Kaspersky Lab and Swinburne University of Technology signed a first time Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support cybersecurity education and bridge the country’s skill gap.
In this partnership, the focus is on enhancing cybersecurity education within the school curriculum, allowing faculty to benefit from the “Train-the-Trainer” programme that promotes regular exchange of information such as industry insights and best practices. Students will also be able to obtain the latest knowledge, skills and experience that will be beneficial to their careers after graduation.
Last year, a government report estimated that Australia would need another 11,000 cyber security specialists over the next decade. With the rise of connected devices, more organisations are constantly faced with finding the right security fit to combat cyber-criminal activity. Kaspersky Lab recent research also show that one third of organisations place importance in improving their in-house security expertise among the top three priorities of their IT security investment.
ANZ General Manager Margrith Appleby says, “The current skills shortage is a result of a lack of defined career paths. We believe our partnership with Swinburne University of Technology within their respective faculties in software, engineering, science and technology will ensure the development in training and educational content for a new future of cybersecurity experts in Australia.”
Swinburne University of Technology will also benefit from the experts from the Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT). GReAT make up one third of Kaspersky Lab employees who are qualified Research and Development specialists. GReAT will facilitate with the faculties and lecturers in guest speaking sessions and provide greater insights in cybersecurity.
Melbourne based, GReAT Senior Security Researcher, Noushin Shabab said, “When I first started looking for a job in this field two years ago, I noticed how small the skill gap of security researchers were in Australia. It was a relatively new field at that time and not a lot of universities had cybersecurity courses. After a hacking attack that resulted in Census website being shut down and Wanna Cry ransomware, education ministries have found it crucial to grow a new breed of students and professionals in the field of cybersecurity.
Industry also started to create and hire more research positions in the security field. Our new partnership with Swinburne is very exciting as both parties can truly make a difference for this industry.”
Kaspersky Lab has also previously signed three separate (MoUs) with Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), and Temasec Polytechnic.
About Kaspersky Lab
Kaspersky Lab is a global cybersecurity company, which has been operating in the market for over 20 years. Kaspersky Lab’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into next generation security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky Lab technologies and we help 270,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.au
