Ethical Hacker: Job of tomorrow
Zurich-based bug bounty provider GObugfree launches Switzerland's first bug bounty education program for ethical hacking at colleges and universities. For the past 10 months, the FHNW University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland has integrated the program into its educational offerings. The FFHS, Switzerland's leading distance learning university, now also partners with GObugfree in education.
Cyber attacks are now the biggest threat to Swiss businesses. Companies are increasingly meeting the challenges in the digital space with the help of so-called friendly hackers. Bug bounty programs activate communities of ethical hackers who constantly check the IT of endangered companies for vulnerabilities and thus make an essential contribution to the security of systems. The demand for services in the cyber security sector is increasing - specialists are in short supply. The Zurich-based company GObugfree wants to sustainably strengthen the promotion of young talent at college and university level with a new education offensive and take action against the acute shortage of skilled workers.
Cyber security specialists are in short supply. Together with GObugfree we want to change this.
Students become hackers
With the bug bounty education program, colleges and universities enable their students to gain first practical experiences as ethical hackers. As part of their degree program, these students are able to hack their own college or university and search for "bugs." "Our partnership with GObugfree enables our students to gain real-world qualifications to become ethical hackers," says Tobias Häberlein, professor of computer science and department head at FFHS in Zurich. Désirée Guntern Kreuzer, Director of Undergraduate Studies, adds: "With these qualifications and competencies, our graduates will be able to choose their future employers. Cyber security specialists are in short supply. Together with GObugfree, we want to change this."
The program offers students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in discovering and fixing security vulnerabilities
Benjamin Zulliger, CISO of FHNW says: "The program offers students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in discovering and fixing security vulnerabilities. At the same time, they contribute to making their educational institutions more secure."