University Communications and Marketing
The University of South Florida on Friday announced the launch of a new program focusing on information security governance, risk and compliance, an online professional education offering designed to meet the critical shortage of cybersecurity professionals.
Dubbed the InfoSec GRC Analyst program, the four-module training will be offered free of charge for up to 250 people, with priority enrollment given to those who are veterans/military, first-responders and other governmental roles. The goal is to equip participants with essential skills to navigate cybersecurity challenges.
Applications for the program opened Friday. Selected participants can access lessons starting July 8 and must complete it within 60 days of the date they access the content.
(Update: Within weeks of its announcement, USF’s Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education’s Information Security Governance, Risk, and Compliance certificate program received nearly 4,200 applications.)
U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, listens as USF Sarasota-Manatee Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook discusses a new cybersecurity training program being offered by the university. Steube secured a $2 million federal appropriation that allowed USF's Corporate Training and Professional Education team to develop the program.
Priority enrollment will be extended to entry-level and transitioning professionals serving within local and regional governmental organizations. The non-credit program is open to the public and participants will earn a USF Certification via a digital micro credential. They can use the skills developed to advance in their careers and contribute to national security efforts.
The USF InfoSec GRC Analyst program will teach participants how to navigate complex compliance challenges, focusing first on the foundations of information security before moving into modules that focus on how to implement and assess organizations against trusted frameworks and industry standards. By the end of the program, participants will be able to advise organizations on ways to implement security controls that can reduce cyber risks.
U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, and Karen Holbrook, Sarasota-Manatee campus regional chancellor announced the program during an event at USF Sarasota-Manatee.
Steube provided critical support for the program, securing a $2 million appropriation from Congress. The congressman envisioned a top-shelf training that could fortify governmental organizations against evolving threats utilizing the experience of veterans and turned to USF’s Corporate Training and Professional Education team to develop the program.
"As cybersecurity threats become more prevalent and sophisticated, the need for professionals who are trained in reducing cyber risks continues to grow,” said USF President Rhea Law. “The University of South Florida's expertise and partnerships in the business community make us uniquely positioned to help address this need, and we are proud to offer this innovative certificate program for those who are looking to upskill and advance in their careers.
"We are grateful to U.S. Rep. Greg Steube for his leadership in helping secure the funding to create this program and for his continued support of USF, military veterans and first responders,” Law said.
Steube said there are almost 30,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in Florida, “representing an in-demand field with great job security into the future.
“It's an honor to be part of connecting military veterans and others who have served our community with this new opportunity. I'm thankful to the USF leadership for their foresight and careful planning to execute this new program," Steube said. "As your representative, it’s my duty to ensure we can bring as many of your federal taxpayer dollars back to the 17th Congressional District as possible, and this project will certainly make a difference for many Floridians and our workforce in southwest Florida."
Holbrook, who said USF has a strong record of supporting military veterans, noted that the university has announced its intent to open a new college focused on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
“At USF, we relentlessly pursue innovation,” she said.
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche and representatives attended Friday’s announcement.
“This is going to help our veterans be more successful in the workforce,” said Kendra Simpkins, a USF Sarasota-Manatee alum, U.S. Army veteran and co-founder and president of Operation Warrior Resolution.
USF Sarasota-Manatee alum and U.S. Army veterans says new cybersecurity program will help fellow veterans be more successful in the workplace.
Leaders from CBIZ, including Elzar Camper, the firm’s managing director in its risk and cybersecurity practice area, are serving as instructors in modules that focus on technology, policy, procedures and industry frameworks. Other instructors include Warren Hylton, a senior associate at CBIZ Pivot Point Security, and Jeff Carden, from the firm’s federal risk and compliance team. They partnered with the award-winning learning designers from USF’s Innovative Education unit to design this program based on their “real world” expertise and experience.
The program includes three asynchronous modules, where participants study on their own time:
- Module 1: covers information security fundamentals needed for later modules that focus on identifying threats and vulnerabilities. The module case study focuses on how assessment methods can be operationalized.
- Module 2: focuses on ways that governance, risk, and compliance actions either work towards better information security or work against information security.
- Module 3: dives into information security assessments, remediation planning, and reporting, giving participants the skills needed to prepare an assessment.
- Module 4: In the only synchronous segment, the final module guides participants as they synthesize what they've learned by participating in an authentic audit scenario and producing a final report thus demonstrating their newly acquired skills.
CBIZ instructors will provide feedback on quizzes, assignments and will grade and critique of the final project. Monthly office hours sessions and coaching opportunities ensure ongoing support for participants throughout the course.
"By offering a mostly self-paced, yet supported, learning experience, we aim to empower individuals from various backgrounds to pursue rewarding careers in cybersecurity,” said Mark Koulianos, assistant vice president for university-community partnerships and the leader of the Corporate Training and Professional Education team.
In addition to comprehensive coursework, USF aims to host in-person networking meetups twice a year, providing opportunities for learners to connect with industry professionals and expand their professional networks.
For more information and to apply for the program, visit usf.to/InfoSecGRC