2868: Bridging the Gap: OPSWAT's $10 Million Cybersecurity Scholarship Initiative

[00:00:00] In our increasingly digital world, is it becoming more secure? Or are we just a step

[00:00:08] away from the next big cyber threat, especially considering that there is a shortfall of 4

[00:00:14] million cybersecurity professionals around the world. Well in today's episode we're

[00:00:19] going to dive deep into the heart of cybersecurity education, how we fill that cybersecurity

[00:00:25] skills gap and the initiatives making a real difference in preparing a new generation of

[00:00:31] cybersecurity professionals. Because joining me today is Irfan Shaqil, the Vice President

[00:00:38] of Training and Certification Services at a company called Opswat, and they're a company

[00:00:44] that stands at the forefront of defending critical infrastructure from cyber threats.

[00:00:50] But they recently appeared on my radar, they set off my tech spidey sensors when

[00:00:54] they made headlines with its ambition $10 million scholarship program that's aimed

[00:01:00] at closing that cybersecurity skills gap. But what drives a company to invest such

[00:01:07] a significant amount into education? And how does this align with the global cybersecurity

[00:01:13] needs and government efforts to bolster the cybersecurity workforce? Well my guest

[00:01:20] today will share his insights into the motivation behind the initiative, the challenges of IT and

[00:01:26] OT convergence and the importance of public-private partnerships in helping to secure this digital

[00:01:32] future. Before we get today's guests on though I need to give a quick shout out and a thank

[00:01:37] you to the sponsors of Tech Talks Daily this month. They are Kiteworks and in a digital

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[00:02:30] Kiteworks.com where you can explore the future of secure data management. But now

[00:02:36] it's time to get on with the show and invite today's guest on. Well buckle up

[00:02:41] and hold on tight as I beam your ears all the way to Dubai where Irfan is waiting

[00:02:46] to join us today. So a massive warm welcome to the show. Can you tell everyone

[00:02:52] listening a little about who you are and what you do? My name is Irfan Shakeel

[00:02:58] and I am the VP of Training and Certification at Opsward. I lead the development

[00:03:05] and execution of extensive training programs. And so these programs are specifically

[00:03:11] designed to mitigate the significant security shortage within the cybersecurity

[00:03:15] industry. So if you go and check Opsward Academy, this is me behind it

[00:03:22] and we have a great team of professionals, engineers, subject matter

[00:03:29] experts creating extensive cybersecurity courses. Well it's a pleasure to have

[00:03:35] you on the podcast because I think for the last 20 plus years Opsward has been

[00:03:39] a global leader in IT, OT and ICS critical infrastructure cybersecurity.

[00:03:46] And you've been on my radar for some time for having continuously evolved

[00:03:50] an end-to-end solutions platform that ultimately gives public and private

[00:03:54] sector organizations and enterprises that critical advantage that they need

[00:03:59] to protect their complex networks and ultimately ensure compliance. But what

[00:04:04] really set off my text by the sensors is your recent announcement of a $10 million

[00:04:10] scholarship program for critical infrastructure protection, often referred to as CIP.

[00:04:16] But CIP training courses, it appears that it feels like quite a significant commitment.

[00:04:22] So can you tell me more about the motivations behind that initiative and also

[00:04:26] the specific gaps in the cybersecurity workforce that you're aiming to address

[00:04:31] because there's so much talk around that critical skill shortage now isn't there?

[00:04:35] Yeah happy to do that. As you said Opsward basically is a company and offer the solution,

[00:04:43] the platform and the product to protect the critical infrastructure and it covers both IT,

[00:04:48] OT environment. However Opsward Academy is an educational arm of Opsward and through

[00:04:58] Opsward Academy Opsward is ensuring or ensures to give the right knowledge,

[00:05:05] skill set to the audience so that people will be able to protect the critical infrastructure.

[00:05:11] Now as far as the scholarship program is concerned, yes Opsward $10 million scholarship

[00:05:16] program for CIP industry or for CIP training shows our commitment to addressing the acute

[00:05:24] cybersecurity skills gap in critical infrastructure sectors motivated by the urgent need to secure

[00:05:32] essential services against escalating cyber threat. This initiative aims to cultivate a workforce

[00:05:39] adopt in both IT and OT cybersecurity and by equipping professionals with specialized skills

[00:05:50] to protect vital systems we are enhancing global resilience and safeguarding society's

[00:05:58] most crucial functions you know from energy to transportation.

