Macksofy’s 1-year cybersecurity diploma is a structured 12-month career track that stacks 4 industry-recognized certifications — CompTIA Security+ → CEH v13 → SOC-200 (OSDA) → OSCP (PEN-200) — into a single mentored programme with 6 months of continued placement support after completion. It is designed for fresh graduates, IT helpdesk / system admin professionals switching to security, and BCA/MCA students who want a single year of focused effort to reach mid-level cybersecurity employability. The diploma takes you from zero security background to OSCP-grade hands-on pentest skills with structured exam-prep at every stage.
Why a 1-year diploma instead of standalone certifications?
Three reasons most candidates pick the structured diploma over buying certifications one-at-a-time:
- Stacked credibility in 12 months. Mumbai BFSI red-team hiring managers look for a stack — typically Security+ (foundation), CEH v13 (ethical hacking proof), and OSCP (hands-on pentest depth). Buying these standalone takes 18–24 months because most candidates pause between certs. A structured diploma compresses this to 12 months with mentor-led continuity.
- ~21% bundle savings. Individual cohort fees: CompTIA Security+ ₹25,000 + CEH v13 ₹35,000 + SOC-200 ₹70,000 + OSCP ₹85,000 = ₹2,15,000. Bundle price: ₹1,70,000. Savings of ₹45,000 + zero per-cohort onboarding friction.
- 6 months continued placement support post-diploma. Standalone cohorts include placement support during the cohort only. The diploma extends placement-list access for 6 months after the last cert is cleared — covering the natural job-search window for fresh graduates.
The 4-quarter structure
Quarter 1 (Month 1–2): CompTIA Security+ Foundation
6-week mentored bootcamp covering SY0-701 syllabus — general security concepts, threats/vulnerabilities, security architecture, security operations, and program management. Hands-on labs with Wireshark, Nessus Essentials, OWASP Juice Shop, and Linux security tools. End-of-quarter milestone: pass CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 exam. Standalone cohort fee: ₹25,000 (included in diploma bundle).
Quarter 2 (Month 3–5): CEH v13 AI
8-week mentored bootcamp using EC-Council’s official CEH v13 courseware (Macksofy is an EC-Council Accredited Training Centre). 20 modules: footprinting, scanning, system hacking, malware analysis, web hacking, wireless hacking, mobile platform hacking, IoT hacking, cloud security, AI-based attacks. Includes iLabs 6-month access and EC-Council exam voucher. End-of-quarter milestone: pass CEH v13 exam. Standalone cohort fee: ₹35,000 (included in diploma bundle). Detailed course page: CEH v13 training.
Quarter 3 (Month 6–8): SOC-200 (OSDA) — Defensive Track
10-week mentored bootcamp for OffSec’s Foundational Security Operations and Defensive Analysis. Hands-on SIEM (Splunk + Elastic), MITRE ATT&CK detection engineering, threat hunting methodology, and incident response playbooks. Macksofy is not an OffSec Authorized Training Partner; this is an independent mentor-led prep program for OffSec’s OSDA exam. End-of-quarter milestone: pass OSDA practical exam. Standalone cohort fee: ₹70,000 (included in diploma bundle). Detailed course page: SOC-200 training.
Quarter 4 (Month 9–12): OSCP (PEN-200) — Offensive Track
12-week mentored bootcamp for the OffSec PEN-200 + OSCP exam. 40+ internally-hosted vulnerable machines, weekly mentor office hours, and two 24-hour mock exams to prepare for the real OSCP 24-hour practical. Macksofy is not an OffSec ATP; this is independent prep for OffSec’s official OSCP exam. End-of-quarter milestone: pass OSCP exam. Standalone cohort fee: ₹85,000 (included in diploma bundle). Detailed course page: OSCP training.
Bundle pricing and 12-month EMI
| Component | Standalone fee | Diploma bundle (saves ₹45,000) |
|---|---|---|
| CompTIA Security+ (online cohort) | ₹25,000 | ₹1,70,000 (one-time) |
| CEH v13 AI (online cohort) | ₹35,000 | |
| SOC-200 / OSDA (online cohort) | ₹70,000 | |
| OSCP / PEN-200 (online cohort) | ₹85,000 | |
| Total if bought separately | ₹2,15,000 |
12-month 0% EMI: ₹14,166/month across HDFC, ICICI, Axis, SBI, or Kotak credit cards — affordable for most working professionals while you’re studying. 6 and 9-month EMI tenors also available. EMI processes through our PCI-compliant payment gateway and does not appear as a personal loan on your credit report.
