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CISA Launches Innovative Cybersecurity Training Platform

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has unveiled a new education platform designed to enhance cybersecurity training for its staff, the federal workforce, veterans, and other users. Dubbed CISA Learning, this platform aims to provide a modern and integrated learning environment, replacing the previous Federal Virtual Training Environment (FedVTE).

Key Takeaways

  • Launch of CISA Learning: A new platform offering a variety of cybersecurity courses.
  • User Migration: Over 500,000 users from FedVTE will transition to CISA Learning.
  • Enhanced Features: Improved tracking of user progress and tailored learning experiences.
  • Partnerships: Collaboration with organizations like NIST and GSA to expand course offerings.

CISA Learning debuted this month, featuring a range of courses that cover essential topics such as cloud security, ethical hacking, risk management, and malware analysis. CISA Chief People Officer Elizabeth Kolmstetter emphasized that this platform is not only for CISA employees but also available free of charge to external partners and the public.

“This is really the one-stop go-to learning solution for our workforce, but our external partners free of charge,” Kolmstetter stated. The platform aims to democratize access to cybersecurity training, ensuring that a wide audience can benefit from the resources available.

User Data Migration

CISA is in the process of migrating user data from FedVTE to CISA Learning, which includes:

  • 412,000 federal employees
  • 25,000 users from state, local, tribal, and territorial governments
  • 12,000 users at public universities and nonprofits
  • 92,000 veterans

This migration is expected to streamline access to training resources and enhance the overall user experience.

Features of CISA Learning

The new platform is currently live with an initial operational capability, featuring:

  • Comprehensive Course Offerings: Users can access a variety of courses tailored to different skill levels.
  • Progress Tracking: Enhanced capabilities for users to monitor their learning journey from basic to advanced courses.
  • Tailored Learning Experience: Options for online synchronous and asynchronous training, as well as in-person courses.
  • Detailed Metrics: CISA officials will have access to comprehensive reporting tools to assess course effectiveness and user engagement.

Kolmstetter noted that the platform will continue to evolve, with plans to improve search capabilities and suggest courses based on user interests. This will help users navigate the extensive course offerings more efficiently.

Collaborative Efforts

CISA is partnering with various organizations, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the General Services Administration (GSA), to enrich the training content available through CISA Learning. For example, the platform will feature GSA webinars on artificial intelligence, which Kolmstetter believes is crucial for all employees to understand.

“I truly believe that everyone in every job should have some working knowledge of artificial intelligence so they can understand what it is, how it’s being used, and then think about how it could be a tool to help them do their jobs better,” she explained.

Conclusion

CISA Learning represents a significant step forward in cybersecurity education, providing a centralized platform for training that is accessible to a broad audience. With its modern features and collaborative approach, CISA aims to enhance the cybersecurity skills of the federal workforce and beyond, ultimately contributing to a more secure digital landscape.

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