UWF Florida Cybersecurity Training Program

Program Overview

The UWF Florida Cybersecurity Training Program, offered by the University of West Florida (UWF) Center for Cybersecurity, provides FREE upskilling and reskilling cybersecurity training for eligible Florida, state university, state college, K12, county, and city employees. The program aims to equip state and local government personnel with up-to-date cybersecurity knowledge, skills, and credentials to secure our State. The training options include:

• Technical cybersecurity courses: 2-week asynchronous online courses on a variety of foundational and technical cybersecurity topics. Courses use the Florida Cyber Range®.
• Industry certification prep courses: 2-9 week asynchronous online courses that prepare for core cybersecurity industry certifications, including  Security+, Network+, Cloud+, CySA+, CASP+, CISSP, CompTIA Linux+, CompTIA Security+ Exam Prep, ISACA Al Fundamentals Exam Prep and more. Courses include test vouchers and one week for testing.
• Cyber Skills Exercises: 1-day synchronous online sessions on essential cybersecurity topics that provide essential knowledge and hands-on skills using the Florida Cyber Range®.

All program and training costs will be covered by a grant from the State of Florida via the CyberFlorida: FirstLine Initiative (Florida Legislation HB5001, Section 2944B). The list of available courses and exercises is provided below and will be updated regularly. Each course or Cyber Skills exercise is for up to 40 participants and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants will earn a UWF certificate and digital badge for each course or exercise that they complete. They will also earn the appropriate industry certification if they successfully pass the exam.

Please review the program benefits, schedule (Industry Certification Prep Courses, Technical Courses, and Cyber Skills Exercises), and requirements, and then Register below.

Program Benefits

• Offers short-term, up-to-date training on essential cybersecurity topics at no cost to eligible participants.
• Instructor-led courses are taught by UWF faculty and prepare learners for cybersecurity work roles with foundational knowledge and hands-on skills and exercises via the Florida Cyber Range®.
• Includes industry certification prep courses and vouchers, including Security+, Network+, Cloud+, CySA+, CASP+, CISSP, CompTIA Linux+, CompTIA Security+ Exam Prep, ISACA Al Fundamentals Exam Prep, and more.
• Provides industry certifications, digital badges, and UWF certificates to document skills and competencies.
• Courses and Cyber Skills Exercises are 100% online, making learning accessible and convenient.

Course and Exercise Schedule

Courses are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration will close five (5) days prior to the start of each course or exercise. Low-enrolled sections may be canceled. Additional courses will be added periodically.

Participants should not register for more than one concurrent industry cert prep course but may register for technical courses and exercises concurrently if they can balance the workload. Participants are encouraged to register for sessions based on their technical background, work role, and availability. The technical courses and industry certification prep courses require significant time commitment and effort to succeed. Please see the participation requirements below. Participants are asked to provide approval from their organizations or supervisors for participating in the training.

For a listing of courses and Cyber Skills Exercises that have been offered previously, visit the Florida Cybersecurity Training Program Archive.

Industry Certification and Certificate Courses

* Applicants can register for one industry certification or certificate course during June - December 2024. If you submit multiple applications, you will be registered for the courses in your FIRST application if space is available. 

Technical Courses

Cyber Skills Exercises

 Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for participation, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Currently employed by a Florida state, local, tribal, or territorial government organization in a technical, executive, or managerial role that requires IT or cybersecurity knowledge and skills. You will be required to provide a letter or email to verify this.

• Availability to fully participate in the course or Cyber Skills Exercise during the entire duration and complete all requirements.

• Some IT or cybersecurity experience (for technical and industry cert prep courses).

Participation Requirements

The technical and industry certification prep courses provide intensive training. Participants must dedicate ample time for participating in and completing all course requirements. To succeed in each course, participants should plan to commit 20+ hours/week for courses and 7 hours/session for exercises but may need more time depending on their background and experience. 

All selected applicants must agree and comply with the following:

• Participate in all course activities during the entire duration, including industry certification exam preparation and test-taking for those courses.
• Must have your own working computer with a camera, mic, and reliable high-speed Internet connection.
• All course materials will be provided through UWF’s Learning Management System (LMS), and Canvas, and all exercises will be conducted virtually using UWF’s Florida Cyber Range. Participants will access the LMS and Cyber Range via a web browser. They will not need to download or install any environments or tools on their own computers. 
• Dedicate time each week towards self-study and complete all course requirements, including assigned readings, labs, assessments, and surveys.
• Register for industry certification exams during those courses and take the exams within two weeks of each certification course completion. Report the exam date and results to the course instructor.

Registration

Eligible applicants should:

1. Complete the registration form using the button below.
2. Upload a verification letter or email from your government organization employer along with your registration form. The verification letter could be from HR or your supervisor and should confirm that you (a) are currently employed by a Florida state, local, tribal, or territorial government organization, and (b) you have approval to participate in the course or exercise. If you are unable to upload the letter when you submit the form, you may email it later to cybertraining@uwf.edu with the subject line: Verification Letter: Full Name.

Apply

Due to the high demand for these courses, registrants who do not attend without prior notification and/or fail to complete more than one course may be assigned lower priority for future courses.

Please contact Ms. Pam Davis at cybertraining@uwf.edu for questions or additional information. Eligible applicants will be registered on a first-come basis and notified at least 2 days before the course start date if they are confirmed for a course or exercise. Sessions will be marked “closed” when filled.

More Information or Questions?

Please contact the Program Coordinator at cybertraining@uwf.edu.

UWF Florida Cybersecurity Training Program Team

Dr. Eman El-Sheikh. Associate Vice President, UWF Center for Cybersecurity

Dr. Guillermo Francia, III, Director, Research and Innovation, UWF Center for Cybersecurity

Dr. Hossain Shahriar, Associate Director and Professor, UWF Center for Cybersecurity

Guy Garrett, Associate Director, Technology and Training, UWF Center for Cybersecurity

Dr. Elizabeth Rasnick, Assistant Professor, UWF Center for Cybersecurity

Connar McCasland, Cybersecurity Instructor, UWF Center for Cybersecurity

Pam Davis, Program Coordinator, UWF Center for Cybersecurity

Andi Sortino, Operations Coordinator, UWF Center for Cybersecurity

Resources

• CyberSecureFlorida Training Initiative
• Florida [Digital Service]
• CyberSeek
• Cyber Career Pathways Tool
• NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework
• Cybersecurity Workforce Development Resources
• Critical Infrastructure Sectors
• CompTIA Career Pathway

This program is funded by the Florida Legislature via the Cyber Florida: FirstLine initiative.