TAFE Queensland is offering a Certificate IV in Cyber Security for the first time at the Toowoomba campus this year, providing the opportunity to gain in-demand skills and employment opportunities.

While IT security is not a new idea, the increasing prevalence of cybercrime is driving unprecedented demand for qualified cybersecurity professionals; with strong job prospects for those who want to enter this growing industry. Australia is facing a severe skills shortage of cybersecurity professionals with a current shortfall of 2300 workers, and more than 17,000 additional professionals estimated to be required by 2026, according to the Institute of Data.

TAFE Queensland information technology teacher Kaled Aljebur said while rapid technological advancements have created an obvious demand for IT skills, cybersecurity is a growing concern. “The incidence of people and businesses being hacked has increased dramatically and in response to that, we need to be better educated about the threats and how to avoid them,” Mr Aljebur said.

Mr Aljebur said circumventing cybersecurity threats is a specialist area that requires in-depth knowledge and skills, which the Certificate IV in Cyber Security addresses. “In this course, students will start with the basics of cybersecurity on personal computer protection, learn how to identify cybersecurity breaches and protect against these attacks,” Mr Aljebur said.

As more Australians access the internet and social media, Mr Aljebur said it’s increasingly important for them to protect themselves online. “It’s often very simple mistakes that leave people exposed to cyber attacks – things like not securing their online information with complex passwords or not checking their default settings on their social media to ensure they aren’t visible to everyone,” Mr Aljebur said. “A cyber attack can be devastating for both individuals and businesses, so it pays to be vigilant and find out what you can do to protect yourself.”

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