Corporate sponsorship: Macksofy issues GST invoices under Macksofy Technologies Pvt Ltd (GSTIN 27AALCM7641P1ZA) for employer-funded enrollments. The diploma’s structured 12-month timeline matches most corporate training budget cycles cleanly.
What’s included in the diploma bundle (full inclusions list)
- 4 live mentor-led cohorts across 12 months (online + optional BKC classroom switch at no extra cost)
- All 4 certification exam vouchers (CompTIA SY0-701, EC-Council CEH v13, OffSec OSDA, OffSec OSCP)
- iLabs 6-month access bundled with CEH v13 cohort (EC-Council ATC inclusion)
- OffSec PWK 3-month lab access bundled with OSCP cohort
- 40+ internally-hosted vulnerable machines + Splunk/Elastic SIEM environment + Mumbai BFSI scenario labs accessible across all 12 months
- Dedicated cohort WhatsApp group + bi-weekly all-cohort mentor office hours
- Resume + GitHub portfolio audit at Month 10
- 4 mock interview rounds (2 technical + 1 HR + 1 final-round) starting Month 10
- Recruiter introductions to Mumbai BFSI, Big 4 cyber, and GCC employers from Month 11 onwards
- 6 months continued placement-list access after final cert (Month 12) — covers natural job-search window
- 50% retake voucher discount on any exam attempt that requires retake
- Cohort certificate of completion + LinkedIn skill endorsement from Macksofy after final exam
Cohort calendar — 2026 diploma starts
- Cohort 2026-A: 2026-06-02 → 2027-05-31 (12 months). Starts CompTIA Security+ Quarter 1 in June 2026. OSCP exam window ends May 2027.
- Cohort 2026-B: 2026-08-04 → 2027-07-30. Starts Q1 in August. Suited for September graduates and Q3 corporate-budget-cycle enrollments.
- Cohort 2026-C: 2026-10-06 → 2027-09-30. Starts Q1 in October. Suited for end-of-academic-year transitions.
Each cohort runs simultaneously online and at the BKC classroom. You can switch between modes at any quarter boundary at no extra cost. Cohort sizes are capped at 25 students per quarter to maintain mentor-to-student ratio.
Who this diploma is (and isn’t) for
Ideal candidate profiles
- Fresh graduates (BTech CSE, BCA, MCA, BSc IT) seeking a structured 12-month employable-skills path
- IT helpdesk / system administrators with 1–3 years experience transitioning to cybersecurity
- QA engineers and developers wanting to switch into security engineering or AppSec roles
- Non-IT backgrounds (Commerce, Arts, non-CS Engineering) with strong logical aptitude and 6+ months self-study commitment
- Employer-sponsored cohort members where the company has budgeted a 12-month upskill programme
Not the right fit if
- You already hold one or more of the 4 certifications (CEH v13 or OSCP holders should pick a higher-value standalone like OSEP or OSWE instead)
- You need a specific specialization (digital forensics, GRC, cloud security architecture) — those are not covered by this diploma’s 4-cert stack
- You can only commit 4–6 hours per week — the diploma requires ~12–15 hours/week of self-study + cohort attendance
- You need a sub-6-month upskill path — pick a single cert cohort instead
Career outcomes — what alumni typically land
Based on Macksofy’s cohort placement data (2024–2026) and triangulated against public LinkedIn salary insights for cybersecurity titles in Mumbai/Pune/Bangalore/Hyderabad/Delhi NCR:
| Role | Typical first offer (within 6 months of diploma completion) | Indian banks/MSSP | Foreign banks / Big 4 / GCC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penetration Tester (entry, OSCP-anchored) | Months 11–18 of diploma | ₹9–14 LPA | ₹14–22 LPA |
| SOC Analyst L2 (SOC-200-anchored) | Months 9–15 of diploma | ₹10–16 LPA | ₹14–22 LPA |
| Security Analyst (CEH v13-anchored) | Months 6–12 of diploma | ₹4.5–8 LPA | ₹8–14 LPA |
| Junior Cybersecurity Engineer | Months 6–12 of diploma | ₹6–10 LPA | ₹10–16 LPA |
Most diploma alumni accept their first offer between Months 11–15. The 4-cert stack is the strongest entry-level credential profile in the Indian cybersecurity hiring market — most fresh graduates compete with 1 or no certifications, so a diploma graduate with 4 certifications + 12 months of mentor-vetted lab portfolio enters interviews with a meaningful signal advantage.
