Fostering Resilience in Cyber Teams: Nurturing Resilience in the Digital Realm by Means of Education
In today's digital age, the importance of cybersecurity education for employees cannot be overstated. Continuous learning about the latest threats and attack vectors is crucial for organizations to stay resilient and effective in the face of evolving cyber threats.
The University of New Hampshire's Center for Cybersecurity Leadership, Education, and Outreach (CCLEO) plays a significant role in this endeavour through its renowned Center for Professional Development and Training in Risk Management (CPRM) program. This program equips professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complex landscape of cybersecurity, focusing on topics like policy, risk management, incident response, and governance, with an emphasis on applied learning and practical solutions.
Prof. Maeve Dion, Director of the CPRM program, emphasizes that graduates are not just technically proficient but also strategic thinkers who understand the broader context of cybersecurity. This holistic approach prepares them for leadership roles in cybersecurity, influencing policies and strategies at a high level.
Continuous education fosters a more proactive mindset in employees, helping them identify and prevent potential vulnerabilities. In fact, at least 55% of IT leaders rely on employees to alert them to cybersecurity incidents.
When selecting a high-quality online educational program, executive leaders should consider several critical factors. First and foremost, the program should align with the organization's business needs and cybersecurity goals. This allows for targeted training on relevant topics such as endpoint protection, cloud security, compliance requirements, or incident response measures.
A comprehensive and relevant content is also essential. The program should cover a broad range of essential cybersecurity topics including data management, privacy compliance, malware/ransomware awareness, phishing threats, and remote work security best practices.
Engagement and accessibility are key factors that ensure all employees can learn flexibly and at their own pace. Effective online programs offer engaging, interactive content such as videos, quizzes, gamified scenarios, and role-play that enhance learning retention.
Customization and personalization are crucial for diverse employee backgrounds and roles. The ability to tailor training by user group, skill level, and real-world threat simulations helps optimize learning outcomes and security behavior improvements.
Certification and industry recognition add credibility and value to the program. Vendor-neutral certifications often have wider applicability across multiple technologies and organizations, while vendor-specific certifications are key if the organization heavily uses particular cybersecurity products.
The quality of instruction and support is another essential factor. Choosing programs with skilled instructors, especially those offering live online sessions or blended approaches, can enhance comprehension. Some providers also offer guarantees (e.g., free retake if certification exams are not passed initially), which can provide confidence in the training quality.
Leaders should also review the training provider’s track record, customer feedback, and compliance with relevant industry standards to ensure the program’s credibility and suitability for regulated data environments or government contracting requirements.
Budget considerations should focus on the value delivered rather than the lowest price. Effective programs that reduce risks and improve cybersecurity posture justify investment through enhanced organizational resilience.
By evaluating online cybersecurity education programs through these lenses, executive leaders can select high-quality training that develops their employees’ skills comprehensively and sustainably, ultimately protecting the enterprise’s critical digital assets.
Organizations should consider partnering with higher education institutions like UNH for access to high-quality online programs, a comprehensive cybersecurity curriculum, and industry-expert faculty to build resilient cyber teams. Additionally, collaborating with higher education institutions provides access to cutting-edge research, emerging technologies, and industry best practices.
For those interested in pursuing cybersecurity education, UNH offers multiple degree programs tailored to different levels of experience and focus areas, including a Computer Information Technology: Cybersecurity program and a Cybersecurity Policy and Risk Management (CPRM) program. Learn more about online degrees and certificate program offerings at UNH designed for working professionals in the cybersecurity industry.
- The University of New Hampshire's Center for Professional Development and Training in Risk Management program, within the Center for Cybersecurity Leadership, Education, and Outreach (CCLEO), equips professionals with knowledge and skills in cybersecurity, including incident response, risk management, and governance.
- Continuous learning about cybersecurity is crucial for organizations to stay resilient and effective, with at least 55% of IT leaders relying on employees to alert them to cybersecurity incidents.
- When selecting a high-quality online educational program, executive leaders should consider factors like alignment with business needs, comprehensive and relevant content, engagement and accessibility, customization and personalization, certification and industry recognition, quality of instruction and support, track record, customer feedback, compliance with industry standards, and budget considerations.
- Organizations can build resilient cyber teams by partnering with higher education institutions like UNH for access to high-quality online programs, a comprehensive cybersecurity curriculum, and industry-expert faculty. They also gain access to cutting-edge research, emerging technologies, and industry best practices.
