The Macomb-Oakland University Incubator is launching the first cyber-security certificate courses at its Velocity Hub of the Michigan Cyber Range (MCR), powered by the Merit Network.
The MCR is the nation’s largest unclassified training cyber range. These certifications provide the proper tools students and IT professionals need in order to stand out and excel in the cyber-security industry.
The MCR provides a solid foundation in cyber-security through challenging hands-on coursework, exercises and labs. Courses are aligned with the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE). The NICE framework organizes the skills that America’s cyber-security workforce needs to meet the national preparedness goals of detecting, mitigating and defeating malicious actors.
“We are honored to offer these cyber-security credentials through our established partnerships. These certifications compliment degree-granting, higher-education offerings within a high-growth industry with strong forecasted technological workforce demand,” said Larry Herriman, Executive Director, Macomb-OU Incubator.
According to burning-glass.com’s “Cyber-Security Jobs, 2015” report, cyber-security employers demand a highly educated, highly experienced workforce. Some 84 percent of cyber-security postings specify at least a bachelor’s degree, and 83 percent require at least three years of experience. In addition, cyber-security positions are more likely to require certifications than other IT jobs. 35 percent of cyber-security jobs call for an industry certification, compared to 23 percent of IT jobs overall.
Scheduled to be held on a monthly basis, the initial certificate courses are as follows:
C)ISSO: Certified Information Systems Security Officer, August 22 – 26
C)PTE: Certified Penetration Testing Engineer, September 26 – 30
C)ISSO, November 7 – 11
C)PEH: Certified Personal Ethical Hacker, December 5 – 9
Prices ranging from $1,500 to $3,500 for these five-day certificate courses, including the certification exam. More than 20 different courses are available, each offering the separate certification levels that are ideal for more than ten specific industries from Pen Test Hacking and Forensics to Healthcare and Auditing. Upcoming integration into Oakland University’s Professional and Continuing Education will allow for participants to earn continuing education credit units.
For more information, and to register, visit oakland.edu/macombouinc/velocity-hub-cyber-institute/education or contact Joan Carleton at [email protected] or (586) 884-9324.
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The unclassified Velocity Hub of the Michigan Cyber Range, powered by Merit Network, launched in March 2016 at the Velocity Center, home of the Macomb-Oakland University Incubator (Mac-OU INC). Mac-OU Inc is managing this publicly-accessible MCR extension hub, the first of its kind connected to an incubator program targeted towards startup and emerging companies in the State of Michigan. This secure, unclassified hub has a focus on certificate training courses for more than 20 cyber-security disciplines, in depth product-validation penetration testing on early-stage connected products with security best-practice checklist reviews, and rentable virtual space within the secure sandbox environment. This effort is in collaboration with the Merit Network, the Michigan Defense Center of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development, the City of Sterling Heights and Oakland University.
The Macomb-Oakland University Incubator supports economic development in Southeast Michigan by accelerating high-tech businesses, cultivating academic innovation and encouraging research & development. To help small businesses grow, the incubator creates customized success strategies for startup and emerging companies in the niche industries of defense, homeland security, advanced manufacturing and technology. For more information, visit the incubator website at oakland.edu/macombouinc.