Cyber Shikshaa: A Joint Initiative by Microsoft and DSCI While India is rapidly digitizing a number of its industries, the issues related to cybersecurity take center stage. In response to the growing need of microsoft utilizing freelancers to secure cyber infrastructure and Indo American Foundation for women empowerment, Microsoft and the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) revealed Cyber Shikshaa in 2018 as a joint effort to broaden the employment options for women in the industry while contributing to close the skills gap in cybersecurity.
Understanding Cyber Shikshaa This initiative addresses education inequality by providing women in underserved communities, with supplementary lessons in cyber security. It aims to empower women and broaden the skilled workforce in the industry. In addition to providing the targeted skill set, Cyber Shikshaa intends to meet the increasing demand of the industry for women professionals in cybersecurity. Goals of Cyber Shikshaa Program The main goal of the Cyber Shikshaa initiative is for:
1. Women Empowerment: Focusing on women engineering graduates <inclusive of> tier 2 and tier 3 cities to take up a career in cybersecurity.
2. Skill Gaps: Mitigating the lack of skilled professionals in cybersecurity by offering appropriate training.
3. Employment Enhancements: Granting employment options for trained personnel through collaboration with different entities.
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Program Structure and Curriculum The intensity of the Cyber Shikshaa program is that of four-month trainings, combining lectures with practical exercises of trainees. The topics covered are vast and add up to fundamental requisites of any industry. These include:
1. Fundamentals of Cybersecurity: Basic techniques of cybersecurity practices and principles.
2. System Fundamentals: Study of an Operating System and its architecture.
3. Cryptography: Processes and techniques of protecting information in the form of encryption and decryption.
4. Web Server Security and Application Security: Preventing and minimizing the security risks of web server and application interfaces.
5. Network Security and Countermeasures: Integration of protective measures against hostile threats in the name of the network.
6. Cyber Forensics: The investigation of cyber incidents and digital crimes.
7. Security Auditing – Checking and measuring risks in organizational security practices.
Alongside the technical components, the program strives to improve the soft skills of participants through industry leader training and mentorship sessions to enhance overall employability.
Eligibility Criteria To register for the Cyber Shikshaa program, candidates are expected to fulfil the criteria listed below:
1. Gender: Female Only
2. Educational Qualification: B.Tech/B.E. (IT/CSE/ECE) or MCA, recent graduates preferred
3. Age: 21-27 years
4. Family Income: Below Rs.7 lakh per annum
5. Geographical Location: Candidates mainly from tier -2 or 3 cities in India
These requirements ensure that the program focuses on women who have the ability, but do not have access to adequate training for cybersecurity specialization courses.
Impact and Achievements The cybersecurity program Cyber Shikshaa ‘s progress towards achieving its aims and objectives is as follows:
1. Training and Employment: Over 1,100 women trained with more than 800 employed in cyber security jobs.
2. Geographical reach: The program has grown to include many states like Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi NCR, Gujrat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Minas Gerais, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
3. Increased Workforce Diversification: Graduates have been placed in roles such as Information Security Analysts, Security Consultants, and Cyber Forensic Experts, which enhances diversification in the cyber security training in India.
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Expansion and Future Goals In October 2022, skilled training began through Cyber Shiksha, which had previously been offered as an open course, and Microsoft set out to further integrate it with ambitious goals:
1. Addressing the Micro-Target: A goal to educate 45,000 women and youth from the underserved communities in Cybersecurity over a 3 years time period.
2. Job Offers: Providing internship/job opportunities to 10,000 learners.
3. New Focus Areas: New focus areas will include Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), as well as development-focused training in cybersecurity products.
4. Cross-Industry Specialization: Specialized training modules will be designed for employment opportunities in Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) domains.
All these steps show a proactive approach in scaling the program and adapting to the changes in the Cybersecurity environment.
Success Stories The success of Cyber Shikshaa is exemplified by the success stories of its participants:
1. Manjusha M: One of the learners hailing from Kannur, Kerala, took a bold step forward when he declined a job opportunity which was non-technical in nature as he wanted to make a career in Cybersecurity. Upon finishing the Cyber Shikshaa program, she achieved one of her career goals by landing a job as a Cyber Security Associate at ACPL Systems.
2. Sneha Banerjee: In her career transition, Sneha enrolled in the Cyber Shikshaa program and she currently works as a Cyber Hunt Analyst-II at Microsoft, showcasing how the program helped in enabling dramatic career transitions.
Conclusion Cyber Shikshaa is a program made by the industry to fill a gap and empower marginalized sections which in turn proves the above statement. This program not only helps to close the skills deficit in the country by providing relevant cybersecurity training, but also helps increase the diversity in the industry.
In tandem with the increase in cyber threats, there will be a higher requirement for skilled practitioners in the domain. Such programs as Cyber Shikshaa are very important in preparing people for the reality of cybersecurity issues. With its younger and intrinsically innovative approach and expansion plans, the program is destined to transform the face of talent for cybersecurity in India.
For many people hoping to create an active career path, especially women from unprivileged regions, participating in Cyber Shikshaa provides an opportunity to create a meaningful career in a completely new and dynamic area of work. With each additional participant that completes the program, India comes a step closer to achieving a secure digital world for everyone.
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FAQs 1. What is Cyber Shiksha? Cyber Shikshaa is a collaboration program between Microsoft and DSCI that facilitates women from less privileged communities with career opportunities in cybersecurity by offering tailored training programs in India.
2. Who is eligible for the Cyber Shikshaa program? This program is aimed towards women Engineering graduates (BTech/B.E/MCA) from tier 2 and tier 3 towns who wish to make a career in cybersecurity.
3. What contribution does Cyber Shikshaa make towards India’s cybersecurity training? Cyber Shikshaa provides aspiring professionals with structured training in network security, cyber forensics, security auditing, and cryptography which fully utilize the needs of the industry. They are guaranteed to succeed!
4. Is Cyber Shikshaa exclusively for women? Indeed, the main objective of Cyber Shikshaa is to enable women with the skills to join and thrive in the male-dominated cybersecurity industry.
5. What positions can be filled post completion of Cyber Shikshaa? After graduation, individuals can serve as Security Consultants, Cyber Forensics Experts, Network Security Specialists, and Cybersecurity Analysts in prominent firms. Working as a Security Consultant also entails communication management with clients relevant to investments and acquisitions.
6. What is the duration of the Cyber Shikshaa training program? It lasts for around four months with both practical and theoretical components of cybersecurity.
7. In Which State Cyber Shikshaa is Conducted? This program has already started in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi NCR, Punjab and other states which makes the training accessible to more students across India.
8. Is Cyber Shikshaa paid or free? It is a free program which helps in skill development and ensures skill deficient candidates aren't restricted due to finances.
9. What is the next step for Cyber Shikshaa? The goal set by Microsoft and DSCI is training 45,000 students in Cyber security within the next three years while majorly focusing on employment and skill development.
10. How do I enroll in Cyber Shikshaa? Candidates can go to the DSCI website or look into Microsoft's announcements to enroll in new batches of Cyber Shikshaa that are already in progress.
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