[00:06:02] And I think it's also worth highlighting that there is an estimated global demand for

[00:06:06] four million cybersecurity professionals so how do you plan to prioritize and select

[00:06:13] candidates for this scholarship and what's your main criteria because it feels like there's a

[00:06:18] tremendous opportunity to enter the realm of cybersecurity right now there's a lot of talk of

[00:06:24] automation etc and AI removing jobs but equally there's a great opportunity here right?

[00:06:31] Yeah I mean this cybersecurity skills you know force gap is is huge and it's growing

[00:06:37] you know worldwide Opsward's you know selection process for the 10 million dollar scholarship

[00:06:43] is geared towards efficiently addressing the global demand for cybersecurity professionals

[00:06:50] particularly in the CIP industry there are certain you know requirement or I must say

[00:06:56] criteria such as candidates you know must be at least 18 years old and proficient in English

[00:07:04] to ensure they can fully engage with our coursework given that the scholarship is

[00:07:11] available worldwide and a preference is given to those currently employed within the cybersecurity

[00:07:18] industry or actively enrolled in related academic studies such as you know bachelor

[00:07:27] or you know pursuing cybersecurity degree or cyber physical system or information security degree

[00:07:34] which basically showcasing a clear commitment to pursuing our cybersecurity career.

[00:07:40] And another criteria is you know applicants must demonstrate a dedication to advancing their

[00:07:50] cybersecurity knowledge and skills by committing to complete the scholarship coursework package

[00:07:57] within six months so these criteria are designed to ensure that the scholarship is awarded

[00:08:06] to individuals who are not only passionate about cybersecurity but also positioned to

[00:08:12] immediately apply their newly acquired skills to protect the critical infrastructure and

[00:08:18] to come you know contribute to the cybersecurity workforce.

[00:08:23] And I think the integration of IT and operational technology inside the critical

[00:08:29] infrastructure that we all take for granted is not only becoming increasingly complex but

[00:08:34] securing that critical infrastructure has never been more important so I'm curious how do the

[00:08:39] training courses that you're offering here how do they address those unique challenges that come

[00:08:44] with safeguarding these intertwined systems that we rely on?

[00:08:50] Opsor Academy's training courses comprehensively cover both IT and OT or operational technology

[00:08:58] cybersecurity concepts best practices and the pivotal area of IT OT convergence.

[00:09:06] Understanding the critical importance of securing integrated systems in today's complex

[00:09:12] infrastructure the courses you know dive into the complexity of this interconnected network

[00:09:22] and the unique security challenges that you know arise from merging of IT and OT environment

[00:09:29] so through a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical applications the courses equip participants

[00:09:36] with advanced cybersecurity techniques to navigate and protect against the evolving threat

[00:09:45] landscape ensuring the security and resilience of critical infrastructure.

[00:09:51] This holistic approach ensures that learners are well versed in both broad concepts concepts and

[00:10:02] the specific strategies needed to safeguard interconnected IT and OT environment.

[00:10:08] And before you came on the podcast today I was also recently reading how the Opsor

[00:10:14] scholarship program is actually in direct response to the urgent need highlighted by

[00:10:19] the US executive orders and national cybersecurity strategy so on that side of things are you

[00:10:25] able to share how this initiative maybe aligns with those government efforts to strengthen

[00:10:31] national cybersecurity defenses around the world?

[00:10:34] Oh yeah the Opsor scholarship program directly supports the US government initiatives to

[00:10:43] enhance national cybersecurity defenses you know as outlined in the executive order and

[00:10:48] the national cybersecurity strategy. By offering training and certification in IT and OT cybersecurity

[00:10:56] the program addresses the urgent call for a skilled workforce to protect critical infrastructure

[00:11:04] this aligns with national efforts to close the cybersecurity gap enhancing the country's

[00:11:12] resilience against cyber attacks and securing essential services against disruptions.

[00:11:20] The scholarship program also offers access to Opswap academy courses so are you able

[00:11:24] to give an overview of these courses and how they're designed to equip participants

[00:11:30] with those skills that they need to protect critical infrastructure environments because

[00:11:35] again it feels like an incredibly exciting opportunity here.

[00:11:38] Yeah indeed it is so Opswap academy's curriculum is you know is drafted or

[00:11:47] I must have crafted to address the you know need for cybersecurity expertise in

[00:11:53] critical infrastructure with courses designed by seasoned professionals and subject matter experts.

