HLSCC LEADS THE WAY IN DEVELOPING CYBERSECURITY PROFESSIONALS IN THE BVI

Tuesday, 5 March – In response to the increasing demand for highly skilled cyber security professionals in the region, the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) has partnered with the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2) – the world’s leading not-for-profit member association for cybersecurity professionals – to help students gain sought-after cybersecurity certifications to increase their employability and job-readiness.

As cyber threats become more sophisticated and pervasive, organisations across the globe are seeking cyber professionals who not only understand the theory and technical aspects of information security but can also have a practical understanding of strategic security management.

President of HLSCC, Dr. Richard Georges shared that the College is excited to be working with ISC2 as together they will provide the most recognised cyber security certificates in the world.

President Georges said, “Graduates of the various courses are in demand in the industry worldwide. This partnership will allow us to offer our students to become more employable and businesses will have the skills they need to deal with cyber-attacks.”

ISC2 Academic Partnerships Lead, Alex Mortimer also expressed delight to be working with HLSCC. Mr. Mortimer shared that ISC2 was attracted to the vision set out by the College as that like ISC2, HLSCC desired to meet the skills need of employers by educating students at various levels through practice based cyber security education.

He said, “With organisations under constant cyber-attack, we must work together to educate everyone. Together, we have developed a Cybersecurity career pathway through our certifications for all levels of experience from Cybersecurity Certification to Certified Information Systems Security Professional. The students will have a great experience as together we will provide all the support they need,” Mr. Mortimer said.

Manager of the Centre for Professional Development at HLSCC, Mrs. Veronique Forbes-King shared that the College, through its partnership with ISC2 will be targeting newcomers or students from all backgrounds to learn the basics in cybersecurity. 

Mrs. Forbes-King said, “The first certification we will start with is the Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) certification. This certification introduces students to Cybersecurity so that they can learn the basics and prepare themselves for a junior role in the modern cybersecurity work force. Following this certification, we will be targeting more experienced cybersecurity professionals by delivering the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) which assures employers that the individual student has the knowledge of Cloud Security as well as being up to date with industry standards.”

The course offerings at HLSCC will continue to increase in its reach to target those with more experience, by delivering the prestigious Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Certification which is geared toward experienced security practitioners, managers, and executives. The CISSP certification is accredited, recognised, and endorsed by leading organisations around the world. The CISSP meets the conditions of the ISO/IEC Standard 17024. The CISSP is one of the most respected and requested cybersecurity certifications. Hiring managers often use the CISSP as a benchmark because it requires both passing a tough test and on-the-job experience.

The CISSP’s curriculum will cover a wide array of subjects across its eight domains, which include Security and Risk Management, Asset Security, Security Architecture and Engineering, Communication and Network Security, Identity and Access Management (IAM), Security Assessment and Testing, Security Operations, and Software Development Security. This comprehensive approach ensures that CISSP professionals have a well-rounded understanding of all facets of information security. 

ISC2’s mission is to strengthen the influence, diversity, and vitality of the cyber security field through advocacy, expertise and workforce empowerment that accelerates cyber safety and security in our interconnected world. We serve to educate, empower, embrace, and engage our members through every step of their careers.

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