Students at 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»are going beyond theory and enjoying an innovative, hands-on way of learning how to fight cybercrime.
The United States is projected to lose $2 trillion to cyber attacks by 2019. And the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals is only growing worse, with 1.8 million jobs going unfilled by 2022, according to a .
βAre we ready as a country to face this threat? Not really,β warned Dr. Kanwalinderjit K. Gagneja, professor of computer science.
Gagneja recognized the sharp need in the field and won a $44,000 grant from the 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Center for Cybersecurity, managed by the University of South 91ΒιΆΉΣ³», to develop the curriculum and lab technology for a new Digital Forensics course at 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly.
βThe private and public sectors are both looking for well-trained cybersecurity experts. The problem is there is not enough supply of these professionals out there,β said Gagneja.
The new course provides both hands-on and theoretical training in the lab, where students work in teams creating a more interactive learning environment.
β91ΒιΆΉΣ³» is among the top states taking action against cyber attacks, but there are not enough colleges and universities training cybersecurity professionals to keep up with the demand,β said Gagneja. β91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly is offering the right kind of training and courses to prepare the students for the industry needs.β
Every day there are over 720 million cyber attacks, according to Gagneja. She adds that these attacks donβt just focus on stealing data, but can also shut down whole businesses, city services, or even complete cities.
βSociety must evolve to meet the escalated threats these attacks pose to our day to day lives,β she said. βWe can only get ready through education and awareness.β
The grant provides training for an advanced workforce in a thriving field, positioning 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»as a leader in cybersecurity education, consistent with its overall mission.
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Assistant Director of Communications
863-327-9762