NEWS
Experts from Georgia Tech university train Costa Ricans in Cybersecurity
- 25 Costa Ricans are receiving a course that will allow them to expand their knowledge on the subject.
- Training is the result of visit of President Luis Guillermo Solis Rivera to the University in May 2015, as part of the agenda for investment promotion and consolidation of opportunities.
San Jose, September 22nd 2016. 9th to the 23rd, 25 Costa Rican professionals are participating in the training "Understanding and Addressing Cybersecurity Challenges: Fundamental Concepts and Practical Techniques" taking place at Intel and imparted by Dr. Mustaque Ahamad and Wenke Lee, both professors at Georgia Tech University.
The course is oriented towards professionals with an academic background in computer science, related disciplines or with professional experience in the development and management of information technology systems. It is divided into two modules, the first focusing on basic elements of cybersecurity, software security, operating systems as the trusted computing base and authentication and authorization methods. The second module comprises topics such as cryptography basics, network security, web and mobile security, and the future of cybersecurity. Once the participants finish the modules they will receive a certificate.
The implementation of this course is the result of the visit of the President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solis, to the school of Computer Science of the University in May 2015, and is part of the agenda for investment promotion and consolidation of opportunities. The visit was also attended by Alexander Mora, Minister of Foreign Trade, and the Jorge Sequeira, Managing Director at CINDE. This is part of an ambitious initiative that seeks to create a greater development of human talent in the country in high value-added specialties.
Emmanuel Hess, General Manager of the Costa Rica Center for Productivity of Georgia Tech, said "This unique project will increase the competitiveness of Costa Rica by providing knowledge, tools and advanced technologies, developed by professors and researchers from Georgia Tech, to companies and institutions that require to train talent in global best practices in cybersecurity, facing the urgency of implementing measures to ensure the security and privacy of information in the public and private sectors".
Currently, sophistication of cyber-attacks and increased interdependence on information technology have converted cybersecurity in one of the most important concerns for enterprises, government organizations and for anyone on the web. To date, several multinational companies have delegated the responsibility to address cybersecurity issues in Costa Rican human talent, providing the country with value added in the type of services that are provided to global geos.
"For Intel Costa Rica it is extremely positive to support initiatives aimed at improving the capabilities of Costa Rican human talent in areas as strategic as Cybersecurity, especially when it has the support of a university as prestigious as Georgia Tech and of a leading organization like CINDE. In Intel Costa Rica we are very proud to have several collaborators of our Cybersecurity Center enriching their knowledge with this training," said Timothy Scott Hall, Government Affairs and Public Relations Manager at Intel Costa Rica.
The initiative was developed by Georgia Tech, a working group of multinational companies in the Information Technologies sector and CINDE. For 2017, they expect to teach the course twice and include a more advanced certification on the same subject. Likewise, they expect to implement an intensive 15-week course that will target students and graduates from careers related to information technology.
Vanessa Gibson, Director of Climate Investment and Corporate Development at CINDE, said "CINDE has been working with national and international academia, private sector and government with the goal of generating an adequate investment climate in the country. Part of this strategy has been the specialization of human talent taking advantage of the great potential the country has in developing technological skills."
Jorge Sequeira, Managing Director at CINDE, said "CINDE has been working with national and international academia, private sector and government in order to strengthen the Costa Rican´s capabilities to generate more high-quality jobs. A fundamental part of this strategy has been the specialization of human talent in areas not only of great global demand but of great opportunities. It is absolutely important for the country to continue to grow and develop the technological capacities."
Furthermore, CINDE and Georgia Tech are working on the implementation of certifications in two additional areas: Big Data andamp; Analysis and Data Science, to be held in the upcoming months.
About the Center for Productivity of Georgia Tech in Costa Rica
The Center for Productivity of Georgia Tech in Costa Rica is a non-profit organization oriented to knowledge, diagnosis and action to increase sustainably the productivity of Costa Rica.
About CINDE
CINDE is a private, nonprofit, apolitical organization, declared of public interest since 1984 and responsible for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Costa Rica. Founded in 1982, it has supported hundreds of companies in the process of establishment, and in turn, has generated great benefits for the country.
