AVON PARK, Fla. – June 21, 2016 – Malware that harms computers. Breaches in personal data that’s transmitted and stored over the internet. Hacking that shuts down websites, takes over social media accounts, and steals vital business records and financial information. As these threats evolve and change, so do the practices that combat them, which is why cybersecurity has become one of the fastest-growing careers in the computer industry.

On Saturday, July 16, South Florida State College will conduct a one-day class on the cybersecurity practices that protect against common risks that come from using the internet. “Introduction to Cybersecurity” covers the global implications of cyber threats, how computer networks become vulnerable to attack, and the impact of cyber-attacks on business. It will explain Cisco Systems’ approach to detecting and defending computer networks against cyber-threats and explain opportunities for pursing professional certifications in cybersecurity.

The class runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Building I, Room 210, on the SFSC Highlands Campus. Cost is $69 per person with a maximum class size of 24 students. To register, call 453-6661, 773-3081, 993-1757, or 465-3003 and request Course Registration Number (CRN) 30911.

As part of its commitment to training highly skilled I.T. workers in Florida’s heartland, SFSC also offers one-year college credit certificate programs in network security, which includes a focus on cybersecurity, and digital forensics, which teaches students how to recover trace material in digital devices often relating to criminal activity and how to find the source behind breaches in network security. College credits earned in these programs can be applied to SFSC’s associate in science (AS) degree in Network Systems Technology. For more information about these courses, call SFSC’s XCEL-IT program at 784-7439.