Cybersecurity Students Want Real-World Experience in the Classroom. Here’s How to Give It to Them.
There is a desperate need for cybersecurity professionals. The (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study released in December 2022 reports a global shortage of 3.4 million workers in cybersecurity despite more than 464,000 new professionals entering the field.
It’s no wonder we are seeing significant increases in enrollment in cybersecurity courses, degree programs, and certification programs to help meet these needs.
Yet, students are struggling to stay engaged in their studies. Too often, they don’t see how what they are learning connects to real-world application. The State of the Student 2022 report revealed that 55% of undergrads and 38% of graduate students say it’s a challenge to stay engaged. One-third of students surveyed said they have difficulty retaining the information they learn.
What students want in cybersecurity is often different from what they are learning. The same study reported that 81% of students want institutions to provide training that mirrors real-world work, including incorporating company-led projects into the curriculum. Read on to learn how to give students the opportunity to do real-world work in your classroom.
Teaching the Business Case, Not Just Tactics
While the technical aspects and specific tactics are important, teaching cybersecurity strategies requires adapting the lessons to real-world business cases. Students are often taught fundamental information about tactics or platforms, but fail to connect the information to how using these tactics aligns with strategic corporate goals.
“Every discussion should be, ‘What business goal does that satisfy?’” said Michael Solomon, Professor of Cyber Security and Global Business at the University of the Cumberlands, during a recent webinar titled, “A Real-World Approach to Ethical Hacking.” “The unicorn is the person who has very solid technical skills, a keen business sense, and can communicate both technical and business related concepts to both business and technical people.”
Students also need to develop the skills they need by working hands-on in immersive labs that allow them to test, learn, and refine their skills to be effective. Simulations can help, but training in a true IT infrastructure using live virtual machines and real software helps reproduce the complex challenges of real-world applications without putting an institution's assets at risk.
The Importance of Using Real-World Tools and Sandboxes
Simulations simply cannot replicate the full range of cyber threats and scenarios that students may encounter in the real world. Using real-world tools exposes learners to a broader range of threats, allowing them to develop a greater understanding of cybersecurity risks and mitigation techniques.
These tools provide hands-on experience, allowing students to experiment with different tools and tactics in a safe environment. Students can see the impact of the strategies they deploy in a real-world environment while building the practical skills they will need to succeed in a career in cybersecurity.
There is an authenticity in using a real-world environment with live virtual machines and real software that skills-based scenarios do not provide. Cloud Labs puts students to the test in a real-world environment rather than a simulated classroom. Instructors can use Cloud Labs to serve as an online training space and tool to help students learn real-world skills.
Automated lab reports streamline the process and simplify instructor assessments, while instructor dashboards allow teachers with live mentoring capabilities and an easy way to monitor student progress.
Cloud Labs also align with major certifications including:
- Security+ CompTIA certification
- Network+ CompTIA certification
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
This solution also maps to other widely used curriculum frameworks such as CAE-CD Knowledge Units, the NICE Framework, and CSEC 2017.
The Benefits of Virtual Labs in Cybersecurity Training
Virtual labs allow students to learn from subject matter experts with several years of experience. Students can learn and then apply the lessons in a hands-on environment to test their knowledge. At the same time, students gain insight into a future career and learn what they can expect on the job.
With virtual labs, students also get feedback on their performance, helping them learn best practices and where improvement is needed.
A simulated environment provides a safe way to put skills to the test using the latest technology and emerging threats. This is often a challenge for instructors, as many universities are stuck with legacy equipment that can’t be updated as often as instructors would like. With a virtual lab, students get access to upgraded tech that mimics what they will find in the workplace.
Couple these tools with a “case-based” approach. This is where the instructor can cite use cases from textbooks, open educational resources (OERs), or their own professional experience to foster a discussion and enhance student engagement. This approach gives students a peek into how what they are learning can be applied in the real world.
Get Good at Teaching Cybersecurity in a Remote Environment
What students want in cybersecurity also includes a flexible way to learn. A remote environment allows students greater access to the real-world tools they need to develop practical skills. By using remote learning to augment classroom learning, instructors can meet students’ needs and provide the hands-on training students need.
In the real world, much of the work done by cybersecurity professionals is handled in the cloud and done remotely. This may include collaboration among IT teams and various stakeholders. Remote training provides real-world experience in working with virtual teams, especially important in today’s hybrid workplace and distributed workforces.
Preparing Your Students for a Career in Cybersecurity
About half of senior IT professionals said there is a significant shortage of cybersecurity skills in their organization. Teaching cybersecurity requires an intense focus on helping students learn the key skills they will need to work effectively.
Jones and Bartlett Learning provides virtual labs that reproduce real-world cybersecurity challenges in a live environment without putting your assets at risk. Virtual labs are available as a stand-alone lab solution or bundled with Jones and Bartlett textbooks and curriculum solutions to help students attain mastery of key course concepts through hands-on training.
Contact Jones and Bartlett Learning today to learn more.
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