NASSCOM signs MoU with Symantec to boost cyber security skills

The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) and Symantec, the cyber security provider, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build cyber security skills. This initiative also aims to facilitate internships and placement of certified candidates.

The Sector Skill Council (SSC) NASSCOM and the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) along with Symantec will focus on developing five prioritised job roles in cyber security along with a master training programme. The program also expects to fund 1,000 scholarships for women undertaking the cyber security certification by NASSCOM.

The partnership was inspired by projections that the demand for a workforce skilled in cyber security is expected to rise to 6 million (globally) by 2019, with a projected shortfall of 1.5 million, and follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call at NASSCOM's silver jubilee in March 2015 to focus on global cyber security challenges. 

"This is a positive step towards our objective to address the cyber security issue at large. This partnership will enable the industry to map existing and future skills requirements and plug its demand-supply gap. The programme will also focus on developing pioneering models for scaling capacity and enhancing employability through assessments and certifications," said R Chandrashekhar, President, NASSCOM. 

Michael Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer, Symantec said, "With the rise in targeted attacks aimed at Indian enterprises and consumers, cyber security has become more important than ever before. As a leader in cyber security, Symantec is deeply committed to addressing the workforce skills gap in this area. With the partnership with NASSCOM, we are taking the first big step towards building cyber security skills in India. The initiative will also facilitate internships and placement of certified candidates, and is an extension in India of the Symantec Cyber Career Connection (SC3), a programme launched last year to attract and train young adults and women in the field of cyber security." 

NASSCOM has been actively working towards building capacity for the IT security market, which is estimated to be worth US$77 billion in 2015 and forecast to grow over 8% annually. NASSCOM has on-going initiatives to promote data protection, security, privacy codes and standards. NASSCOM and the DSCI have also launched the NASSCOM Cyber Security Task Force to help build India as a global hub for providing cyber security solutions, developing cyber security R&D plan and developing a skilled workforce of cyber security experts.