SWEEPS Academic Initiative Presents Software Safety Coaching

A coalition of universities, group schools and cybersecurity organizations launched a brand new instructional initiative to show software program builders easy methods to code securely with out sacrificing effectivity.

The Strengthen Workforce Training for Excellence in Programming Securely (SWEEPS) program gives one-day workshops, self-paced on-line programs, week-long intensive bootcamps and full certificates applications to assist bridge the talents hole in software program safety by offering builders with the mandatory software safety information and instruments. Coaching might be obtainable for college kids and professionals in any respect levels of their profession, from entry-level builders and profession changers to skilled IT professionals. 

SWEEPS is funded by a $2.5 million grant from the Nationwide Facilities for Educational Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C), a program administered by the Nationwide Safety Company’s Nationwide Cryptologic College.

The curriculum highlights ideas, ideas and examples of safe programming, together with widespread misconceptions and proactive practices for bettering safety. The course materials will cowl information safety requirements and easy methods to scale back safety vulnerabilities in software program. There can even be details about compliance and authorized necessities in safe programming. College students could have entry to in-depth tutorials on evaluation of vulnerabilities and exploits in addition to superior protection mechanisms. 

“The software program that runs our nation’s infrastructure and pc programs is weak to assault,” stated Matt Bishop, the SWEEPS program’s principal investigator and a pc science professor on the College of California, Davis, in an announcement. “We’re making an attempt to vary that. By offering intensive, hands-on coaching in safe software program growth, SWEEPS helps programmers defend in opposition to cyber criminals and ‘unhealthy actors’ who exploit vulnerabilities in our pc programs.”

SWEEPS gives trainings in quite a lot of codecs and lengths. The one-day digital workshops are supplied by the College of California, Davis; College of Maryland, Baltimore County; and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Early-career software program engineers can work by way of a self-paced 45-hour on-line course. Software program engineers, graduate college students, school educators, and IT and cybersecurity professionals can go for a one-week intensive digital bootcamp to realize an in-depth understanding of safe programming. And a one-year digital superior certification program is open for mid-to-senior degree software program engineers, cybersecurity and IT professionals, and graduate college students.

“The rising frequency of large-scale cyberattacks reinforces the necessity for extra specialists in safe programming,” stated Xiaoyan Solar, a pc science professor at WPI and administrator of this system. “After builders undergo the SWEEPS program, they are going to be extra able to implementing safety greatest practices in each side of their coding apply.”

Enrollment is open to college students who’re U.S. residents or everlasting residents, with precedence given to these with army or first responder backgrounds. Software necessities and deadlines for every program differ, and a few require particular prerequisite programs and programming skills. About 700 college students are projected to participate in this system.