into every challenge, completing every task on my list until I was finally offered the internship for IT at Publix. I saw how much of a direct impact my willingness to learn had on my budding IT career.
The Birth of ECA
In a matter of years, I scaled my IT knowledge and found more success in the space. At the beginning of the pandemic, I decided to self-educate and take my skills to a new level, training myself on Splunk and Cyber Security.
To my surprise, Michela, the CEO of Blacks in Cyber Security eventually asked me if I would lead some Splunk training. I remember thinking that the world of IT is full of amazing and ever-evolving opportunities, all you have to do is take them.
Over the next 2 years, I held training seminars and webinars on how to use Splunk from a Cyber and IT perspective. I developed the course curriculum articles, lab environments, and slide deck presentation that we would be using. Everyone absolutely loved the training session, which was an amazing feeling.
And I learned something very important: I loved teaching and helping others gain the skills needed to improve their career in Cyber Security.
And with that, I unofficially started ECA.
The Birth of ECA
In a matter of years, I scaled my IT knowledge and found more success in the space. At the beginning of the pandemic, I decided to self-educate and take my skills to a new level, training myself on Splunk and Cyber Security.
To my surprise, Michela, the CEO of Blacks in Cyber Security eventually asked me if I would lead some Splunk training. I remember thinking that the world of IT is full of amazing and ever-evolving opportunities, all you have to do is take them.
Over the next 2 years, I held training seminars and webinars on how to use Splunk from a Cyber and IT perspective. I developed the course curriculum articles, lab environments, and slide deck presentation that we would be using. Everyone absolutely loved the training session, which was an amazing feeling.
And I learned something very important: I loved teaching and helping others gain the skills needed to improve their career in Cyber Security.
And with that, I unofficially started ECA.
Scaling and Spreading Knowledge
As I was teaching and training various professionals from these different backgrounds, I kept hearing about their pain points of not being able to fully utilize or understand these different technology stacks before they came to me.
I was eager to help them shorten the learning curve, scale their skills, and get adequately paid for their talents.
I'm constantly reminded of the people’s lives we’ve changed for the better every day. People who weren't able to properly provide for their families. After finishing our programs they landed their dream jobs.
That’s what keeps me going.
As I started training people to optimize their cybersecurity careers, I realized that there was a severe lack of specialists in the SIEM and SOAR niches. Having expertise in these specialties automatically makes someone more valuable to a potential employer or organization.
As I continued to outline my specialty, I wanted to really dig into these spaces and be a positive role model, especially for other black and brown folks entering this typically non-diverse industry..
I initially learned about SIEM and SOAR technologies back when I was doing my internship at Publix supermarkets. It was love at first sight. For me, the ability to be able to see and protect the crucial company information made me feel like I was making a real difference.
So I wanted to bring that feeling and make people understand how important learning and understanding how SIEM and SOAR tools work inside of an enterprise environment.
With that, we designed our curriculum for Cyber Security professionals who wanted to learn Blue Team endpoint technologies such as SIEM and SOAR. Those that wanted an alternative to overpriced Cyber Security Master programs, and those that wanted hands-on small class settings where they could really build a connection with their coach and instructor.
I became even more passionate about helping our students see real results in their lives and careers. It would start with more confidence and experience using SIEM and SOAR and ultimately end with a promotion that my students never believed they could get.
The biggest single thing regardless if they want a new role or not is giving them the skillset to thrive in any single Cyber Security role that be as an analyst, engineer or architect.
Scaling and Spreading Knowledge
As I was teaching and training various professionals from these different backgrounds, I kept hearing about their pain points of not being able to fully utilize or understand these different technology stacks before they came to me.
I was eager to help them shorten the learning curve, scale their skills, and get adequately paid for their talents.
I'm constantly reminded of the people’s lives we’ve changed for the better every day. People who weren't able to properly provide for their families. After finishing our programs they landed their dream jobs.
That’s what keeps me going.
As I started training people to optimize their cybersecurity careers, I realized that there was a severe lack of specialists in the SIEM and SOAR niches. Having expertise in these specialties automatically makes someone more valuable to a potential employer or organization.
As I continued to outline my specialty, I wanted to really dig into these spaces and be a positive role model, especially for other black and brown folks entering this typically non-diverse industry..
I initially learned about SIEM and SOAR technologies back when I was doing my internship at Publix supermarkets. It was love at first sight. For me, the ability to be able to see and protect the crucial company information made me feel like I was making a real difference.
So I wanted to bring that feeling and make people understand how important learning and understanding how SIEM and SOAR tools work inside of an enterprise environment.
With that, we designed our curriculum for Cyber Security professionals who wanted to learn Blue Team endpoint technologies such as SIEM and SOAR. Those that wanted an alternative to overpriced Cyber Security Master programs, and those that wanted hands-on small class settings where they could really build a connection with their coach and instructor.
I became even more passionate about helping our students see real results in their lives and careers. It would start with more confidence and experience using SIEM and SOAR and ultimately end with a promotion that my students never believed they could get.
The biggest single thing regardless if they want a new role or not is giving them the skillset to thrive in any single Cyber Security role that be as an analyst, engineer or architect.
My Style + Fun Facts About Me
Building a successful Cyber Security career requires you to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. I'm here to make that possible by giving you the team, support, and tools necessary so you can thrive.
Get to know me a little more:
- I'm a huge anime fan and so is everyone in my family. So half the time when we talk on the phone since we are all over the country that’s what we discuss. My favorite one at the current moment is My Hero Academia.
- I kickbox and box in my spare time quite heavily. I believe that everyone should know how to defend themselves. Plus it’s probably the best workout I've ever done in my life.
- I love to cook for myself and others. Cooking is one of the ways I get to use my creative outlet and try different things. Plus it's a money saver.
- I am naturally an introvert. I treasure my alone time but enjoy being around others when the time permits.
- I am originally from Tampa Florida, and spent most of my childhood and college days there. Which somehow surprises people whenever they meet me for some odd reason. I currently reside in the Dallas Fort Worth area.
My Style +
Fun Facts About Me
Building a successful Cyber Security career requires you to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. I'm here to make that possible by giving you the team, support, and tools necessary so you can thrive.
Get to know me a little more:
- I'm a huge anime fan and so is everyone in my family. So half the time when we talk on the phone since we are all over the country that’s what we discuss. My favorite one at the current moment is My Hero Academia.
- I kickbox and box in my spare time quite heavily. I believe that everyone should know how to defend themselves. Plus it’s probably the best workout I've ever done in my life.
- I love to cook for myself and others. Cooking is one of the ways I get to use my creative outlet and try different things. Plus it's a money saver.
- I am naturally an introvert. I treasure my alone time but enjoy being around others when the time permits.
- I am originally from Tampa Florida, and spent most of my childhood and college days there. Which somehow surprises people whenever they meet me for some odd reason. I currently reside in the Dallas Fort Worth area.
