More than 92% of organizations hiring cybersecurity professionals this year say it will be difficult to find skilled candidates, according to a new study by global IT association ISACA. To help train additional professionals and address the global cybersecurity skills shortage, ISACA has launched a new online course through its Cybersecurity Nexus (CSX).

Called Cybersecurity Fundamentals, this online course covers:

• An introduction to cybersecurity
• Cybersecurity principles
• Information security within lifecycle management
• Risks and vulnerabilities
• Incident response
• Future implications and evolving technologies

“Course participants will gain key insights into cybersecurity and the integral role of cybersecurity professionals,” said Robert E Stroud, CGEIT, CRISC, international president of ISACA and vice president of strategy and innovation at CA Technologies. “The interactive, self-guided format provides a dynamic learning experience where users can explore foundational cybersecurity principles, security architecture, risk management, attacks, incidents, and emerging IT and IS technologies—all key concepts and skills that will make them valuable to enterprises seeking to build their cybersecurity teams”.

The course is designed for individuals with zero to three years of cybersecurity experience, students and recent graduates, and those looking to enter the field of cybersecurity. It helps learners prepare to take ISACA’s Cybersecurity Fundamentals exam and earn the Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate.

The Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate is a knowledge-based certificate aligned with the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), which is compatible with global cybersecurity issues, activities and job roles. The certificate is also aligned with the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). To earn the certificate, candidates must pass a remotely proctored online exam.

The Cybersecurity Fundamentals Online Course takes approximately eight hours to complete, and learners earn eight continuing professional education hours. The course costs US $250 for ISACA members and US $400 for nonmembers. The cost includes 90 days of access.

This course is the latest offering from ISACA’s Cybersecurity Nexus (CSX), which offers resources for cybersecurity professionals at every level of their careers. ISACA will hold an inaugural CSX North America conference this year in Washington DC, from 19-21 October. Details are at http://www.isaca.org/cyber-conference/index.html.