Build • Break • Engineer

Hands-On Technical Mentorship Program

Learn differently. Learn the hard way. See the difference.

Tracks

Track 1 – Programming: Under the Hood (C) · Built to Last (Rust)

Track 2 – Security: Think Like an Attacker · Break the App · Inside the Beast · Own the OS · Secure the Cloud · Shift Left · Red Team, AI Edge

Track 3 – AI: AI That Ships

Opening Summer Mentorship Slots - Only for College Graduates

What This Program Is

This is not online training. No one will teach you from slides or run you through labs. You learn by doing, getting stuck, and then working through it. That is the difference. Guidance is tailored to each individual. With more than two decades in the industry, the mentor knows what the industry expects; these programmes are aimed at that.

Programming: You will not learn by watching. You will write real code and build real systems in C and Rust.

Security: You will not only study vulnerabilities. You will find and fix them in networks, apps, malware, cloud, and pipelines. Think like an attacker; defend like an engineer.

AI: You will not just watch demos. You will build with real models and ship AI that works.

Program Design

You attempt the problems first. You struggle with the code, tools, or techniques. Then we discuss the approach, correct mistakes, and improve the solution. The structure is there; the hard work is yours. We recommend 120 to 150 days for good coverage of a programme and completion of the capstone project.

The difference comes from:

Real-world problem statements you tackle yourself
Direct technical discussions after you have tried
Debugging and troubleshooting your own code
Review of your work and progress when you have something to show

This is not an online program. This is how you learn differently.

Certification

Certificates of Completion are issued only after the capstone project is completed and demonstrated. This program is not attendance-based.

Certification requires:

Completion of the assigned capstone project
Technical demonstration of the work
Clear understanding of the technical implementation

No capstone. No certification.

This is just the gist. Enroll to gain the full depth.

Programmes

Ten programmes across three tracks. Hands-on.

Under the Hood C Programming & System Programming
Write real code. Debug real crashes. Own the machine.Build utilities that run at the core of systems.Build a mini shell, log parser, or packet sniffer.
Built to Last Rust & Modern Systems Development
Safe, fast, reliable. No garbage collector, no compromise.Backend services and CLI tools that ship.Build a production-style API or async scanner.
Think Like an Attacker Network & Server Penetration Testing
Find what’s exposed. Pivot. Escalate. Document.Real infrastructure, real attack chains, lab-only.Deliver a full engagement report or enum toolkit.
Break the App Application & Web Security Testing
Auth, APIs, logic flaws. Break them before attackers do.Manual testing and professional reports.Build an app, then break it and fix it.
Inside the Beast Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
Static and dynamic analysis. PE, assembly, IOCs.See how malware really behaves in a safe lab.Reverse a sample and document the kill chain.
Own the OS Secure Systems - Linux, BSD & Windows
Harden and reason about Linux, BSD, and Windows.Attack surface, configuration, scripting on real systems.Deliver a hardening guide or secure baseline.
Secure the Cloud Cloud Security
IAM, misconfigs, network. Build secure, find weak.AWS, Azure, or GCP in lab environments.Design secure architecture or deliver an assessment report.
Shift Left DevSecOps / Secure SDLC
SAST, SCA, pipelines. Security in the build.Fix findings, reduce risk before production.Secure a pipeline and document the journey.
Red Team, AI Edge Classical Red Teaming Using AI
Phish, macros, C2. AI speeds the build; you run the op.Authorised only. Lab environments, clear scope.Deliver a full red team report with AI-assisted phases.
AI That Ships Hands-On AI & Systems Engineering
RAG, agents, local LLMs. Real models, real products.From prototype to something users can run.Build a RAG app, multi-agent workflow, or AI pipeline.

Under the Hood

C Programming & System Programming

Build real system utilities. Debug crashes and memory problems. Understand how programs actually run.

Theme

Understanding how computers actually execute programs. Focus on memory behavior, pointers, debugging, system interaction, and writing efficient system-level code.