How to apply for a 2026 diploma cohort
Email services@macksofy.com with your target cohort (2026-A / B / C), current experience level, and target city / employer category. Or call +91 9930824239. We respond within 1 working day with a diploma-track readiness assessment call and EMI plan walk-through.
Related: Mumbai placement programme details | Standalone OSCP cost breakdown | CEH v13 fees in Mumbai | Hindi-medium courses | Macksofy vs Craw Security comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is this an accredited diploma like a university programme?
No — this is a structured certification-stack training programme, not a university-issued academic diploma. The 4 industry certifications (CompTIA Security+, CEH v13, OSDA, OSCP) are individually accredited by their respective issuing bodies. Macksofy issues a cohort certificate of completion at the end of the 12 months in addition to the 4 underlying certifications.
Q2. What if I fail one of the 4 exams during the diploma?
You continue to the next quarter while preparing for the retake in parallel. Macksofy provides 50% discount on the retake voucher for any of the 4 exams and free 1-on-1 mentor sessions before the retake. The diploma completion is timed against all 4 certifications being cleared within the 12-month window; if a retake spills past Month 12, your placement-list access still activates on the original 6-month post-diploma timeline.
Q3. Can I customize which 4 certifications are in the diploma?
The 4-cert stack is fixed for the bundle pricing — it’s been designed for proven Indian employer-recognized stacking. If you want a custom track (e.g., CEH + CPENT + OSWE + OSEP), we run that as a separate 12-month custom cohort with different pricing. Email us for a custom-track quote.
Q4. Is this comparable to Craw Security’s 1-year diploma?
Both are 12-month structured programmes targeting fresh graduates. Craw’s diploma includes a hardware kit (Flipper Zero, USB Rubber Ducky, HackRF) and Delhi/Saket physical classroom; Macksofy’s diploma anchors on 4 globally-recognized certifications + 6 months Mumbai BFSI placement support. For an honest side-by-side comparison see Macksofy vs Craw Security.
Q5. Is OSCP achievable in 1 year for a complete beginner?
Yes — but only with a structured 12-month build-up. CompTIA Security+ → CEH v13 → SOC-200 → OSCP is the most proven progression. Self-taught candidates without this progression typically take 2+ years to clear OSCP. The diploma’s 9-month foundation (Sec+ + CEH v13 + SOC-200) is specifically designed to make the 12th-month OSCP attempt high-pass-rate.
Q6. What’s the minimum laptop spec for the diploma?
16GB RAM, Intel i5/Ryzen 5 or higher, 512GB SSD, Windows 10/11 or macOS or Linux. If you don’t have this, Macksofy provides cloud-based virtual lab environment (additional ₹2,000/month rental during cohort) — browser-based access to Kali Linux + lab machines.
Q7. Does the diploma require coming to Mumbai?
No — the diploma runs fully online with live mentor-led cohorts. BKC classroom is optional and can be used for any subset of the 4 quarters. Approximately 65% of our diploma alumni complete the programme fully online from Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR, Chennai, Kolkata, and tier-2 cities.
Q8. Is the diploma’s placement support a guarantee?
No — we don’t issue placement guarantees because no honest training institute can; the final hiring decision belongs to the employer. We guarantee the placement process: resume audit at Month 10, 4 mock interview rounds, recruiter introductions to partner-category employers from Month 11, and 6 months of continued placement-list access from Month 12. Most diploma alumni accept their first offer between Months 11–15.
Q9. Can I do the diploma in Hindi medium?
Yes — all 4 cohorts within the diploma have Hindi-medium delivery options. Concepts taught in Hindi (with English terminology for tools and commands, since industry standard is English), interview prep in bilingual format. See Hindi-medium course details.
Q10. What if I want to drop out after Quarter 1 or Quarter 2?
The diploma has a quarterly review-and-exit option. If you decide after Quarter 1 (Month 2) that the programme isn’t right, you receive a pro-rated refund of unused quarters minus a ₹5,000 administration fee. Same logic at Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 boundaries. After Quarter 4 starts (Month 9), the OSCP-quarter fee is non-refundable due to OffSec PWK lab provisioning.