Cisco [CSCO] announced a new $10 million Global Cybersecurity Scholarship program as well as enhancements to its security certification portfolio on June 14.
The new scholarship is a two-year program meant to help increase the pool of available talent with critical cybersecurity proficiency. Cisco highlighted research shows there will be a 2 million person cybersecurity professional global shortfall by 2019.
The company will offer training, mentoring, and certification that aligns with a Security Operations Center Analyst industry job role. This program will also be delivered in partnerships with key Cisco Authorized Learning Partners.
Cisco is also introducing a new CCNA Cyber Ops Certification to its security certification portfolio and will revise its CCIE Security Certification, the company said.
The CCNA Cyber Ops will focus on the role of the security analyst working in a Security Operation Center (SOC), a facility that monitors systems and detects cyber attacks. This is meant to introduce information technology (IT) personnel to some skills needed in SOCs so they understand how cyber responses are coordinated.
The new certification expands the company’s existing associate-level offerings that focus on network security administrator roles and already include the CCNA designation.
The CCIE Security revision is aimed at addressing new expert-level skills and education needed to prepare personnel for evolving technologies and security threats, the company said. Revisions include assessments on the latest security technologies, including advanced threat protection, advanced malware protection, next-generation IPS, virtualization, automation, and information exchange. Another revision includes a new assessment approach that focuses on ensuring candidates demonstrate knowledge and skills with evolving technologies to include network programmability, cloud and Internet of Things (IoT).
“We developed this scholarship program to help jump-start the development of new talent. This includes the opportunity to help diversify the IT security industry by reaching people around the world including veterans, women and those early in their careers, to inspire them to enter the cybersecurity profession,” Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn, vice president and general manager of Cisco Services, said in a statement.
“This is just a start to help us educate, train and reskill the job force to become the security IT professionals needed to help address this vast talent shortage,” she added.