Core Topics

C program structure and compilation model
Memory layout (stack vs heap)
Pointers and pointer arithmetic
Dynamic memory management (malloc / free)
File I/O and system interaction
Modular programming and multi-file projects
Debugging techniques and program tracing
Implementing core data structures directly in C
Socket programming fundamentals (TCP / UDP basics)

Real System Implementation

You will implement core data structures and algorithms directly in C. These components will be integrated into small system utilities that process files, network data, or system input. Typical concepts explored include: linked list structures used in low-level system components; hash tables for fast lookup; buffer management techniques; file indexing approaches. You will implement these components yourself, integrate them into working programs, and debug them when they fail.

Sample Capstone Projects

Terminal-based text editor (similar to a simplified nano)
Secure file transfer utility for Linux systems
Mini shell for Linux command execution
High-speed log parser for large log files
Packet sniffer using libpcap (tcpdump-style)
Simple network port scanner
Configuration file parser and validator

Built to Last

Rust & Modern Systems Development

Build high-performance systems. Write memory-safe concurrent programs. Design reliable backend and system tools.

Theme

Building high-performance systems with memory safety. Focus on ownership, concurrency, and reliable systems programming.

Core Topics

Rust program structure and Cargo ecosystem
Ownership and borrowing model
Lifetimes and memory safety
Error handling patterns (Result / Option)
Modular project structure and crate design
Concurrency and asynchronous programming (Tokio)
Building command-line tools and system utilities
Backend services and REST APIs in Rust

Real System Implementation

You will build real tools and services using Rust. Programs will focus on reliability, performance, and safe concurrency. Typical concepts explored include: safe memory management using the ownership model; concurrent task execution using async runtimes; efficient request handling in backend services; data processing pipelines with controlled resource usage.

Sample Capstone Projects

Production-style backend service with REST APIs and database integration (Axum / Actix)
High-performance asynchronous network scanner using Tokio
Terminal-based system monitoring dashboard using Ratatui
Concurrent file processing pipeline using async Rust
Network traffic analysis tool using asynchronous packet processing
AI inference API service for high-performance request handling

Think Like an Attacker

Network & Server Penetration Testing

Discover exposed services and hidden attack paths. Analyze systems the way attackers do. Understand how real infrastructure gets compromised.

Theme

Understanding how attackers discover weaknesses in networks and server infrastructure. Focus on reconnaissance, service analysis, exploitation techniques, and documenting security weaknesses.

Core Topics

Network discovery and host enumeration
Service identification and attack surface analysis
Linux and Windows server attack surfaces
Credential attacks and lateral movement concepts
Privilege escalation techniques
PowerShell and shell environments
Manual penetration testing workflow
Vulnerability documentation and reporting

Real Attack Analysis

You will analyze how weaknesses in networks and servers are discovered and exploited. Exercises focus on identifying exposed services, misconfigurations, and privilege escalation paths. Typical areas explored include: service enumeration and version analysis; authentication weaknesses; misconfigured services and permissions; privilege escalation paths. Students reproduce attack paths in controlled lab environments and document the full attack chain.

Sample Capstone Projects

Simulated enterprise network compromise with full attack chain documentation
Multi-host penetration testing scenario
Server privilege escalation research and exploitation report
Automated network enumeration toolkit
Network attack simulation with complete security assessment report

Break the App

Application & Web Security Testing

Break authentication and access controls. Analyze how modern applications fail under attack. Understand the real impact of insecure design.

Theme

Understanding how web applications fail under attack. Focus on authentication, authorization, APIs, logic vulnerabilities, and analyzing the real-world impact of insecure application design.

