NIIT Foundation, Cisco train over 5 lakh students in cybersecurity

NEW DELHI: NIIT Foundation and Cisco have trained over five lakh students in cybersecurity through their cyber Suraksha programme in the last two years. The programme aims to address the growing concern of cyber threats by equipping citizens with the knowledge and skills to identify and respond to them effectively.

The programme will empower individuals with the essential tools and strategies necessary to safeguard themselves in the current digital-centric environment, as per the foundation. The programme includes training sessions covering online payment, banking procedures and document submission, with a particular focus on cybersecurity. It raises awareness about phishing, malware, and various forms of cyberattacks.

Talking about the importance of the programme director general of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) Sanjay Bahl said, “The cyber Suraksha programme focuses on creating both cyber awareness and contributing to the cyber workforce. Additionally, the programme promotes inclusivity and accessibility by ensuring that 40% of the individuals impacted are women.”

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Placement opportunity for participants

The NIIT Foundation and Cisco witnessed representation from 27 states and five union territories, with 42% female participation, through this cyber Suraksha programme. The programme also includes frontline workers, farmers, senior citizens, the LGBTQ community, and institutions like the armed forces and police departments, according to an official statement.

NIIT and Cisco also facilitate placement for programme graduates, aiming to create 20,000 cybersecurity jobs in the next three years, the organization said in the statement.

Speaking about the event, the co-founder of NIIT Ltd, P Rajendran, said:” The programme benefits individuals from various backgrounds, including students, teachers, senior citizens, farmers, and people with special needs. Additionally, it prepares youth for cybersecurity careers and awards Cisco cyber ops certificates to help them launch their career”.