RMIT Online addresses cybersecurity talent gap through new course to strengthen Australia’s preparedness

• Cyber Security Risk and Strategy starts on 3 June, offering a professional pathway to help address the skills shortage in the field.
• Palo Alto Networks and NAB are key collaborators and mentors on the course, with students able to earn an RMIT credential in cybersecurity on completion.
• The course addresses the need for managerial professionals and others across Australia’s workforce to develop cybersecurity skills, as underscored by the recent Federal Budget pledge of $525m towards the Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow

RMIT Online has announced the launch of a new cybersecurity short course as part of its Future Skills portfolio. The course, Cyber Security Risk and Strategy, is aimed at upskilling participants to understand the fundamentals of cybersecurity and how to formulate a preventative strategy of good cyber governance within a business.

As technology continues to transform businesses digitally, the threat of cyber attacks becomes more imminent and the need to arm people with the skills required to protect digital assets from malicious activity becomes greater.

According to a report from AustCyber, Australia’s Cyber Security Sector Competitiveness Plan, Australia’s cybersecurity sector is facing a severe skills shortage costing the nation more than $400 million in lost revenue and wages, with almost 17,600 additional cybersecurity professionals likely to be needed by 2026.

“We are pleased to create this course with industry, to strengthen our nation’s cybersecurity preparedness by training Australians to fill a diverse range of technical and non-technical roles,” said Helen Souness, CEO of RMIT Online. “The rate at which technologies are advancing and turning industries and departments upside down is not slowing down, and neither should our commitment to lifelong learning”.

The course will cover a variety of topics within the cybersecurity ecosystem. Apart from understanding the fundamentals of cybersecurity risk and its commercial impact, course participants will learn how to apply a cybersecurity risk mitigation strategy to their organisation. Students will also learn how topics like asset security, identity and access management and cloud security impact an enterprise’s cybersecurity.

“Having the right tools and platforms in place to protect an organisation from security breaches is crucial. However, the most important thing organisations can do to protect themselves is to ensure every staff member is educated about cybersecurity risks, the threat landscape and their own role in protecting the organisation. We all share a responsibility for identifying and managing our cybersecurity risks,” said Sean Duca, Vice President and Chief Security Officer, Asia-Pacific and Japan at Palo Alto Networks.

Also commenting on the partnership, Harvey Deak, Head of Security Strategy and Architecture at NAB, said, “We’re pleased to be involved in this course, which we see playing an important role in helping to teach new and emerging skills and supporting a sustained skills pipeline for generations to come. As the Australian economy becomes more and more digitised, it is critical for Australia’s future economic prosperity that we build a highly skilled and educated cybersecurity workforce to help raise Australia’s cyber defence profile.”

The course will begin on 3 June 2019 and will run for six weeks at a cost of AU$1,600. For more information, please visit: online.rmit.edu.au

About RMIT University

RMIT is a global university of technology, design and enterprise in which teaching, research and engagement are central to achieving positive impact and creating life-changing experiences for our students.

Founded in 1887, RMIT is a multi-sector university with more than 87,000 students and 11,000 staff globally. The University enjoys an international reputation for excellence in professional and vocational education, applied and innovative research, and engagement with industry and the community.

RMIT Online was created by RMIT University to provide a world-class digital learning experience at the nexus of business, design and technology, leaning into future of work needs to equip students with in-demand skills and qualifications. RMIT Online teams up with industry thought leaders and experts to deliver the best in flexible education using the latest digital tools and technologies for a highly interactive, virtual cohort experience. RMIT Online is dedicated to achieving its mission of future-ready careers and creating a “community of lifelong learners, successfully navigating the world of work”.