Core Topics

Web architecture and HTTP fundamentals
Authentication mechanisms and session management
Authorization and access control failures
REST API security testing and abuse scenarios
Injection vulnerabilities and input handling failures
Business logic vulnerabilities
Manual web application testing workflow
Vulnerability documentation and secure design practices

Real Application Analysis

You will analyze how modern web applications expose vulnerabilities. Exercises focus on identifying weaknesses in authentication flows, API endpoints, and application logic. Typical areas explored include: authentication bypass scenarios; access control weaknesses; API endpoint misuse; logic flaws in application workflows.

Sample Capstone Projects

Build a full-stack web application and analyze its security weaknesses
Authentication and authorization bypass research project
REST API abuse and security testing scenario
Business logic vulnerability analysis
Full vulnerability assessment of a web application with a professional security report

Inside the Beast

Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering

Analyze how malicious software behaves. Understand how malware evades detection. Learn how attackers design malicious code.

Theme

Understanding how malicious software works internally. Focus on reverse engineering, behavioral analysis, and identifying how malware interacts with operating systems.

Core Topics

Malware execution flow and attack stages
Static malware analysis techniques
Dynamic malware analysis techniques
Portable Executable (PE) file structure
Assembly fundamentals for malware analysts
Sandbox environments and behavioral monitoring
Indicators of compromise and artifact analysis
Malware documentation and reporting

Real Malware Analysis

You will analyze how malware operates within controlled analysis environments. Exercises focus on identifying execution behavior, persistence mechanisms, and extracting indicators of compromise (IOCs). Typical concepts explored include: process execution and memory behavior; file system and registry modifications; network communication patterns; extraction of IOCs; process injection and process hollowing. Students analyze these behaviors in controlled lab environments and document the technical findings.

Sample Capstone Projects

Reverse engineer a malware sample and document execution behavior
Ransomware behavior analysis report
Malware analysis lab and sandbox environment setup
Malicious document attack chain analysis

Own the OS

Secure Systems - Linux, BSD & Windows

Harden and understand Linux, BSD, and Windows from a security and systems perspective. Attack surface, configuration, scripting, and how things actually work on each OS. Build and break real systems across the three platforms.

Theme

Understanding how to secure and reason about Linux, BSD, and Windows at the systems level. Focus on hardening, secure configuration, attack surface, and misconfigurations. You will work with real installations (lab or VM) to harden systems, find weak spots, and document what matters.

Core Topics

Security fundamentals across Linux, BSD, and Windows
Hardening and secure configuration (services, permissions, auth)
Attack surface and common misconfigurations
User and privilege model; authentication and access control
Scripting and automation for security and ops (shell, basic automation)
Logging and audit (what to enable, where to look)
Comparing security posture and trade-offs across the three OSes
Network and service exposure; firewall and access policies

Real Systems Work

You will work with real Linux, BSD, and/or Windows systems in lab or VM environments. Exercises focus on hardening systems, identifying misconfigurations, and documenting findings. Typical areas: unnecessary services and open ports; weak or default credentials; permission and privilege issues; logging and audit configuration.

Sample Capstone Projects

Hardening guide or hardened image for one or more of Linux, BSD, Windows
Attack surface assessment and remediation report for a lab system
Cross-platform automation or hardening script set (e.g. baseline checks)
Secure baseline documentation for a specific use case (e.g. server, workstation)
Comparison report: same workload secured on Linux vs BSD vs Windows with recommendations

Secure the Cloud

Cloud Security

Secure and assess cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP). Understand identity, misconfigurations, and attack paths. Build and break real cloud setups.

Theme

Understanding how cloud infrastructure is secured and how it is attacked. Focus on identity and access, misconfigurations, network exposure, and secure design. You will work with real cloud providers in lab environments to build secure patterns and to find and fix weaknesses.

Core Topics

Cloud provider fundamentals (identity, regions, networking)
Identity and access management (IAM, roles, policies, federation)
Common misconfigurations and insecure defaults
Storage and database security in the cloud
Network security (VPCs, security groups, segmentation)
Container and serverless security basics
Cloud security assessment and reconnaissance
Secure architecture patterns and hardening

Real Cloud Security Work

You will work with real cloud environments in lab or personal accounts. Exercises focus on building secure configurations, identifying misconfigurations, and documenting findings. Typical areas: overly permissive IAM; exposed storage or APIs; network misconfigurations; insecure identity patterns.

