From novice to knight
Build on your IT foundations and develop practical skills in Offensive or Defensive Cybersecurity through projects, collaboration and expert guidance.
Secure the digital future with cutting-edge cybersecurity skills.
In the Cybersecurity Academy, you learn how cyberattacks work and develop the skills to protect systems, investigate threats and identify vulnerabilities. This structured training programme builds on your existing IT and networking knowledge. You then move into your chosen specialisation: Offensive Cybersecurity or Defensive Cybersecurity.
Your programme at a glance
- Duration: 7 months at 40 hours per week or 18 months at 20 hours per week
- Learning format: Online project-based learning combined with regular on-site sessions
- Tuition fee: €500
- Next cohort: April 2027
- Applications open: November 2026
Both specialisations follow the same duration and weekly workload. Learning combines independent project work with scheduled activities, collaboration and deadlines.
Through hands-on projects and peer-to-peer learning with guidance from industry experts, you work alongside other participants to solve practical security challenges. Whether you want to deepen your expertise or move towards a role such as cybersecurity analyst or ethical hacker, you gain technical experience alongside the communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills needed to apply your knowledge.
Getting started
Do you have the foundations to begin?
To join the AI Academy, you should already have some knowledge of mathematics, statistics and Python programming. The common core builds on this knowledge, preparing you to specialise in Data Science or Machine Learning.
Need to strengthen your skills first?
The DLH catalogue offers online and on-site preparatory courses to help you strengthen your skills before the admission test. These courses may not cover every assessed topic, so use the assessment preview to guide your preparation.
Explore the preparatory courses in the DLH catalogue or contact academy@dlh.lu for guidance.
How to apply
When applications open, create a separate account on the Academy admission platform. You can use the same email address as your DLH account.
Once your account is created, you can access online resources and quizzes to prepare for the on-site test.
- On-site test: Demonstrate your knowledge and practical skills. You can retake the test, with further preparation if needed.
- Individual interview: After passing the test, discuss your background, motivation and preferred specialisation with the Academy team.
Admission depends on your test results, interview and available places.
Curriculum
Indicated time frames are based on a weekly time commitment of 40 hours. If you choose to pursue the programme with a weekly time commitment of 20 hours, the overall duration will double accordingly. Please note that the duration also varies depending on the specialisation you select.
Common Core Programme
Strengthen your foundations in systems, networks and security. You practise scripting and learn to identify threats, assess risks and work collaboratively.
Main topics
- Cybersecurity Foundations (Introduction to core principles, career paths, ethical frameworks, and version control tools like Git and GitHub).
- Operating Systems & Shell (Linux and Windows fundamentals, command-line proficiency, file structures, and permissions).
- Security Fundamentals (Networking basics (TCP/IP, firewalls, routing), threat types, attack vectors, and risk management).
- Scripting & Enumeration (Bash, PowerShell, and Python scripting essentials, network/system scanning, and reconnaissance automation).
Choose your Specialisation
Offensive Cybersecurity
Learn to identify vulnerabilities through authorised security testing. You explore attack techniques, assess weaknesses and report findings with recommendations for improvement.
Main topics
- Reconnaissance & OSINT (Active and passive information gathering, OSINT frameworks, and target profiling).
- Web & Cloud Attacks (Web application architecture, OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities, mobile app testing, and cloud security).
- Exploitation Techniques (Buffer overflows, privilege escalation, and exploit development using Metasploit and manual methods).
- Reporting & Ethics (Professional documentation, legal considerations, and stakeholder communication).
Defensive Cybersecurity
Learn to protect systems, detect threats and respond to security incidents. You investigate suspicious activity and strengthen an organisation’s security and resilience.
Main topics
- Security Operations & Incident Response (SOC monitoring, SIEM tools, threat analysis, incident response lifecycles, and malware analysis).
- Endpoint & Cloud Security (System hardening, EDR tools, vulnerability management, IAM concepts, and cloud compliance).
- Governance & Resilience (Risk assessment frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001), business continuity, disaster recovery, and security policies).
Capstone Project
The capstone project is the culmination of your specialisation, designed to showcase your skills in real-world applications. It can be inspired by your own ideas or proposed during an internship, with mentors guiding you to bring your vision to life.
Certification
CompTIA Security+
Validate your ability to identify, analyse and respond to security threats across enterprise systems and networks.
Key areas assessed
- Risk management and cryptography
- Cloud and network protection
- Threat analysis and incident response
Relevant career paths
- Information Security Analyst
- Systems Security Administrator
Aligned with the ENISA European Cybersecurity Skills Framework (ECSF) and ESCO occupational profiles.
Explore Security+
CompTIA PenTest+
Validate your ability to plan and carry out penetration tests, identify vulnerabilities and develop mitigation strategies.
Key areas assessed
- Vulnerability assessment
- Exploitation techniques
- Reporting and remediation
Relevant career paths
- Penetration Tester / Ethical Hacker
- Vulnerability Analyst
Aligned with ENISA ECSF and ESCO profiles related to offensive security and threat analysis.
Explore PenTest+
The future belongs to those who create it.
Gain the skills, guidance, and confidence to thrive in tomorrow’s most exciting and promising fields. Registrations open in November for the next cohort starting in April 2027.