[00:12:01] The curriculum offers tracks such as ICIP or introduction to critical infrastructure protection

[00:12:08] for foundational knowledge, file upload security and data security for safeguarding critical data,

[00:12:15] malware analysis for threat identification and mitigation, pen testing concepts for

[00:12:22] assessing systems vulnerabilities and OT or ICS risk management for managing risk in the

[00:12:29] operational technologies and industrial control systems. Suitable for both beginners and experienced

[00:12:38] professionals these courses combine theoretical knowledge with practical hands-on learning

[00:12:44] ensuring participants are well equipped to protect critical infrastructure against the

[00:12:51] evolving cyber threats.

[00:12:54] And data sharing between IT and OT domains also introduces significant security challenges

[00:13:02] and we've all seen what happens there and how does the curriculum of the scholarship

[00:13:07] program, how does it address the need for a more specialized knowledge in

[00:13:11] protecting shared data and indeed complex technologies within these environments because

[00:13:16] huge problem isn't it? It's definitely you know as I said earlier so IT OT convergence

[00:13:23] although it's so beneficial but it introduces you know huge problem and you know concern for

[00:13:30] cybersecurity professionals and the Opswap scholarship programs you know curriculum directly

[00:13:37] addresses the security challenges of data sharing you know between IT and OT domains

[00:13:44] by providing specialized knowledge on safeguarding shared data and you know best practices

[00:13:51] on data sharing let's say you know data hygiene or you know for both the complex technologies

[00:13:58] the program offers an in-depth exploration of IT and OT convergence emphasizing the unique

[00:14:04] vulnerabilities and securing requirements this integration presents. Through courses on data

[00:14:12] security, risk management in IT OT environments and hands-on practical training participants learn

[00:14:20] to navigate and secure the you know interplay of information and operation technologies.

[00:14:28] And the curriculum is continuously updated to include the latest security technologies

[00:14:34] and protocols ensuring learners are well prepared to protect critical infrastructure in an

[00:14:41] era of increasing IT OT integration. And I've thought for some time now that it's the

[00:14:48] collaboration between educational systems government agencies and private sector companies

[00:14:55] I think that as is crucial for closing the cyber security skills gap and in many ways it

[00:15:00] feels like it's been the missing piece of the jigsaw for too long so congratulations and

[00:15:06] kudos for you for attacking this problem directly and are you able to share any insights into

[00:15:13] how these partnerships might work and obviously the benefits that they bring to those

[00:15:17] participants who will be coming from a variety of backgrounds and entering

[00:15:21] the world of cyber security for the first time? Oh yeah I mean the OpsSort scholarship program

[00:15:29] exemplifies how collaboration between educational institutions government agencies

[00:15:35] and the private sector can effectively narrow the cyber security skills gap.

[00:15:41] This initiative allows educational and government bodies to prepare their candidates for real

[00:15:46] world cyber security challenges by providing comprehensive access to OpsSort specialized

[00:15:53] certification programs. It's designed to not just educate but also directly connect participants

[00:16:01] with the cyber security industry you know fostering a seamless transition from learning

[00:16:07] to professional application and under this program partnering institutions are given the tools

[00:16:15] to bring cutting-edge cyber security education directly to their students doorsteps. By signing

[00:16:22] our scholarship agreement these institutions facilitate their candidates registration,

[00:16:28] course delivery and eventual certification all managed and provided by OpsSort.

[00:16:36] This approach not only enhances the educational offerings of these institutions but also ensures

[00:16:45] that participants are equipped with the practical skills and certifications needed to thrive in the

[00:16:52] cyber security industry. I would like to also mention that through such partnerships

[00:16:59] the scholarship program acts as a bridge connecting the academic and professional

[00:17:06] worlds and ensuring that the next generation of cyber security professionals is ready

[00:17:12] to tackle the challenges they will face in their careers. And we've talked so many times

[00:17:18] on this podcast around the importance of solving this cyber security skills gap and the opportunity

[00:17:24] for anyone to enter the industry or retrain and enter the industry. So as we look towards the

[00:17:30] future how do you at OpsSort envision that impact of the scholarship program on the global

[00:17:37] cyber security landscape particularly in the protection of critical infrastructure and are there

[00:17:42] any plans for expanding the program or introducing new initiatives to further address the cyber

[00:17:48] security skill shortage? I appreciate you're probably limited as to what you can share but

[00:17:53] is there anything you can share about that road ahead and how you see this evolving?

