Practitioner-led technical training across private cloud, networking, security, and automation. Built by engineers who deploy these technologies for a living.
Get Your Nerd On was founded with a single mission: give engineers, architects, and technical teams the practical knowledge they can immediately apply on the job. Every program is designed and delivered by engineers who actively deploy these solutions in production environments.
We don't do generic training. Before each engagement we assess your team's skill level, existing infrastructure, and goals — then build the curriculum around what you actually need.
Every course taught by engineers with active hands-on deployment experience — not career trainers reading off slides.
Real lab work in every session. Students work through scenarios that mirror production conditions so learning transfers directly back to the job.
We assess your team's existing skill level and infrastructure, then build the curriculum around what you actually need.
Every engagement includes structured KT at completion — covering architecture decisions, runbooks, and operational procedures.
Our curriculum covers the technologies that run modern enterprise infrastructure — taught at depth by practitioners who deploy them daily.
VMware Cloud Foundation end-to-end — architecture, deployment, lifecycle management, and day-2 operations at production scale.
Enterprise networking and modern security — Firewall, SASE, Zero Trust, XDR, and CCNA/CCNP certification training via Get Your Nerd On.
Cloud architecture, hybrid connectivity, and enterprise migration strategies covering core compute, networking, and cloud-native services.
Azure infrastructure, identity management, and hybrid cloud integration — connecting on-premises environments to cloud services securely.
On-premises AI stack design, GPU infrastructure deployment, and AI platform operations for organizations running AI workloads privately.
Physical infrastructure through advanced HCI deployments — the hardware layer underpinning private cloud environments at enterprise scale.
Every session is led by engineers who deploy these technologies for a living. Our approach reflects how real infrastructure work actually gets done.
Every course taught by engineers with active deployment experience — not career trainers reading off slides.
No slide-only sessionsWe assess your team's skill level and goals before building the curriculum — no generic templates.
Tailored every timeReal lab work — not just walkthroughs. Students work through scenarios that mirror production conditions.
Production-grade labsAd-hoc training sessions throughout every project — questions answered in context as the work unfolds.
In-engagement learningEvery SOW includes structured KT at project completion — architecture, runbooks, and operational procedures.
Included in every SOWFrom a focused 1-hour deep dive to a multi-day structured workshop — matched to your team's schedule and depth requirements.
1 hour to 5 daysOur dedicated Cisco security training program. Four focused 4-hour workshops covering Firewall, SASE, Zero Trust, and XDR — plus the 3-part XDR Series including Rise of the SNOC, co-authored with a Cisco SME. All delivered 100% virtually via Cisco dCloud.
Intensive half-day sessions — classroom instruction combined with live Cisco dCloud lab time.
Competitive challenge mode using Cisco's CTF environment — available for workshops and partner events.
Rise of the SNOC written in collaboration with a Cisco Subject Matter Expert.
Explore our Cisco security workshops or reach out to design a custom training program for your team.
Intensive 4-hour workshops blending expert instruction with live Cisco dCloud lab environments — where you configure, defend, and compete.
Every workshop combines structured instruction with real hands-on time in Cisco's live dCloud environment — you leave with practiced skills, not just awareness.
Expert-led sessions covering architecture, threat models, and real-world attack patterns — the "why" behind every configuration decision.
Configure, test, and respond in Cisco's actual dCloud environment — not simulations. Real products, real policy, real results.
CTF-style competitive challenges where teams race to apply what they've learned in a scored format.
Every workshop is built around a specific Cisco security product — deep expertise, not surface certification prep.
Four focused tracks, each a 4-hour deep dive into a specific Cisco security domain.
Configure policies, test threat inspection, and master next-gen firewall architecture in a live dCloud environment.
Explore Cisco's cloud-delivered SASE security platform converging networking and protection for distributed workforces.
Build Zero Trust policies with Cisco — verify every user, every device, every time, and block lateral movement.
Correlate telemetry across endpoints, network, email, and cloud to detect and respond to advanced threats.
Three scenario-driven workshops taking security teams from incident response to full SNOC operations — using live Cisco XDR tools and real-world pressure scenarios.
Rise of the SNOC was co-written by our lead instructor in direct collaboration with a Cisco Subject Matter Expert — bringing practitioner-level depth and Cisco product expertise into a single cohesive experience unlike anything else available.
Live XDR incident from initial alert triage through containment and remediation — against the clock.
Build detection rules, tune policies, and harden posture using Cisco XDR's full capability set.
Operate as a functioning SNOC across a simulated enterprise environment using Cisco XDR.
✍️ Co-Authored with Cisco SMEEvery workshop runs in Cisco's own dCloud platform — the same environment Cisco uses for its own product demonstrations and global partner enablement. No simulations.
Live cloud-hosted Cisco lab environments mirroring production configurations. Actual Cisco products, not mockups.
Cisco's CTF environment adds scored competition — teams race to solve security problems in an engaging format.
Maximum learning density. Half-day commitment, full-day impact. Instruction and lab time blended throughout.
Collaborative problem-solving that mirrors how real incidents get worked in production.
Contact Us for your security team, partner org, or event. Let's build something worth learning.
Four focused 4-hour workshops, each built around a specific Cisco security product. Classroom instruction + live dCloud lab time in every session.
