About Cyber Defense Technology Institute

Our Story

Cyber Defense Technology Institute started with a simple idea: cybersecurity students should spend more time building, configuring, attacking, monitoring, and defending systems—not only reading about them.

While teaching technical and cybersecurity courses, founder Michael Lopez saw that many students understood cybersecurity concepts but needed more opportunities to apply them in a realistic environment. Employers expect new professionals to understand networks, operating systems, security tools, documentation, troubleshooting, and incident response, but those skills are difficult to develop through lectures alone.

CDTI was created to close that gap.

The Cyber Defense Operations Program combines structured classroom instruction with hands-on labs that allow students to build networks, configure firewalls, analyze logs, identify vulnerabilities, investigate alerts, and respond to simulated security incidents.

Meet the Founder

Founder and Instructor

Michael Lopez founded Cyber Defense Technology Institute to create the kind of cybersecurity training environment he believes students need to succeed.

Michael has experience teaching cybersecurity, networking, electronics, industrial technology, and technical career education. He previously taught at the College of Eastern Idaho’s Energy Systems Technology and Education Center and has also served as an adjunct instructor at Idaho State University.

His teaching experience includes working with students preparing for technical careers in cybersecurity, information technology, industrial systems, automation, and critical infrastructure.

Michael is also continuing his graduate education through Boise State University’s Cyber Operations and Resilience program, with coursework focused on cyber risk, organizational resilience, and cybersecurity education.

Technical Experience

Michael’s technical background includes work and instruction involving:

• Cybersecurity operations and defensive security

• Networking, firewalls, VLANs, and network segmentation

• Windows and Linux systems

• Security monitoring and log analysis

• Vulnerability assessment and ethical hacking labs

• Digital forensics and incident analysis

• Industrial control systems, PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA

• Cyber risk assessments and security controls

• Technical curriculum and hands-on lab development

This combination of cybersecurity, industrial technology, and teaching experience shaped the design of CDTI and the ShadowNet Cyber Range.

Why CDTI Is Different

CDTI is designed around active learning. Students do not only watch an instructor demonstrate cybersecurity tools. They work directly with virtual and physical systems and complete guided assignments that reflect the responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.

Students learn to:

• Build and document segmented networks

• Configure firewalls and security controls

• Work with Windows and Linux systems

• Identify threats and vulnerabilities

• Analyze security logs and network traffic

• Investigate simulated incidents

• Apply ethical hacking techniques safely

• Communicate technical findings

• Prepare for industry certification exams

Our Mission

CDTI’s mission is to provide accessible, practical, and career-focused cybersecurity education that prepares students to protect modern information systems and critical infrastructure.

The school is committed to creating a professional learning environment where students can develop technical ability, ethical judgment, problem-solving skills, and confidence through hands-on experience.

Built in Idaho Falls

Cyber Defense Technology Institute is based in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and was created to expand access to practical cybersecurity education in eastern Idaho.

Through classroom instruction and the ShadowNet Cyber Range, CDTI aims to help prepare the next generation of cybersecurity technicians, IT security support professionals, and security operations analysts.

Michael Lopez