Cybersecurity classes start Feb. 14, April 1

UD cybersecurity training focuses on high-demand field

The U.S. Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA) cites more than 570,000 open cybersecurity jobs in the U.S. and more than 3.4 million worldwide, with open positions increasing by 35% in the last year. With talent shortages at all levels, opportunities include roles in compliance, risk evaluation, policy, management, policies and procedures, detection and testing, as well as the specialized roles of programmers and software engineers.

In response to this demand, the University of Delaware’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies (UD PCS) is offering foundational and advanced cybersecurity professional development online courses this spring. Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Practitioners and Managers and Advanced Cybersecurity Defense Certificate start April 1 and Feb. 14, respectively.

Developed by UD alumni and cybersecurity experts Jason Reynolds, Casey Rock and Dylan Martin, the courses provide an introduction to key cybersecurity concepts and terminology, followed up by hands-on practice in a unique cybersecurity training platform they created.

“These courses are particularly designed for those are who are interested in moving into, or are new in the cybersecurity field, and who’ve had very little background or knowledge of the field,” explained lead instructor and cybersecurity expert Jason Reynolds.

Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Practitioners and Managers, takes place April 1-May 15. This self-paced, online class is designed for those with little to no prior cybersecurity knowledge. The self-paced content is supplemented with optional weekly live-online, instructor-led sessions to discuss the virtual assignments and share knowledge between instructors and participants. The fundamentals class covers important cybersecurity concepts, tools and terminology, and is intended as an introduction to the industry and as a steppingstone for further training in the field.

Advanced Cybersecurity Defense takes place Feb. 14-May 15 and is intended for those with some familiarity with the cybersecurity field, or for those who completed the fundamentals class. Hands-on experience in the course’s unique cloud-based practice platform is a key feature of the class, providing a realistic network environment for virtual lab assignments and virtual “capture the flag” activities and hacking challenges.

Also offered through UD PCS are two self-paced online exam preparation classes, focused on the CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) and CompTIA Security+ certification exams.

For details about the upcoming courses, visit the website, https://www.pcs.udel.edu/cybersecurity/.