Rust College Launches Free Cybersecurity Training Program with Cisco Systems

New program partners Rust College, MCITy, and Cisco to increase Mississippi’s cybersecurity workforce through free, paid training program.

A new cybersecurity training program for Mississippians has been launched by Rust College, the Mississippi Center for Innovation and Technology (MCITy), and Cisco Systems. Many of the Students will receive instruction at MCITy in Vicksburg.

The school's president is Dr. Johnny M. Moore. He specified that Rust College will oversee participant enrollment, curriculum delivery, and overall program design. In order to make sure that the training satisfies worker demands and industry standards, they also oversee the partnership network, which connects MCITy in Vicksburg, Cisco, and Accelerate Mississippi. The state now lacks around 2,500 cybersecurity specialists.

Students will have two options to gain cybersecurity certificates through the program. One option is a 4-month in-person track where students meet at MCITy five days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A six-month online program with greater flexibility is the other route.

Accepted applicants receive payments, and the program is free. Since the training programs are essentially full-time jobs, online students will get a stipend of $1,000 for every training course, while in-person students will receive a salary of $5,000 per month. Residents of Mississippi, and particularly those living in Warren County, will have access to free, excellent training in their local area.

According to Moore, it improves the workforce in the region, attracts startups, and contributes to the development of a more technologically resilient economy. Also, he adds that local businesses gain by having access to competent people ready to fill critical IT and cybersecurity roles. And that's what makes Rust College work in the wonderful state of Mississippi so appealing.  He believes we will be one of the leading states in cybersecurity.

Rust College aims to help the residents of their state, the people in their community, and the advancement of the technology industry, this is especially important for those who want to pursue this area of cybersecurity. The entire goal is to ensure that, both as an organization and in their partnership with MCITy and Cisco Systems, they are performing as good members of the community.