Singtel has launched an initiative to attract talent to the starved cybersecurity industry and address the cybersecurity gap in Singapore.
The Singtel Cyber Security Experience or CSX (www.singtelcyberexperience.com) is an interactive cyber education portal to engage students and mid-career professionals who aspire to be cyber security professionals.
On the interactive CSX portal, visitors can explore various career paths in cyber security and experience a day in the life of a cyber security professional through interactive. They can also test their skills by taking part in cyber challenges that focus on basic cyber security terms, concepts and operational principles.
Those who fare well will be invited to the Singtel Cyber Security Institute (CSI) to join in cyber war game sessions which will allow them to understand cyber attack and defence approaches. They will also meet cyber security professionals or mentors to learn more about their roles, but are not expected to work with Singtel after the training.
“The CSX initiative helps address the cyber security talent gap in Singapore by using an interactive platform to engage aspiring cyber security professionals of all ages,” said Bill Chang, Chief Executive Officer, Group Enterprise at Singtel.
“This self-guided platform is designed to introduce them to various cyber security roles and kindle their interest in a career in this fast-growing field,” he added.
Cyber security is of “paramount importance” to the nation, and there is a shortage of talent in this field in Singapore, Chang said at the launch event yesterday, July 10. The CSA expects the demand for cyber security professionals in Singapore to reach 9,700 by 2021.
The site is designed to introduce test-takers to “kindle their interest in a career in this fast-growing field”, he added. Aimed at students and mid-career professionals, the site features profiles of cyber security professionals and mentors from Singtel and its United States-based subsidiary Trustwave, as well as the CSA.
To date, Singtel has tied-up with all five local polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to make CSX available as an additional tool in their efforts to raise awareness of cyber security. A series of trials of CSX were conducted with selected educational institutions. Close to 1,000 students have participated in these trials.
The CSX also helps teachers pick up the fundamentals of cyber security at no cost in a six-hour Cyber Teacher Programme learning module.
The CSX bolsters Singtel CSI’s partnership with the SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to develop cyber security capabilities of mid-career professionals, who can access the portal to expand their career options in cyber security.
“Our partnerships with the educational institutions and SSG allow us to cast a wider net to bring in suitable candidates who can form the frontline of Singapore’s cyber defence,” Chang added.