Sample Capstone Projects

Secure multi-account cloud architecture design and implementation
Cloud security assessment report (IAM, storage, network) for a lab environment
Automated misconfiguration scanner or checker for a cloud provider
Incident response runbook for a cloud-based workload
Comparison of secure patterns across AWS / Azure / GCP with recommendations

Cloud & Infrastructure Note

This track requires access to at least one major cloud provider (AWS, Azure, or GCP). You will need a cloud account for exercises and capstones. Free tier or trial accounts are often sufficient; some usage may incur cost beyond free tier. Participants should be prepared to manage minimal cloud usage for their own practice and projects.

Shift Left

DevSecOps / Secure SDLC

Build security into the development pipeline. Use SAST, DAST, and supply chain practices. Ship code that is secure by design.

Theme

Understanding how security is integrated into the software development lifecycle. Focus on secure SDLC, CI/CD security, automated testing (SAST, DAST, SCA), supply chain security, and secure coding practices. You will work with real pipelines and tools to add security checks and fix findings.

Core Topics

Secure SDLC and shift-left concepts
CI/CD fundamentals and pipeline security
Static application security testing (SAST) and code analysis
Dynamic testing and dependency/SCA (software composition analysis)
Supply chain security (dependencies, containers, signing)
Secure coding practices and remediation
Security gates and policy as code
Vulnerability management and prioritisation in development

Real Pipeline and Code Security

You will work with real or sample codebases and pipelines. Exercises focus on adding security tooling, fixing reported issues, and understanding trade-offs. Typical areas: integrating SAST or SCA; fixing findings and reducing false positives; securing build and deploy; reviewing dependencies and upgrade policies.

Sample Capstone Projects

Add security tooling (SAST/SCA) to an existing CI/CD pipeline and document findings
Secure a sample application and its pipeline end to end with a written report
Supply chain security assessment (dependencies, container image) with recommendations
Custom security gate or policy (e.g. branch protection, image signing) with documentation
Vulnerability management playbook for a development team

Red Team, AI Edge

Classical Red Teaming Using AI

Run real red team engagements. Use AI to build phishing lures, generate macros, and create C2 and implants. Learn classical attack chains with AI accelerating the build.

Prerequisites

This track requires access to commercial AI models. Participants should subscribe to commercial LLM services as needed to create artefacts, design and implement C2s, and complete the hands-on exercises.

Theme

Classical red teaming (phishing, initial access, C2, implants, persistence, lateral movement) using AI to generate and refine the technical artefacts. Focus on real engagement tradecraft: phishing and macro-enabled payloads, command-and-control design, implant and agent development. AI is used as a force multiplier for generating lures, VBA/macros, C2 components, and supporting code. All work is conducted in controlled lab environments with clear scope and authorisation.

Core Topics

Red team methodology: objectives, scope, rules of engagement, reporting
Phishing and social engineering: lures, pretexting, AI-generated copy and scenarios
Macro generation: VBA and Office macros for initial access, AI-assisted generation and obfuscation
Command-and-control (C2): design, protocols, implants, and AI-assisted C2 creation
Payload and implant development: shellcode, loaders, and LLM-assisted scaffolding
Evasion and detection: bypassing AV/EDR, trade-offs when using generated code
Post-exploitation and persistence in classical red team contexts
Responsible use, authorisation, and controlled environments

Real Red Team Operations

You will run classical red team exercises and use AI to build the artefacts. Exercises focus on full attack chains: phishing and initial access (including macro-based), C2 setup, implant deployment, persistence, and exfiltration or impact. You will use AI to generate phishing content, macros, C2 agents or stagers, and supporting code - then test, refine, and document in lab environments. Typical areas explored include: phishing campaigns with AI-generated lures and macro-enabled documents; VBA and Office macro generation (and obfuscation) with AI assistance; building or adapting C2 frameworks and implants with AI-assisted code generation; payload and loader development with LLM-assisted generation and safe review; end-to-end red team scenario from phishing through to report.

