Cybersecurity training centre launches in Melbourne

A new cybersecurity training centre opened in Melbourne’s west on 16 August to provide future experts and professionals with training, skills and experience needed for a successful career in the industry.

The centre — which was set up by Victoria University (VU) Polytechnic and Cisco — is located at VU’s St Albans campus and includes a cyber security operations centre (SOC), two immersive computer labs and a videoconferencing classroom that virtually connects students with industry.

According to VU, the SOC contains a simulated working environment with red ‘attack’ and blue ‘defend’ rooms so students can take on real-time roles as hackers or defenders — in order to gain real-world skills.

Courses held at the centre will be co-designed by cybersecurity professionals, including Cisco’s Networking Academy, to deliver practical insights and learning modules relevant to industry.

Cisco Australia and New Zealand’s Vice President, Ken Boal, said the centre will also help support Australia’s digital transformation.

“We are excited by the prospects of the cybersecurity training centre, to support the skills of the emerging workforce, help create jobs and enhance Australia’s global economic competitiveness. Partnering with academia to accelerate growth in the cybersecurity industry will create more opportunities for Australia to grow and prosper in the digital era,” he said.

“The centre offers a great opportunity for the next wave of cybersecurity experts, and working with academia we’re providing a very real pathway for anyone to be part of that.”