Great Plains College partners with EC-Council to meet growing demand for cybersecurity professionals

Posted on 31 October 2022 by Prairie Post

Great Plains College is pleased to announce the addition of Cybersecurity programming to its course offerings. The online courses will be delivered in partnership with International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council), a global leader in cybersecurity education.

The course offerings range from novice to executive, allowing beginners and professionals of all levels an opportunity to advance their careers and acquire industry-recognized certifications.

“As we continue to move more of our lives and businesses online, the threat of cyber-attacks continue to grow, making cybersecurity one of the fast-growing industries globally,” said Fritz Eckstein, region manager at Great Plains College. “We’re proud to be the first post-secondary institution in Saskatchewan to partner with EC-Council to make cybersecurity training more accessible, and ultimately helping meet Saskatchewan employers’ need for highly trained professionals in this field.”

The online format gives students the ability to start a course any time, and successful completion of the course and its corresponding exam will give the student the certification they need to immediately start working in any number of roles that correspond to their completed course.

“Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned professional looking to grow your skills in a niche area, these cybersecurity courses offer something for everyone, at all levels,” added Eckstein.

Each certification is valid for three years. To maintain certifications, individuals must attend a set amount of professional development activities to ensure they are staying up-to-date on best practices in the rapidly changing cyber threat landscape.

Commenting on the partnership, Wesley Alvarez, director of academics for EC-Council, adds, “As cybercrime increases drastically worldwide, organizations continue to face challenges which includes a lack of qualified cybersecurity professionals. We are reliant on our educational institutions to become agile, quickly implementing career-based Cybersecurity training and education that aligns to today’s rapid pace of digital transformation, threats, and technologies. Our celebrated partnership with Great Plains College is a step towards closing this massive skills gap by providing a blended practical experience with educational training.”

For more information about the cybersecurity programs or to register, please visit greatplainscollege.ca/cybersecurity.