Partners to create 'elite' cyber workforce

In response to the growing demand for skilled and experienced cybersecurity professionals, TAFE Queensland (TAFE Qld) has announced plans to update its cybersecurity training program in January 2023 to include a new state-of-the-art cybersecurity training facility. The new facility will enable TAFE Qld to address the shortage of cybersecurity professionals who possess hands-on experience responding to cyber attacks.

After conducting extensive research, TAFE Qld elected to use the cyber range developed by cyber skills development platform Cyberbit. The range provides hands-on cyber labs and live-fire exercises that provide students with long-lasting skills and actual experience responding to cyber attacks. It is also capable of simulating cyber attacks ranging from Trojans to full-scale ransomware attacks.

“With more skilled cybersecurity workers needed to protect businesses in an increasingly digitised economy, working with the Cyberbit cyber range will give students a deeper understanding of the realities of cyber warfare,” said Jackie French, TAFE Queensland Faculty Director for Creative and Digital.

“Cybersecurity specialists have become a crucial investment for larger businesses and organisations in recent years, and they are only going to become more vital as technology develops and cybercriminals get more creative in their approaches. By partnering with Cyberbit, we’re upskilling students further, giving them insights and experience through live-fire simulations that are as close to real life as you can get,” she said.

With the Cyberbit platform, students participate in live-fire exercises in a hyper-realistic environment that includes reverse-engineered attacks, enterprise-grade networks and commercial security tools — everything they will experience on the job as cybersecurity professionals.

“Cyberbit’s unique simulation training will tangibly show the impacts that a cyber attack can have when disrupting or crashing critical infrastructure in Australia and what’s necessary to prevent an attack, ensuring that students leave us with the job-ready skills they need to be cybersecurity specialists when the graduate,” French said.

“We’re excited to provide the platform that will support TAFE Qld’s pioneering effort in delivering cybersecurity education,” said Viki Gaziel, Regional Sales Director at Cyberbit.

“Hands-on skills development dramatically enriches the student’s academic experience and prepares them with the skills they need for entry into the workforce, ready to make an impact from day one on the job.”

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