Raíces Cyber Brings Hands-On Cybersecurity Education to 31 Students in Humacao, Puerto Rico

In September 2026, 31 students in Humacao, Puerto Rico participated in a nine-day cybersecurity bootcamp delivered by Raíces Cyber in collaboration with P.E.C.E.S. and with support from the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development.

Throughout the program, students explored cybersecurity through practical activities covering concepts such as the CIA Triad, digital footprints, phishing, Man-in-the-Middle attacks, OSINT, IoT security, log analysis, and ethical hacking. When limited equipment, connectivity challenges, and power interruptions affected the original lesson plans, instructors adapted the experience using smartphones, demonstrations, CyberChef, Shodan, Kahoot challenges, and other accessible learning methods.

Industry professionals also joined the experience to expose students to cybersecurity careers and mentorship. Students learned about the Cyber Athlete model, Blue Team operations, defensive resilience, and the professional opportunities available across the field. By the end of the bootcamp, all 31 participants had signed an Ethical Hacker Contract and received a Certificate of Concepts of Cybersecurity, with select students receiving an opportunity to continue their education through the Google Cybersecurity Certificate program.

The Humacao bootcamp reflects a central part of Raíces Cyber’s mission: expanding access to cybersecurity education and creating pathways for communities that have historically had fewer opportunities to participate in the field. For these students, access meant working with cybersecurity tools, meeting professionals who could share their own journeys, and seeing how the skills they were developing could connect to future education and careers.

The next generation of cyber defenders is already taking shape. Our work is to keep creating opportunities for them to learn, practice, and grow.