Lock in with Olúmáyòwá
A free, community-led learning initiative delivered by volunteer mentors.
Community-led learning programmes covering security operations, ethical hacking, cloud infrastructure, and governance, delivered through mentor-guided sessions and applied projects.
Just starting? Try 90 Days to CCNA for foundational networking.
Programmes
Choose your track and start building practical skills through hands-on learning.
Learn cloud infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, and containerization. Work through applied scenarios covering deployment and scaling.
WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON:
- ✓Kubernetes orchestration & chaos engineering
- ✓CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab)
- ✓Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform, Ansible)
- ✓Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- ✓Docker containerization & microservices
- ✓Monitoring & observability (Prometheus, ELK)
FOCUS AREAS:
Learning paths: DevOps fundamentals, cloud infrastructure, and architecture
LEARNING FOCUS:
Focus on infrastructure automation, cloud platforms, and DevOps practices
Monitor networks in real-time, hunt threats, and respond to incidents like a Security Operations Center analyst.
WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON:
- ✓SIEM platforms (Splunk, ELK Stack, Elastic Security)
- ✓Log analysis & threat hunting
- ✓Incident response procedures
- ✓Malware analysis & threat intelligence
- ✓Security monitoring dashboards
- ✓Alert tuning & false positive reduction
FOCUS AREAS:
Learning paths: SOC operations, threat analysis, and security management
LEARNING FOCUS:
Focus on security monitoring, threat detection, and incident response
Learn to think like an attacker. Find vulnerabilities before the bad guys do.
WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON:
- ✓Penetration testing methodologies (NIST, OWASP)
- ✓Vulnerability scanning & assessment
- ✓Web application security testing
- ✓Network penetration testing
- ✓Social engineering & physical security
- ✓Exploit development & proof-of-concept
- ✓CTF challenges & bug bounties
FOCUS AREAS:
Learning paths: Security research, penetration testing, and security architecture
LEARNING FOCUS:
Focus on security testing, vulnerability assessment, and penetration testing
Learn to design compliance frameworks, manage risk, and understand security governance practices.
WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON:
- ✓Compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS)
- ✓Risk assessments & management
- ✓Security policy design & documentation
- ✓Internal audits & gap analysis
- ✓Incident response planning
- ✓Board-level reporting & metrics
- ✓Third-party vendor risk management
FOCUS AREAS:
Learning paths: Compliance frameworks, GRC management, and security governance
LEARNING FOCUS:
Focus on compliance frameworks, risk management, and security governance
How it works
- Free participation for all learners
- Volunteer-led mentoring from industry professionals
- Live Webex sessions and community discussion
- Applied labs and projects
- Cohort-based learning with defined start and end dates
- Small peer groups for accountability and support
Community impact
These figures reflect community participation and feedback.
Participation and completion to date across the four specialisation tracks:
By the numbers
- • 420+ learners enrolled across 4 tracks (2023–2026)
- • 89% completion rate
- • 28+ countries represented
- • Active community participation across all tracks
Track distribution
- 📈 DevOps & Cloud: 165 learners (39%) – Highest demand
- 🔍 SOC Operations: 120 learners (29%)
- 🎯 Ethical Hacking: 95 learners (23%)
- 📋 GRC & Compliance: 40 learners (9%)
Skills and learning outcomes
- ✓ DevOps: Work through Kubernetes deployment scenarios and infrastructure automation
- ✓ SOC: Practice incident response workflows and threat detection techniques
- ✓ Ethical Hacking: Learn penetration testing methodologies and vulnerability assessment
- ✓ GRC: Explore compliance frameworks and risk assessment approaches
How we track progress
Enrolment and completion are tracked through programme participation. Feedback is gathered through follow-up surveys to understand learning outcomes and community engagement.
Last updated: December 2025
What participants learn
DevOps & Cloud Infrastructure
Participants learn to build and manage cloud infrastructure using Kubernetes, Terraform, and CI/CD pipelines. The track covers containerization, infrastructure-as-code, and deployment practices through hands-on labs and projects.
SOC Analyst & Cybersecurity Operations
Participants learn to monitor networks, analyze security events, and respond to incidents using SIEM platforms. The track covers threat hunting, log analysis, and incident response procedures through practical exercises.
Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing
Participants learn penetration testing methodologies, vulnerability assessment, and security testing techniques. The track covers web application security, network penetration testing, and exploit development through hands-on labs.
Cybersecurity GRC & Compliance
Participants learn to design compliance frameworks, conduct risk assessments, and manage security governance. The track covers regulatory requirements, policy development, and audit preparation through practical projects.
Your specialisation mentors
Meet the volunteer mentors supporting each track:
Working with mentors
All mentors contribute on a volunteer basis. They are selected based on experience in their fields and contribute their time voluntarily to support learners on each track.
Programme Lead
Olúmáyòwá Akinkuehinmi
Programme Lead • DevOps/DevSecOps Engineer
Founder and programme lead. Responsible for platform development, programme structure, mentor coordination, and cohort delivery.
Mentors
Gideon Aleonogwe
DevOps Lead Mentor • Senior DevOps/Site Reliability Engineer
Oluwabusola Opeoluwa
DevOps and Cloud Infrastructure Mentor • Cloud Architect and SecDevOps
Fortune Igili-Andrew
Ethical Hacking and SOC Lead Mentor • Offensive Security Engineer
🎯Leads: Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing and SOC Analyst tracks
📍Mentorship: Lab reviews + CTF competition coaching
Umar Farouk Farouk
GRC Lead Mentor • Cybersecurity Leader & GRC Expert
Mentorship model (all tracks)
- Weekly 1-on-1 or group sessions with your track mentor
- Lab reviews: Submit configs, policies, or reports for feedback
- Mentor guidance on learning paths, projects, and technical problem-solving
- Industry insights and professional development support
- Peer learning pods: Small accountability groups by track
- Community discussion and support between sessions
About your guide
Lock in with Olúmáyòwá focuses on technical learning through applied practice. Labs are practical and scenario-based, projects are applied and hands-on, and mentorship is delivered by volunteers with industry experience.
- Volunteer mentors with industry experience (DevOps, SOC operations, security testing, compliance)
- Practical scenarios and hands-on labs
- Applied projects demonstrating practical skills
- Guidance from volunteer mentors on learning paths and technical problem-solving
- Community learning and knowledge sharing
Programme leadership
Responsibilities include building and maintaining the platform; designing programme structure and focus areas; coordinating mentors and cohorts; overseeing delivery and learner support; and reviewing project work and outcomes.
Frequently asked questions
Who are these programmes for?
DevOps & Cloud suits those building infrastructure and CI/CD. SOC Operations is for learners interested in security monitoring and incident response. Ethical Hacking is for those with basic networking and OS knowledge looking to upskill into security testing. GRC & Compliance is for those focused on governance, risk, and compliance roles.
Are there prerequisites?
You should be comfortable using a computer and learning independently. For Ethical Hacking, basic TCP/IP and Linux familiarity is recommended. For DevOps and SOC, some technical background is helpful.
How do I access the content?
After you join, you'll receive guidance on materials and access to labs. You'll also get schedules for cohort start dates and mentorship sessions.
What happens after I join?
You'll receive information about schedules and community sessions.