Thursday, 8 March 2018 ()
Learning cybersecurity skills is one thing but using those skills before moving into a full-time occupation is entirely different. Not everyone is prepared; the National Cyber League (NCL) can change that and registration is now open.
CHEVY CHASE, Md. (PRWEB) March 08, 2018
Learning cybersecurity skills is one thing. Actually allowing students to use those skills before moving into a full-time occupation is entirely different. Not everyone is prepared. But the National Cyber League (NCL) can change that and registration is now open.
Sometimes job seekers are stuck in a catch-22: they are trying to get a high-level job but need real-life honed skills to acquire the job. Unlike other arenas, cybersecurity competitions have become a popular medium to bring intellectual capabilities and real-life learning together for individuals. NCL is a virtual cybersecurity competition tied to learning objectives and curriculum that yields individual assessments called NCL Scouting Reports.
"When you learn this stuff in the lab, it's in ideal conditions. You are given the perfect command to get the perfect result on the perfect target. Unfortunately, the real world isn't perfect," said NCL participant Kaitlyn Bestenheider. "When you play NCL, you have to apply your skills and knowledge on a less than ideal target. You have to learn and adapt and figure out how to make it work no matter the obstacles. You gain a deeper understanding of what you are doing in a real and applicable situation. I never understood what the commands I was running would do in a lab. But in NCL, I gained a mastery of skills I could apply in any situation I run into while working as a cybersecurity professional."
The level of training cannot be understated, however. According to the article, "Cybersecurity: The 'Zero-Trust' Movement' by Jim Kennedy from the CSO online, the IT industry needs to work on training potential employees. He stated, "If the next generation of cybersecurity individuals are going to make the right decisions, they need an excellent grounding in security-from compliance to standards…It is only with that in-depth understanding of end-to-end security issues that individuals will be able to create a robust security infrastructure supported by the right product choices."
Individuals can jump on their training now by signing up for the NCL Spring Season. Registration for Regular Season (individual game) ends March 25. Registration for Postseason ends April 25. For more information or to register, visit http://www.nationalcyberleague.org/spring-season.
About National Cyber League
The National Cyber League (NCL) provides a cybersecurity training ground in a high-fidelity simulation environment that requires participants to work individually in the Regular Season and in teams during the Postseason events. The NCL events are designed for participants to solve real problems with actual deadlines under time, technical and resource constraints. The NCL assists higher education institutions across the country in student preparation for its events and for professional certifications. Companies seeking qualified talent can access the NCL's Scouting Reports to evaluate potential cybersecurity professionals who have demonstrated skills in the NCL events. The NCL is where cybersecurity is a passion for students, faculty and the workforce. To learn more, visit nationalcyberleague.org.
