Certificate program combats cyber attacks

Tyler McNeil

Managing Editor

Greycastle Security, in partnership with Hudson Valley’s Workforce Development Institute, expects the college’s latest certificate program to help fight growing cyber threats.

“One of our biggest challenges today is recruiting. It’s finding good security talent so our hope is that we can recruit out of the class,” said Reg Harish, co-founder and CEO of Greycastle Security.

A 50-hour non-credit program, available next spring, will help meet a growing demand for cybercrime workers in the Capital Region, according to Greycastle Security. Harnish hopes the program will attract prospective students to Greycastle Security internships and full-time employment opportunities.

Currently, the cyber security industry has a zero percent unemployment rate according to the US Department of Labor. “If you’re looking for a job you will find one,” said Harnish. He mentioned that since its founding in 2011, the number of people employed by the company has doubled yearly.

The course, Cybersecurity 101, will cover subjects from software security to human resources security. ”It’s such a broad area that a person could get skills and market themselves anywhere,” said Richard Bennett, associate dean of continuing education, summer sessions and the Workforce Development Institute.

“I really feel like the Workforce Development Institute is the best kept secret on our campus because students are not well aware of what they can do with non-credit specific, workforce industry training,” said Bennett. Hybrid classes will be available next year at Hudson Valley’s Rensselaer Technology Park location despite the Workforce Development Institute’s office suite moving to campus.

Six months ago, the Workforce Development Institute reached out to Greycastle Security to put the course, costing $1,295 in tuition, together. A $240 tuition subsidy by Greycastle Security has been planned for the first three students that register for Cybersecurity 101 by Jan. 8.

The college hopes to have additional classes in cybercrime by the summer. There will be between three and four 200-hour additional courses. “There’s a lack of cyber skills out there. You have too many threats and too few professionals,” said Linda Wheeler, Hudson Valley technical assistant.