Check Point Software & Strathmore Unite On Cybersecurity Skill Shortage

Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions globally, has announced that its Check Point SecureAcademy™ education initiative has partnered with @iLabAfrica-Strathmore University, Kenya, to provide a comprehensive cybersecurity curriculum to students, bridging the cybersecurity skills gap and also creating a safer local cyber landscape.

“This partnership with Check Point has come at an opportune time to assist in training our students and equipping them with the right cybersecurity skills. We look forward to having fifty plus students benefit annually from this training programme and join the workforce in empowering the cybersecurity space in Kenya,” says Dr Joseph Sevilla, Director @iLabAfrica-Strathmore University.

We look forward to having fifty plus students benefit annually from this training programme and join the workforce in empowering the cybersecurity space in Kenya.

According to (ISC)2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study 2019 research, Strategies for Building and Growing Strong Cybersecurity Teams, the number of unfilled cybersecurity roles now stands at 4.07 million professionals globally. What causes alarm for those within the security market across Africa is that the ICT courses across a range of disciplines are still quite underdeveloped, as well as the skills required to operate, support and understand the complexities of next-generation technologies and threats.

Check Point SecureAcademy™ promoting skills in Africa

To keep up with the current threat landscape, cybersecurity professionals require a deeper set of skills and insight into cybersecurity. Therefore, students need to be given access to broader cybersecurity knowledge. To address this skills gap, Check Point SecureAcademy™ aims to give students the ability to recognise and resolve IT security threats, develop hands-on experience with leading security solutions and acquire employable real-world skills to protect networks through the programme’s courses.

The @iLabAfrica Centre of Excellence in ICT Innovation and Development at Strathmore University will work closely with Check Point SecureAcademy™ to expose students to Check Point security solutions as an additional part of their curriculum.

It makes sense to use these resources to develop the skills of our youth to become the cybersecurity resource pool of choice, reducing unemployment, filling the skills gap and also making for a safer local cyber landscape all at once.

“Through partnerships like this, SecureAcademy™ hopes to provide access to world-class educational resources and skill academies. It makes sense to use these resources to develop the skills of our youth to become the cybersecurity resource pool of choice, reducing unemployment, filling the skills gap and also making for a safer local cyber landscape all at once,” says Moses Kiganda, Check Point’s Country Manager, East Africa.

Driving diversity in cybersecurity

One area the partners are looking at keenly is diversity. “While we have seen a large uptake of women studying ICT, it is still a male-dominated subject. We are promoting programmes and events to encourage women to join the ICT field. These include conferences, hackathons, boot camps and STEM classes within high schools,” says Richard Otolo, Cybersecurity Manager @iLabAfrica.

SecureAcademy™ courses are available at 100 universities in 40 countries, helping to shape the cyber-experts of the future. The academy’s network in Africa now consists of universities, across five countries, including Liberia, Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria and with the addition of Strathmore University, Kenya.

While we have seen a large uptake of women studying ICT, it is still a male-dominated subject. We are promoting programmes and events to encourage women to join the ICT field.

Through key SecureAcademy™ partnerships across the continent, the opportunities available for women to enter the cybersecurity field increases significantly, driving gender diversity and inclusivity.

“We look forward to working more with the Check Point team locally to promote ICT and cybersecurity within Kenya,” concludes Richard.