Free Cybersecurity First Responder Training Coming to UNC Pembroke
Technical personnel who respond to cyberattacks against the nation’s critical infrastructure will have the opportunity to receive free, instructor-led cybersecurity training at UNC Pembroke.
The National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium (NCPC) will offer its Cybersecurity First Responder course Oct. 13-16 at the Chavis Student Center, Room 208, on the UNCP campus. The 32-hour, intermediate-level course is designed for technical personnel who serve as first responders to cybersecurity incidents involving critical cyber infrastructure. Registration is required, and space may be limited.
Since 2023, UNCP’s Division of Information Technology Cybersecurity Program has partnered with the Cybersecurity Defense Initiative (CDI), a DHS/FEMA-supported national training program, to offer no-cost cybersecurity workshops for cybersecurity and IT professionals on campus. The partnership also aligns with Vision 2031, UNCP’s strategic plan, through its focus on innovation, regional impact and workforce development.
“These workshops give professionals an opportunity to strengthen their skills through practical, hands-on training while helping build the cybersecurity expertise our region needs,” said Kevin Pait, UNCP’s chief information security officer. “We are proud to continue bringing this level of training to our campus and making it accessible at no cost to professionals in our community.”
The training is developed by the Criminal Justice Institute at the University of Arkansas System and is certified and funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The course combines classroom instruction, laboratory exercises and simulated cyberattacks, allowing participants to practice using cybersecurity incident response tools in realistic scenarios. Topics include incident assessment, detection and analysis, containment, eradication and recovery from system- or network-based attacks.
The course is delivered through a mobile computer training lab featuring preconfigured laptops and hands-on exercises designed to immerse participants in realistic cybersecurity scenarios.
Preferred prerequisites include experience handling cyber incidents, along with either at least 3 years of experience as a system or network administrator or four years of experience as a cybersecurity professional.
For registration and additional information, contact Steven Washkowiak at cdi@cji.edu. Information about additional cybersecurity training offered through the NCPC is available at NationalCPC.org.