Sample Capstone Projects

Full red team engagement: phishing (with AI-generated lures and macros), C2, and implant deployment with written report
AI-assisted phishing and macro generation toolkit or playbook for authorised testing
C2 and implant creation using AI-assisted code generation (lab environment)
Macro-enabled initial access chain (document + macro + callback) with AI-generated components
Red team tooling suite: phishing, macro generation, and C2 creation with documentation

Ethics and Scope Note

This track is for authorised red teaming only. All exercises and capstones are conducted in controlled environments, with explicit scope and rules of engagement. AI is used to build classical red team artefacts (phishing, macros, C2, implants) within legal and ethical boundaries.

AI That Ships

Hands-On AI & Systems Engineering

Build practical AI-powered tools. Work with real models and real data. Design AI systems that solve real problems.

Theme

Understanding how modern AI systems are designed and engineered for real-world applications. Focus on building AI-powered tools, working with local models, creating agentic workflows, and designing practical AI systems that interact with real data and applications.

Core Topics

Working with open-source large language models
Running local models using tools such as Ollama
HuggingFace ecosystem and model usage
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems
Agentic workflows using frameworks such as LangChain and CrewAI
Designing AI pipelines that process documents and structured data
Responsible AI concepts and system-level risks

Sample Capstone Projects

Build a RAG application using local LLMs and vector databases
Develop a multi-agent workflow coordinating multiple AI agents
Build a local LLM application using Ollama and open-source models
Create an AI-powered knowledge assistant using HuggingFace models
Design an AI pipeline that processes documents and answers contextual queries

Hardware & Infrastructure Note

This track may require stronger hardware. Depending on the project, students may run models locally or use cloud-based AI platforms. Typical environments: local model execution (e.g. Ollama); systems with sufficient RAM or GPU; cloud platforms such as AWS Bedrock, AWS SageMaker, or similar.

Join the Program

Mentorship, Trainer & Enquiry

Limited Mentorship Program

This program is intentionally limited in size. Paid program; monthly participation fee. No stipend. You work on real technical problems; when you are stuck or have something to show, we engage. No one teaches you step by step. You learn the hard way; we discuss, review, and course-correct. That is why the program is limited to a small number of participants.

You get:

Discussion after you have attempted the problem
Review of your code, projects, and implementation
Structured problem tracks to work through
Feedback on your approach, debugging, and decisions

Industry Exposure & Guidance

Beyond the programmes, the mentor shares perspective from over two decades in cybersecurity and software: how real engineering and security teams operate, and what matters when you are building or breaking systems.

Participants may receive:

Recommendations of important technical books and research material
Guidance on useful conferences, communities, and professional learning resources
Advice on building strong technical portfolios and project documentation
Insight into industry expectations during technical interviews

Students who demonstrate strong effort, curiosity, and technical discipline may also receive guidance on preparing for industry opportunities and career direction.

About the Trainer

Founder - Tensor42 Technologies

Involved in Cybersecurity and Programming since 1994. Working in the Cybersecurity industry since 2003.

Professional experience includes working with a major Fortune 10 organization and a leading global antivirus company. Hands-on exposure across offensive security, malware analysis, application security, and secure systems development. Has worked with 50+ students and professionals who learned by doing and built strong technical foundations.

About Tensor42

Tensor42 Technologies builds products in cybersecurity, AI, and software. Active development includes security tooling, red team and defensive platforms, and AI-assisted workflows. The mentorship runs alongside real product work, so participants get exposure to how commercial tools and systems are built.

Application & Enquiry

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/senthilvelan/

Email
senthilvelantraining@gmail.com

This is just the gist. Enroll to gain more.