Security Training Scholarship made possible by Google

In partnership with the SANS Institute, WiCyS is pleased to announce the Security Training Scholarship Made Possible by Google.

Google offered 100 WiCyS members an opportunity for a reliable pathway to launch and advance their careers in cybersecurity through skills development. 

WiCyS, SANS and Google mentorship was provided throughout this training program to ensure participants collaborated and worked together towards launching their careers. This opportunity was offered to WiCyS members who were seeking employment in cybersecurity within the next 1.5 years, designed for students and/or career changers!

View Press Release: Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) partners with Google to provide Security Training Scholarships for members

Stage 1 – SANS CyberStart Game: 100 interested candidates have the chance to demonstrate (and discover) their passion for cybersecurity in an interactive, gamified learning platform. CyberStart Game introduces participants to topics such as Linux, web attacks, programming, forensics, and more. Full of challenges that will test the persistence and research needed when facing authentic cyber security tasks, CyberStart Game builds up students’ technical skills and creative thinking.

Players become an agent for the virtual Cyber Protection Agency, where they embark on stopping criminal gangs who are using their cyber skills to do damage online. Agents must use various defensive tactics to thwart these cyber criminals’ attempts. The rich narrative, highly designed challenges and user-centric progress system are designed to enable a student to work at their own pace. All students can earn points as well as dozens of badges to collect as they progress through the Game.

At the end of Stage 1, thirty top performers will advance to Stage 2.

Stage 2 – Aptitude Assessment: SANS CyberTalent Assessment: The top 30 performers from Phase 1 will be invited to complete the SANS CyberTalent Assessment. This will measure participant’s technical aptitude for cybersecurity learning and fundamental skills to gauge potential for moving into the next stage of the program.

At the end of Stage 2, twelve candidates will be selected to advance to Stage 3.

Stage 3 – Fundamental Training: SANS CyberStart Essentials: The top 12 performers from Stage 2 will be invited to complete SANS CyberStart Essentials. This is an online interactive hands-on learning program that includes 48 modules of foundational material without which students generally struggle in advanced cybersecurity training and in technical cybersecurity roles. Participants will acquire strong understanding of devices and networks work while rapidly progressing into the key concepts of protecting digital components. Additionally, the fundamentals of Windows, Linux and programming in two languages widely used by cybersecurity professionals are taught. The course culminates with active labs that introduce key cybersecurity tools, exploits and mitigation techniques.

Upon completion of Stage 3, participants will receive a certificate of completion from the SANS Institute.

At the end of Stage 3, these twelve participants will advance to Stage 4.

Stage 4 – Advanced SANS Training & GIAC Certification: These 12 participants from Stage 3 will continue to an advanced SANS training course and the opportunity to take the associated GIAC certification exam. There will be technical learner support, career mentorship, soft skills guidance, and more, along the way. Upon completion of the training in Stage 4, participants will take the associated GIAC Certification exam. Several elective options will be available for the SANS course and GIAC certification that students choose, in consult with program managers.

Graduates of the WiCyS Security Training Scholarship Made Possible by Google will be ready to pursue careers in cybersecurity!