Four tracks · all free

Our programs

Free, hands-on access to real enterprise systems rather than simulations.

Networking & infrastructure

• Who it helps: Participants entering IT support, networking or systems administration roles.
• What they learn: VLANs, routing, switching, firewalls, structured cabling and enterprise hardware operation.
• Real systems used: Physical switches, routers and firewalls, plus hypervisors and rack equipment in our own datacenter.
• Outcomes: IT support and junior sysadmin roles, plus recognized networking certifications.
• Funding need: Equipment and hosting, the largest recurring cost in this track.

Cloud & identity

• Who it helps: Participants entering cloud operations, identity operations or platform support roles.
• What they learn: Major cloud platform fundamentals, identity and access management, single sign-on, directory services and virtualization.
• Real systems used: Live cloud tenants, directory and SSO platforms, and production-style dashboards with real users.
• Outcomes: Identity and cloud operations roles, plus recognized cloud certifications.
• Funding need: Hosting and cloud credits, consumed every month a participant is learning.

Cybersecurity fundamentals

• Who it helps: Participants entering security analyst or security operations center (SOC) roles.
• What they learn: Threat modeling, log analysis, SIEM basics, incident handling and day-to-day security hygiene.
• Real systems used: Live logging pipelines and SIEM tooling fed by CCA’s own production infrastructure.
• Outcomes: Security operations roles, plus recognized security certifications.
• Funding need: Hardware and training resources, including exam vouchers.

Planned · not yet running

Aviation track

This program is in development and has not started. Whether it launches, and when, depends entirely on funding.

• Who it would help: People who want a route into aviation careers but could never afford flight training.
• What it would cover: Flight fundamentals, navigation, instrumentation and safety systems.
• What it needs to run: Flight school time, aviation equipment and mentor pilot hours.
• Status: Unfunded. No participants have been enrolled and no outcomes are being claimed.

What makes CCA different

We run real enterprise systems rather than simulations, on software we built ourselves that keeps us efficient and keeps us accountable.

• Real infrastructure, not simulations. Participants work on live networks, servers and cloud tenants where changes matter and mistakes have to be handled properly. That is the experience employers cannot find on a resume from a tutorial course.
• Software we built ourselves. Every device and every hour of access is tracked in a system we designed, so nothing walks off and nothing goes unaccounted for. It keeps overhead low and shows funders exactly what their gift produced.
• Programs are free. Loaner equipment and shipping included. Participants never pay, and we never ask them to.
• Real responsibility. Access is role-appropriate, governed and audited, the same way it would be in any competent organization.

Equipment lending library

Hardware should never be the reason someone cannot start. CCA operates a cooperative equipment lending library of more than 1,000 devices: laptops, networking gear and rack equipment, loaned to participants free of charge and shipped both ways at our expense.

The average replacement cost of a device in the library is $1,500. Keeping it stocked is one of the most direct things a donor can fund.

Fund the track that matters to you

Restricted gifts are welcome. Tell us which program you want to support and we will report back on exactly what your gift produced.