Jisdu AI: Cybersecurity Lab in a Box
Jisdu is my personal cybersecurity and AI ecosystem: a hands-on lab, a portable cyber range, and an ethical AI “co-pilot” that helps me learn, build, and defend—without doing the work for me.
A Lab, a Mentor, and a Long-Term Portfolio
Jisdu AI started as a simple Kali Linux lab and grew into my long-term cybersecurity project. It’s now evolving into a full ecosystem: a desktop lab for deep work, a portable cyber range I can take anywhere, and a set of AI-assisted tools that help me practice ethical hacking, blue-team defense, and real-world problem solving.
Desktop Lab: Jisdu Core
The main Jisdu installation runs as a dedicated Kali-based lab on my home system. This is where I:
- Practice ethical hacking and defense in safe lab networks.
- Spin up VMs to simulate clients, servers, and attackers.
- Log, document, and analyze attacks using structured templates.
- Run AI-assisted workflows to explain commands, tools, and logs.
Portable Lab: Jisdu in My Backpack
Jisdu Portable is my “lab in a box” concept: a small, efficient device (mini PC / SBC-style) that can act as:
- A self-contained cyber range for on-the-go learning.
- A portable SOC dashboard for logs and alerts.
- A teaching tool for future workshops, tutoring, or demonstrations.
The goal is simple: take my cybersecurity practice with me, even when I’m away from my main machine.
Meet Jisdu, Cyber-Rabbit Guardian
Jisdu is the visual stand-in for my work: a neon cyber-rabbit who watches the network, studies the logs, and trains against bad actors in the safety of the lab.
Jisdu in the Lab: What He Can Do
Jisdu is built in layers. Some modules are already in use; others are on the roadmap. All of them are designed to help me think like both an attacker and a defender while staying grounded in ethics and documentation.
Issue #1: Logbook Creation
A centralized place for notes and logs to show the growth of Jisdu as a project. This log is also where I will keep notes on my research and lists of RSS feeds I will use later in my projects. I was able to deploy an AI/Human colab code project on Streamlit 11/21/2025. I will now have:
- Structured lab notes for every exercise, research project and new idea.
- Attack → detection → mitigation documented step by step as I am learing.
- Logs designed to align with NIST CSF-style thinking: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover.
- Bug Bounty Logbook to record bounties, processes and notes as I master bounty hunting.
Issue #2: Wargames & Practice Runs
Guided attack/defense scenarios that help me build real skills (not just memorize commands).
- Planned integration with platforms like HTB / TryHackMe.
- Personal tracking of what I’ve learned, where I got stuck, and how I solved it.
- AI used as a “coach” to explain concepts when I hit a wall.
Issue #3: AI Mentor Layer with AI Powered Threat Analysis Engine
Jisdu integrates AI models as tutors—not as shortcut machines.
- Explain commands, tooling, and logs in plain language.
- Help rewrite notes for clarity while preserving my original work.
- Support debugging when something breaks, instead of hiding the error from me.
- AI Powered Threat Analysis Engine will analyze RSS feeds from major news sources for threats that could be pending and provide possible options for protection against threats.
Issue #4: Risk & Incident Tracker
A simple, human-readable way to log “incidents” in the lab: misconfigurations, successful attacks, and how I fixed them.
- Incident name, impact, and root cause.
- Action items for improving the lab, step by step over time.
- Designed to feel like a beginner-friendly, personal SOC notes tool.
Issue #5: Learning Dashboard
A meta-layer that tracks what I’m learning in class (and beyond) and ties it into lab exercises.
- “I learned this in class” → “Here’s how I tested it in Jisdu.”
- Links to course topics like networking, operating systems, and scripting.
- Reflective notes on what finally made the concept “click.”
Issue #6: Future Teaching Mode
Long term, I want Jisdu to be something I can use to teach others— not just a private lab.
- Guided labs for absolute beginners.
- Templates for ethical AI collaboration in cybersecurity learning.
- A model of how students can build their own “lab in a box” on a budget.
AI as a Tutor, Not a Shortcut
Jisdu is as much about how I work as what I build. I use AI every day—but under strict personal rules that keep my work honest, transparent, and truly mine.
My Collaboration Rules
I use frameworks (like “Copyeditor Mode”) to keep AI in its lane: coach, not ghostwriter.
- I bring my own drafts, ideas, and attempts first.
- AI can fix clarity, flow, and structure—but not create original work for me.
- I keep transcripts and notes to document how AI was used in my projects.
- In school, I treat AI as a tutor/TA, not as an answer engine.
Why This Matters
I’m building Jisdu not just to show technical skill, but to model ethical AI-assisted learning:
- Students can use AI without cheating.
- AI can make complex topics accessible for brains that need more time or different explanations.
- Employers and educators can see exactly where AI fits—and where it doesn’t.
Long-term, I want Jisdu to help spark better conversations about how we teach AI collaboration in cybersecurity.
Where Jisdu Is Heading Next
Jisdu is a living project. Below is a snapshot of where it’s been and where I’m taking it.
Ways to Support Jisdu (and My Journey)
Jisdu is a student-driven project built on a real budget. Support helps cover hardware, lab tools, and time so I can keep building, learning, and sharing what I’m learning with others.
Become a Supporter
I’m planning to share Jisdu lab notes, behind-the-scenes build logs, and educational resources for supporters.
- Early looks at new modules and features.
- Honest write-ups: what worked, what broke, and how I fixed it.
- Reflections on learning cybersecurity with the help of AI (without cheating).
Links will go here once they’re live:
- Patreon: coming soon
- Ko-fi: coming soon
Scholarships, Mentorship & Collaboration
Jisdu is also my long-term portfolio for cybersecurity scholarships, internships, and mentorship opportunities.
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Open to connecting with educators, professionals, and programs
focused on:
- Cybersecurity & ethical hacking
- AI in education
- Neurodiverse / non-traditional learners in tech
- If you’re involved with a scholarship, research project, or learning initiative and Jisdu resonates with you, I’d love to talk.
Who’s Behind the Mask?
Jisdu (ᏥᏍᏚ) means “rabbit” in Cherokee. In old stories, the rabbit survives by being clever, cautious, and just a little bit sneaky. That’s the energy behind this project.
Hi, I’m Lori Farmer – a cybersecurity student at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College or SKYCTC, building Jisdu as my long-term project, learning lab, and career portfolio. I use AI as a mentor and copyeditor to help me master hard concepts, not to skip them. My AI is my lifesaver that helps me overcome my learning disability and still be successful in school.
I built Jisdu as my stand-in: a cyber rabbit in a neon hood who does what I’m learning to do in real life—watch the network, read the logs, and push back against the bad actors. Instead of putting my real face everywhere online, Jisdu lets me stay a little anonymous while still sharing the work, the wins, and the messy learning process in the lab.
If you’re an educator or employer and want more detail on how I use AI ethically in my work, I’m happy to share documentation and specific examples.
How Jisdu Fits Into My Future
Jisdu is more than a side project—it’s how I’m preparing for a career in cybersecurity:
- Building real labs and tools, not just taking notes.
- Practicing clear documentation and communication—skills that matter on any security team.
- Learning how to collaborate with AI in a way that is honest, explainable, and sustainable.
One day, I hope Jisdu will help other students like me see that they can build their own lab, their own systems, and their own way of learning.