Cisco and Karnataka Innovation Technology Society (KITS) which is part of Government of Karnataka have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train 40,000 individuals in cybersecurity skills and cyber awareness.
Women will represent half of the trained workforce to help meet the growing need for cyber talent as organisations look to bolster defences against an evolving and complex threat landscape.
The collaboration will include a 'Train the Trainers' programme to empower college faculties with the knowledge and skills required to create a robust cyber ecosystem.
"Our collaboration with the Karnataka Innovation Technology Society and the Government of Karnataka Centre of Excellence for Cybersecurity underscores our commitment to empowering disadvantaged sections of society, including students, teachers, and senior citizens, with critical cybersecurity skills and awareness to protect against threats and be safer online,’’ said Harish Krishnan, managing director and chief policy officer, Cisco India and SAARC.
Additionally, the tech company will collaborate with the Government of Karnataka Centre of Excellence for Cybersecurity, to promote cybersecurity awareness and skill-building among students and professionals. Cisco will contribute to curriculum development by providing cybersecurity courses through Cisco Networking Academy – one of the world’s longest-running IT skills-to-jobs programs – and conduct webinar sessions and knowledge workshops for students, covering a diverse range of courses, from foundational to advanced levels.
According to Cisco’s Cybersecurity Readiness Index, 90 per cent of organisations in India expect a cybersecurity incident to disrupt their businesses in the next 12 to 24 months. Moreover, as stated by an Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) report, with 40 per cent of cybersecurity teams in Indian organisations understaffed, the urgency for skill preparedness is clear.
