May 9th, 2026 @10:00 am to 11:00 am ET – Python & Machine Learning Programming Workshop – 5-Session Professional Development Program

Course Level: Foundational
Duration: 5 Sessions (1 Hour Each)
Delivery: Virtual – Live via Microsoft Teams
CPEs: Up to 5 (based on attendance)
Start Date: 05/09/26 (Saturdays)
Time: 10:00 am to 11:00 am ET

Course Overview

ISSA-NOVA is offering a hands-on introductory program designed to provide foundational knowledge in Python-based Machine Learning (ML) for security professionals and other technical practitioners with little to no programming experience.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) enables systems to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning from data and making decisions. Machine Learning (ML), a core subset of AI, focuses on developing algorithms that allow systems to learn patterns from data and improve performance over time.

This course introduces participants to essential ML concepts and demonstrates how Python can be used to train, evaluate, and visualize machine learning models. The program emphasizes practical application, enabling participants to work directly with data, build simple models, and understand how ML can be applied in cybersecurity and business contexts.

Through guided instruction, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises, participants will gain experience in training algorithms, interpreting results, and identifying common issues such as false positives and false negatives.

This program is led by Brandy Derogene and Constantinos Doskas, combining modern cybersecurity expertise with decades of software development experience.

Brandy Derogene, Director of Software Development/Data Science at ISSA-NOVA and Cyber Hygiene Manager at CFA Institute, specializes in cloud security, DevSecOps, and Zero Trust. With a background at Microsoft and extensive federal experience, she focuses on building secure, scalable systems and making complex topics practical and accessible.

Constantinos Doskas, Vice President of Software Development/Data Science at ISSA-NOVA, brings over 40 years of experience in software development, systems engineering, and security. He has held leadership roles across industry and is an active contributor to the cybersecurity community and ISSA Journal.

Together, they deliver a practical, experience-driven approach to learning Python and Machine Learning.

Course Format

A focused, practical learning experience featuring:

  • Instructor-led demonstrations of Python and ML concepts
  • Hands-on exercises for building and evaluating models
  • Real-world examples relevant to cybersecurity and data analysis
  • Interactive Q&A and guided troubleshooting
  • Practical applications of ML concepts using Python

Course Materials Include

  • Expert live instruction
  • Step-by-step demonstrations
  • Hands-on lab activities
  • Sample datasets and scripts
  • Supplemental reference materials
  • Session summaries and example code

Learning Objectives

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

  • Understand foundational concepts of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Use Python to plot and visualize data
  • Describe the history and core principles of Machine Learning
  • Train basic machine learning algorithms using Python
  • Generate predictions from trained models
  • Evaluate model performance using accuracy metrics
  • Identify false positives and false negatives in model outputs
  • Interpret results and recognize common issues in ML models

High-Level Course Outline

WeekDateTopicArea Covered
1Saturday 05/09/26Python RefresherReview of Python basics and environment setup
2Saturday 05/16/26Data VisualizationBasics of plotting and visualizing data
3Saturday 05/23/26ML FundamentalsTraining algorithms and calculating prediction accuracy
4Saturday 05/30/26Model EvaluationPlotting results and interpreting outputs
5Saturday 06/06/26Model Analysis & Q&AIdentifying issues, refining models, and final Q&A
    

Who Should Attend

This program is ideal for:

  • Cybersecurity professionals exploring AI/ML applications
  • Analysts working with data and pattern recognition
  • Technical staff seeking foundational ML knowledge
  • Individuals interested in applying machine learning in real-world scenarios
  • Beginners looking to understand ML without deep programming experience

Pricing

ISSA-NOVA Members: Free

Members of Other ISSA Chapters: $25 per session

Non-Members: $50 per session

Participants may earn up to 5 CPEs and will receive a certificate of completion based on attendance.

Registration

REGISTER: ISSA-NOVA Members
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAUEDRTjhHTksbKNpJj800QM9RHmByEh3ETeFx1UIiTi2nZQ/viewform?usp=header

REGISTER: Members of Other ISSA Chapters – $25
https://square.link/u/wxB1BAUb

REGISTER: Non-Members – $50
https://square.link/u/Nbq1APO6

Questions

Questions about the course may be directed to:
datascience@issa-nova.org

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