The American giant Google has inaugurated its Security Engineering Center (GSEC) in Malaga. It is the third center of this type that Google will have on the European continent, joining Dublin and Munich. On the occasion of this inauguration, Google’s President of General Affairs, Kent Walker, has announced a ten million dollar program to train students in cybersecurity in Europe.
This investment also includes Google’s contribution to the Academy of
European Union Skills and Cybersecurity, an initiative of the European Commission that seeks to close the cybersecurity talent gap with a more coordinated approach. Walker spoke during the opening ceremony alongside Google Cloud’s IT Security Director, Phil Venables, the Vice President of the European Parliament and head of security, Dita Chranzová, who left a recorded message for the occasion, and Google executives.
Security has always been a central element of Google products, which indicates that it has long shared its experience and invested in cybersecurity tools and resources to protect people, companies and even governments.
“Security is more urgent today than ever, on a global scale”
“But this work is more urgent today than ever. Globally, cyber attacks recorded a growth of 38% in 2022. And, according to our own studies, close to half (43%) of European SMEs have suffered a cyber attack in The last two years,” they point out.
Aimed at students and benefits for companies
The American giant is of the opinion that to rise to the challenge, which can come from anywhere and from anyone, qualified teams with diverse skills are needed. “However, Europe suffers from a chronic shortage of talent in this field, which last year numbered 500,000 cybersecurity professionals. On the other hand, women currently only occupy 25% of jobs in this area “, they point out.
In the first phase, each university must teach a minimum of two cybersecurity seminars, over a period of two years. In total, more than 1,600 students are expected to participate. Subsequently, each student must put into practice the knowledge acquired in the classroom, providing support to at least two local NGOs in improving their cyber protection.
In this way, it is expected to reach at least 3,200 organizations of this type only in the first two years of the program. Universities selected to receive program funding may also optionally receive donations of Titan security keys and free training from Google staff on participation and use of the Google Advanced Protection Program. To carry out these initiatives, Google has the collaboration of its European partner Public, a leading technology company for the transformation of public administrations.
Importance of flexible cybersecurity
On the other hand, the program will also provide funding to Eccri CIC to prepare educational resources for universities, among which stands out what will be the first flexible curriculum on cybersecurity, with a general introduction to this field and basic skills, with which Participants will be able to provide support to local NGOs most vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Thus, the curriculum will be available in eight European languages, including English, Spanish and Ukrainian, and will be accompanied by exhaustive teaching guides. All academic institutions will be able to use these materials at no cost. With this, Google hopes to reach many more universities, in addition to the eight that will receive funding in the first instance.
Qualified teams and skills for Google
Furthermore, Google.org has launched a new European seminar program on cybersecurity, in collaboration with the European Cyber Conflict Research Incubator (Eccri CIC). The programme, which will be the first of its kind in Europe, will boost skills development and training in cybersecurity.
It will also help local community NGOs to strengthen their protection on the Internet. Thanks to this program, a group of universities will be provided with a cybersecurity curriculum and training program, which will allow them to offer cybersecurity courses to students with a very varied background and without the need for prior experience.