Cybersecurity skills are where it’s at today –they are some of the most marketable and in demand skills across industry.

Higher education institutions are responding to this demand by devoting increasing resources towards building cybersecurity degree programs, many of which are top-notch, producing graduates who are workforce ready, already experienced in handling cyberattacks. These are the cybersecurity professionals that industry is seeking, and these are the professionals that top-notch cybersecurity programs produce.

What makes a top-notch cybersecurity program?

Top-notch cybersecurity programs have several qualities in common.

1. They offer more than just theoretical learning. They also have a cyber range for real-world, hands-on training where students confront live-fire cyberattacks, learning how to detect, mitigate, and respond to them.
   
   
2. A cloud option so students can train online anywhere/anytime, including remote locations. The flexibility helps universities attract students who otherwise would be unable to pursue a cybersecurity degree.
   
   
3. At least some of the faculty works in the field, so the institution has its finger on the pulse of industry needs and expectations for cybersecurity skills. This awareness allows the institution to adjust its program so that it is aligned with industry needs.
   
   
4. A curriculum that is mapped to relevant industry standards for cybersecurity (such as the NICE and  MITRE ATT&CK Frameworks).
   
   
5. An emphasis on building the soft skills that are critical to high-performing cybersecurity teams e.g., communication, critical thinking, the ability to perform under pressure and others.
   
   
6. They provide both individual and team exercises, so students build not just individual skills and experience, but also the skills and experience required to work as a team.
   
   
7. The ability to customize courses to a student’s unique learning needs or learning style. Active learning methods, such as those offered with hands-on training and cyber ranges, have been found to be an effective strategy for engaging underrepresented student populations. Ultimately, this improves diversity at the organizational level too, which is a key strategy in industry for improving cyber resilience.
   
   
8. High job placement rates after graduation. Graduates from programs that meet specific industry needs, such as hands-on experience, familiarity with cybersecurity tools, and team experience, are considered preferred candidates by cybersecurity leaders.
   
   

Where can you find these top-notch cybersecurity programs?

As the need for cybersecurity degree programs comes more into focus, the number of higher ed institutions offering first-rate cybersecurity programs will grow, but there are already plenty of excellent programs available. VentureBeat’s recent article “Top 10 cybersecurity colleges in the U.S. in 2022” lists the top colleges providing these training programs, many of which have the elements listed above.

As the world’s leading cybersecurity skills development platform, we are pleased to see that some of these institutions have integrated the Cyberbit platform into their cybersecurity programs. These universities are using the Cyberbit platform to produce graduates fully prepared for their careers and able to contribute to an organization’s cyber workforce from day one of employment. In addition to theoretical knowledge building, the Cyberbit platform also provides live-fire exercises simulating real-world scenarios, and hyper-realistic environments that give students hands-on experience with commercial security tools and corporate networks they’ll encounter on the job.

Cybersecurity programs that provide hands-on experience benefit everyone in the higher education ecosystem. The hands-on experience make graduates of the programs preferred job candidates for cybersecurity leaders in the field, universities increase their student enrollment because of the appeal of the programs, and industry gets the type of cybersecurity talent they need. At the end of the day, everyone is happy.