ST. JOHN’S, NL – With all the talk lately about cyberattacks and ransomware, College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) new microcredential probably couldn’t have come at a better time.
Through its Office of Customized and Continuous Learning (CCL), the Cybersecurity for the IT Professional program will be delivered in person from April 18-22, 2022 at the college’s Prince Philip Drive campus in St. John’s, NL.
Stephen Warren, CNA’s Dean of the School of Business and Information Technology, says this program is designed for IT professionals who want to enhance their knowledge in cybersecurity and receive industry-recognized credentials in the process.
“Cybercrimes are rising,” said Warren. “In a digitized and connected world, protecting data and IT infrastructures are priorities for organizations striving to minimize the risk of cyberattacks.”
In the week-long program, students will complete three courses: Introduction to Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity – Technical Defense, and Managing Cybersecurity Operations. The curriculum was developed and will be delivered by a cybersecurity specialist with extensive experience in managing and predicting cyber threats.
Microcredential courses or programs enable professionals to re-skill and/or upskill so they can change jobs, respond to changes in their current job or pursue a new career. They can be in addition to, complementary to, or a formal component of another qualification. The benefit of acquiring microcredentials is they are stackable (e.g., three or four of these short topics could be combined to equate to one of CNA’s credit courses); portable (recognized by other employers and institutions); and, can be promoted using a digital badge instead of a parchment.
Warren says this three-course program is also designed for professionals looking to enter the growing cybersecurity industry and fill the ever-growing skills gap.
“Cybersecurity for the IT Professional will directly support and strengthen the local cybersecurity industry, promote security for business and community stakeholders, and develop local expertise in cybersecurity in Newfoundland and Labrador,” he said. “We live in an online world. From social media to digital information – our lives are online. Protection of information is critical to people and companies.”
Cyber breaches have become commonplace, cautions Warren, and organizations must be prepared to protect and/or respond to the challenges that surround them.
“Having qualified personnel is the first step. Graduates of this program will be capable of performing many of the cybersecurity functions in small and large businesses and at various levels.”
For more information about this microcredential and other CNA programs, visit
www.cna.nl.ca.
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Media contact:
Ryanne McIsaac
Content Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7870
Ryanne.mcisaac@cna.nl.ca