As cyber threats grow in sophistication and frequency, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals has skyrocketed. Over the past 12 months, Apple, Meta, and Twitter have all disclosed cybersecurity attacks. Data breaches have been on the rise for years. Companies and organizations of all shapes, sizes, and sectors have been attacked, costing US businesses millions in damages. This trend will certainly continue.
Staying ahead of new threats and evolving technologies is crucial. That means proper education and professional training. However, traditional education pathways often fall short in equipping students with practical, up-to-date skills demanded by employers. The traditional paths are often a one-size-fits-all model.
Online cyber security courses fill this gap, facilitating skills-based education tailored to real needs. Many of these courses are designed in whole or in part by online program managers (OPMs), companies that develop online programs for colleges and universities. Those services include course design, marketing, recruitment, and student assistance.
Compared to traditional, four-year programs, the online model is more responsive. Students and employees acquire specific competencies with specialized tracks and certifications. Customization of program curriculum and materials happens faster. All of this is critical in a rapidly changing industry like cybersecurity.
Additionally, in many cases students can complete their coursework on their own schedule and at their own pace.
The online model especially benefits non-traditional students and learners who are already in the workforce or have other commitments that are an obstacle to pursuing the more traditional school model. Students in those circumstances would have to put their lives on hold to gain skills needed to advance their careers. Access to affordable and flexible online programs can significantly impact the economic mobility of non-traditional students, and not just in the cybersecurity field but in others as well.
We’ve written before about regulations from the U.S. Department of Education that threaten many online educational programs, and HLF’s president has provided written and oral input to the Department on this issue. It is imperative that the Department does not reinstate the misguided regulatory guidance it proposed last year that, if not for widespread backlash, would have limited partnerships between institutions of higher education and the providers that make online programs possible, which would end up harming students.
Online programs not only address the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals but also provide non-traditional students with the opportunity to pursue rewarding careers in this vital field. Embracing this approach can build a more inclusive, skilled, and resilient cybersecurity workforce for the future. We should be moving forward, not backwards, when it comes to allowing all types of students to benefit from having access to these opportunities.
