Cisco launches $10M cyber security scholarship

Cisco will invest $10 million in a two-year Global Cybersecurity Scholarship program to increase the pool of available talent with critical cybersecurity proficiency. The company will offer training, mentoring and certification that align with the Security Operations Center Analyst job role.

Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn, vice president and general manager, Cisco Services, said: “Many CEOs across the globe tell us their ability to innovate is hampered by their security concerns in the digital world. This creates a big future demand for skill sets that don’t exist at scale today. 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 cyber security profession. 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.”

Cisco plans to deliver the program in partnership with key Cisco Authorized Learning Partners. This training is designed to address the critical skills deficit, providing on-the-job readiness needed to meet current and future challenges of network security.

Cisco is also introducing a new Cyber Ops Certification to its portfolio of security certifications and revising its CCIE Security Certification. CCNA Cyber Ops focuses on the role of the security analyst working in a Security Operations Center (SOC) which monitors systems and detects attacks. It introduces IT personnel to some of the skills needed in a SOC, giving them an understanding of how responses are coordinated.

The CCNA Cyber Ops expands Cisco’s existing associate-level certification offerings, which includes the CCNA Security designation, which focuses on the network security administrator role.

The CCIE Security revision addresses new expert-level skills and education needed to prepare security personnel for evolving technologies and security threats. This revision includes assessments on the latest security technologies, including advanced threat protection, advanced malware protection, next-generation IPS, virtualization, automation and information exchange. It also includes a new assessment approach focused on ensuring that candidates demonstrate knowledge and skills with evolving technologies, such as network programmability, Cloud and IoT.