Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1207650
10 UCW FEBRUARY 5-11, 2020 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM In recent years, cybersecurity as a profession has found itself at a crossroads. Since its origins in the 1980s, practitioners have drifted into computer security, informa- tion security or cybersecurity from other disciplines, mainly information technology and engineering, as well as entering through more academic or formal routes. However, with the increase in cybersecurity threats and attacks, the demand for professionals can no longer be met by practitioners drifting in from other professions or by limiting the choice to those lucky enough to have been able to pursue master's degrees. Just last month, Cumberland County Workforce Development commemo- rated graduates of a Cybersecurity Pre- Apprenticeship program. e program is for young adults ages 14 through 25. It was held at the Cumberland County N.C. Works Career Center last fall. Raleigh-based ISG Cybersecu- rity Talent Development teamed up with Cumberland County Workforce Development to present the program. Eighteen students graduated in the inaugural class. ISG launched the Cybersecurity Ap- prenticeship Program in 2016 to help entry-level apprentices advance from mid- to senior-level skills in two years. e apprenticeship program helps meet industry demand for cyberse- curity professionals and helps young people establish a career path in the field. Graduates will enter the next phase at Fayetteville Technical Com- munity College to obtain certifications for continued education in cyberse- curity. FTCC's Systems Security and Analysis program prepares graduates for employment in the technology sec- tor as cybersecurity analysts, cyberse- curity managers, support technicians, system administrators and engineers. In 2015, Fayetteville Technical Community College President Dr. Larry Keen and Methodist University President Dr. Ben Hancock signed an agreement that allows a seamless transfer process for students interested in continuing cyber and information security studies. FTCC students who receive their Associate in Applied Sci- ence degrees in Information Systems Security are fully qualified to enter Methodist's Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity program, which offers a Bachelor of Science degree. "We're very excited for all of the positive things that will come from this agreement," Hancock said. "For some students, this will be the best fit — to start out their careers at FTCC and then come to Methodist." FTCC students must have received a C or better grade in those classes. "is is the first IT preapprentice program in North Carolina. Once these young adults complete this program, which will take them less than two years, they will be certified in cybersecurity with the ability to earn a mini-mum of $45,000 annually," said Cumberland County Workforce Devel- opment Director Nedra Rodriguez. "e cybersecurity course was very informative and helped me under- stand more about computers," said Ian McLaurin, a Cape Fear High School graduate who is one of the cybersecu- rity graduates. e next cybersecurity pre-appren- tice program at Fayetteville's N.C. Works Career Center at 414 Ray Ave. starts in April. e Cumberland County N.C. Works Career assists veterans and job seekers with the resources they need to suc- ceed. For more information about the career center, go to co.cumberland. nc.us/career-center. e Workforce Development Board is appointed and governed by the Cumberland County Board of Com- missioners. Cybersecurity education available by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS Cybersecurity is a career field that is growing quickly. fayetteville's #1 listen live on air or in the foxy 99 mobile app for hip-hop & R&B 116 Green Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301 | 910-829-9171 www.fascinate-u.com FEBRUARY EVENTS SAT. SAT. Feb. 8: 11:00 to 1:00 Make It, Take It - "Watercolor Valentine Cards" THURS. THURS. Feb. 13: 10:00-10:30 Fascinating Storytime with the Library (free admission for Storytime) SAT. SAT. Feb. 15: 11:00-1:00 Super Science Saturday - "Water Cycle Systems" WED. WED. Feb. 19: 10:00-10:45 STEM Science@ Headquarters Library -"All About Snow" (free, register by calling 483-7727 ext. 1351) FRI. FRI. Feb. 28: 7:00-9:00 Fourth Friday - "Newspaper Polar Bears" (free admission & craft)