The most popular workshop in our catalog. Get hands-on with Cisco's next-generation firewall in a live dCloud environment. Configure access control policies, enable advanced threat inspection, and learn how Firewall Management Center ties everything together.
Cisco's Secure Access Service Edge platform — cloud-delivered security converging networking and protection for the modern distributed workforce. This workshop explores Umbrella DNS security, SWG, CASB, and Zero Trust application access in a live dCloud lab.
Trust nothing, verify everything. Cisco's Zero Trust Network Access capabilities — building policies that enforce least-privilege access, reduce lateral movement, and continuously validate user and device trust posture throughout every session.
Cisco XDR correlates telemetry across endpoints, network, email, and cloud — unified visibility with automated response. This workshop introduces XDR concepts with live dCloud lab time, and serves as the foundation for the full XDR Series.
Reach out and we'll help you understand which track fits your team's background and goals.
Three escalating scenario-driven workshops taking security teams from alert triage to full Security Network Operations Center command — powered by Cisco XDR and dCloud.
The XDR Series gives security teams realistic operational experience inside Cisco's extended detection and response platform. Each workshop builds on the last — from reacting to a live incident, to proactively hardening defenses, to running a full simulated Security Network Operations Center.
All three run in Cisco's dCloud environment with real XDR telemetry and workflows. The final workshop also supports Capture the Flag competition mode.
Standalone or run as a full progression
Split across sessions or days
Rise of the SNOC written with Cisco expert
Your team receives an active alert. You have four hours to triage, investigate, contain, and remediate — using Cisco XDR's full toolset. This workshop puts participants under realistic pressure and teaches the discipline of structured incident response inside the XDR platform.
Shift left. Rather than reacting to incidents, this workshop focuses on proactive defense — tuning detection rules, building and optimizing policies, and hardening your security posture using Cisco XDR's full prevention and detection capability set.
The crown jewel of the series. Teams operate as a fully functioning Security Network Operations Center — managing real-time threats, coordinating response across the team, and running Cisco XDR across a simulated enterprise environment.
This workshop was co-written by our lead instructor and a Cisco Subject Matter Expert — and is available with CTF competition mode enabled, where teams compete on detection speed and response quality.
Interested in the full XDR trilogy or a single session? All delivered virtually — reach out and we'll find what works for your team.
Get Your Nerd On was created because security training didn't have to be boring, shallow, or disconnected from how professionals actually work.
Get Your Nerd On was founded in 2006 with a clear mission: bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation. We believe the best teachers are also active practitioners — bringing real consulting experience directly into every learning environment we create.
Get Your Nerd On is that philosophy applied to Cisco security. Our lead instructor has been working with Cisco since 1992, helped found the Denver Cisco Users Group in the mid-90s, and the team includes multiple CCSIs with active Cisco consulting backgrounds. When we started building these workshops in 2023, we were applying skills already proven across years of cloud and infrastructure engagements — the depth was there from day one.
All training is delivered 100% virtually via Cisco's dCloud environment — the same platform Cisco uses for its own global partner enablement. No travel, no setup, no simulations. Just real tools, real configuration, and real skills your team can use the next day.
Our lead instructor began working with Cisco in 1992 — building decades of hands-on expertise across Cisco's networking and security product lines long before certifications became the norm.
Helped found the Denver Cisco Users Group and served as chair for several years — establishing community leadership and deep relationships across the Cisco ecosystem in the Rocky Mountain region.
Established as an education company with a clear vision: to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation in virtualization technologies — combining the unique perspectives of instructors who are also active consultants.
Get Your Nerd On evolved from a specialized education provider into a comprehensive technology partner. Our lead architects developed deep expertise in Cisco and Cloud technologies, building proprietary knowledge, custom processes, and proven designs across engagements.
Prep work starts — applying our deep virtual and cloud infrastructure background directly to Cisco's on-prem and cloud-based security products. Several instructors hold past Cisco consulting experience; at least two are CCSIs who regularly teach Cisco technology.
First Cisco security workshops delivered under the Get Your Nerd On brand — 100% virtual, powered by Cisco dCloud, and built around the same practitioner-first philosophy that has guided Get Your Nerd On since day one.
Get Your Nerd On stands as premier education and consulting resources — blending classroom knowledge with real-world experience to deliver practical, cutting-edge Cisco security training tailored to each team's needs.
Every concept gets applied in a live environment. No passive observation when active practice is possible.
We go deep on Cisco security products. You'll leave knowing the platform, not just knowing about it.
Cisco dCloud and CTF are the same environments used by Cisco partners and engineers globally.
Content built and delivered by people who've worked in security — and co-authored with a Cisco SME.
CTF challenges and real scenarios make training something people actually want to attend.
Explore our workshops or reach out to discuss a custom program for your team or event.
Have questions about our workshops, want to learn more about a specific Cisco security topic, or interested in virtual training for your team? We'd love to hear from you.
Whether you want to book a single workshop, run the full XDR trilogy, or bring a custom CTF event to your organization — reach out and we'll make it happen.
All workshops are delivered 100% virtually via Cisco's dCloud environment — no travel required. Attendees join from anywhere with a browser and internet connection.
We typically respond within 1–2 business days. For urgent inquiries or upcoming events, mention your timeline and we'll prioritize accordingly.