[00:17:57] OpsSort envisions its scholarship program as a key driver in strengthening the

[00:18:05] global cyber security posture particularly you know protecting the critical infrastructure

[00:18:10] by democratizing access to top-tier cyber security education and certification

[00:18:16] OpsSort aims to mitigate the skill shortage and enhance the defensive capabilities of

[00:18:23] organizations worldwide. Looking forward OpsSort is committed to expanding their reach and impact

[00:18:32] of this initiative exploring opportunities for broader geographic coverage, additional

[00:18:40] educational tracks and an increased number of scholarships. And you know moreover

[00:18:48] OpsSort plans to foster innovative collaboration with educational and government institutions to

[00:18:56] introduce new initiatives tailored to evolving cyber security challenges.

[00:19:03] These efforts are expected to not only fill the existing skills gap but also catalyze

[00:19:11] a global movement towards a more secure and resilient cyber infrastructure ensuring a

[00:19:17] safer future for communities around the world. Well I just love chatting with you today I've

[00:19:23] read previously about how OpsSort you protect critical infrastructure and I've read about your

[00:19:28] goals to eliminate malware and zero day attacks but I think this additional goal here of plugging

[00:19:34] that cyber security skills gap is so crucial right now and I cannot thank you enough

[00:19:39] but take the time to sit down and share your insights with me. Before I let you go I'm

[00:19:44] going to ask you to leave everyone listening with one final gift. I always ask my guests

[00:19:50] to either leave everyone listening with a book that is inspired or means something to you that

[00:19:54] we can add to our Amazon wishlist or a song that means something to you we can put on our

[00:19:59] Spotify playlist. All I'm going to ask is what would you like to leave everyone listening and why?

[00:20:04] Yeah you know a book that has left a lasting impression on me is The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

[00:20:14] You know this ancient Chinese military book you know the tactics offers profound insights into

[00:20:20] strategy tactics and foresight that runs in the battlefield and applies to various challenges

[00:20:29] in life and work and I would definitely like people although I assume that most of

[00:20:36] you know listeners may have already read or might have heard about this book but if not

[00:20:42] then you know I definitely definitely suggest The Art of War. Excellent choice I'll get that added

[00:20:49] to our Amazon wishlist and for anyone listening wants to find out more information about this

[00:20:55] initiative how they can get involved how they can contact your team read more information

[00:21:01] about it. Where would you like to point everyone listening? For listeners you know

[00:21:07] if you want to get you know connected with us or with me you know the best place to start is on

[00:21:15] social media particularly LinkedIn. I encourage you to follow Opswar Academy on LinkedIn for

[00:21:22] the latest updates insights and resources in the service security field. You can also connect

[00:21:28] with me personally I'm very active on LinkedIn and a simple search for my name Irfan Shaqil

[00:21:34] should lead you directly to my profile. Additionally joining the Opswar Academy mailing list is a

[00:21:41] great way to stay informed about the latest course offerings upcoming webinars and a wealth

[00:21:47] of other valuable resources and again you know these platforms are ideal for

[00:21:55] you know to keep yourself up to date and to get some latest updates from

[00:21:59] us and also to connect personally with me. Well again thank you so much for shining a light on

[00:22:06] this that this is indeed four million cyber security professionals are going to be needed

[00:22:11] globally I think something like a 13 percent increase from 2022 and the way that you've

[00:22:17] released this 10 million scholarship program to offer essential CIP training courses and

[00:22:22] at this initiative that's designed to address that very increasing demand for

[00:22:28] cyber security professionals particularly within the critical infrastructure industries that we

[00:22:32] all rely on and possibly take for granted it really is inspirational but thank you so much

[00:22:37] for sharing your work there and everything that you're doing thanks again. Thanks for inviting

[00:22:43] me Danny thanks for having me today. I think it's clear that the journey to a more secure

[00:22:48] cyber world is a collaborative one isn't it and Opswar's 10 million dollar scholarship

[00:22:53] program is not just an investment in education it's actually an investment in the future of

[00:22:59] cyber security and with initiatives like these the gap between the demand for skilled cyber

[00:23:05] security professionals and the supply will gradually close but of course as technology

[00:23:12] evolves and new threats continuously emerge the question does remain are we actually doing

[00:23:18] enough to protect our critical infrastructure how can individuals and organizations contribute

[00:23:24] to a more secure digital landscape and this is where I want you to share your thoughts

[00:23:29] and join the conversation let me know your experiences on this but you can do that by

[00:23:34] emailing me techblogwriteroutlook.com Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram just Anthony or C Hughes I'd

[00:23:40] love to hear your thoughts and together let's continue to make this world a safer place

[00:23:46] one bite at a time and I'll return again tomorrow we'll have another guest another topic I always

[00:23:52] look forward to chatting with you all so hopefully you'll join me again there but

[00:23:55] thank you for listening today and until next time don't be a stranger