During the Yrkes-SM, held in Karlstad on 23-25 April, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the profession through, among other things, cyber attack simulations.
Education for the future
At Karlstad University and Compare’s stand at Yrkes-SM, the main focus is on different cybersecurity programmes. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore how they can acquire a technical background in cybersecurity at different levels of education, from vocational colleges to basic and advanced courses and programmes at universities. One example is the new IT security specialist programme at Karlstad University College of Technology, which will start this autumn in collaboration with leading companies in the IT and cybersecurity industry.
- “It is a 2-year higher vocational education programme, with trainers from the industry and a lot of practical training, which will contribute to the supply of skills in this important area,” says Staffan Andersson, Programme Manager at Teknikhögskolan.
Internal competence important for companies
Working on cybersecurity is important for businesses. With today’s skills shortage in the field, it is also important for businesses to help make the profession attractive to attract new talent and help secure the cybersecurity skills of the future.
Leonardo Martucci, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Karlstad University, argues that everyone in a company should have a basic understanding of online security, as the lack of knowledge is often the weakest link.
- “Having good competences within the company is key to addressing security challenges effectively,” says Leonardo. “Integrating cybersecurity from the beginning of a business is essential, and not a measure that can be added after the damage is done,” he adds.
Leonardo Martucci, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Karlstad University.
Interest among young people
At the stand during the Yrkes-SM, visitors can interact with staff and students from Karlstad University and representatives from Compare and Teknikhögskolan. In addition to information about various programmes, there are demonstrations of cybersecurity tools and cybersecurity quizzes. Many of the students who tested found the area both fun and interesting. Elias, one of them, shared his experience:
- I accidentally got a virus in my computer and saw how easy it was for it to happen. Although I don’t know what I want to do when I get older, helping people protect their computers and information from hackers seems like an important job. I’d like to learn more and see if it’s for me.
Elias and his friends discussed the increased threat online, especially for older people who they believe are particularly vulnerable. Despite this, Elias is still positive and hopeful, believing in progress through the use of AI and more people becoming aware of online safety.
- “I hope that security will improve with the help of AI. I think it’s important to have strong passwords and be careful with links and emails from strangers.
Tips for cybersecurity enthusiasts
Hanna Ångström, a student at Karlstad University, participates in the stand and warmly recommends young people to train in cybersecurity. She advises those who want to train to follow their field of interest, especially given that the need for cybersecurity exists in almost every industry today.
- “Cybersecurity is an incredibly exciting arena for young people who want to work on protecting digital systems. There are a variety of areas to explore, from small local businesses to global organisations such as banks or famous brands.
For those who want to learn more about cybersecurity and stay up-to-date in the field, Hanna recommends listening to various podcasts.
- “One podcast I really like is Darknet Diaries. It covers a lot of exciting events in cybersecurity and different solutions to problems.
Samuel Willman and Hanna Ångström are students at Karlstad University and participate in the stand.
The stand was funded by the Interreg Sweden-Norway project Cross Border Cyber Capacity. The long-term objective is, among other things, to contribute to increased awareness of the importance of digital security among companies, strengthen business development and at the same time increase access to expertise and knowledge sharing in the field of cyber security. Read more about the project.
