T-Mobile, University of Washington, and iQ4's Cybersecurity Workforce Alliance Team on Transformational Work-Based Learning
Background Info
T-Mobile, in their Seattle, Washington facilities, had a time-sensitive need for cybersecurity analysts to provide support in their Security and Operations Center (SOC). The SOC cybersecurity analyst job role is to be part of a team to monitor and fight threats to the organization's information technology infrastructure, and to assess security systems and measures for weaknesses and possible improvements.
T-Mobile
An American wireless network operator providing wireless services to postpaid, prepaid, and wholesale customers that generates revenue by providing affordable wireless communications services to these customers, as well as a wide selection of wireless/devices and accessories.
University of Washington
Offers an Information Security & Risk Management (ISRM) certificate, a professional education certificate mapped to the NSA Knowledge Units and a professional seminar conducted jointly by T-Mobile and University of Washington Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity (CIAC).
The Need
T-Mobile to hire 15-20 students as apprentices in cybersecurity, leading to full-time employment.
“The University of Washington’s Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity supports innovative efforts like iQ4 Virtual Challenge. We believe that programs like this that are designed specifically to develop and graduate ‘breach-ready’ cybersecurity professionals are required to address both the acute workforce shortage and lack of preparedness generally within this discipline.”
The Solution
The Cybersecurity Workforce Alliance (CWA) Macro-Credential Program: integrating technical instruction and on-the-job training
iQ4 is a national sponsor of the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) virtual apprenticeship program. The CWA (a division of iQ4) provides 12-week-course apprenticeships programs equating to up to 1-year on-the-job experience in conjunction with Universities and employers. These result in (1) a student acquiring a Macro-credential for a DoL Occupation and (2) a pathway into a cybersecurity analyst apprenticeship.
The Macro-Credential: Related Technical Instruction (RTI) and On-the-Job Training (OJT)
RTI: Students/learners acquire RTI by taking courses from their University and/or from taking technical training courses from professional organizations and earning certificates.
OJT: Students/learners become interns and apprentices and acquire OJT by taking courses through iQ4’s Workforce Development and Career Pathway Platform. The OJT acquired from the courses results in earning a Macro-Credential (up to 1,000 hours of OJT) and the necessary skills for a U.S. Department of Labor occupation.
The Use Case
The University of Washington worked with T-Mobile to identify students in their Cybersecurity Engineering & Risk Management program interested in the twelve-week iQ4 Threat Within Cybersecurity Epic Challenge course that could result in a pathway to an apprenticeship as a cybersecurity analyst in the T-Mobile SOC. There were two iQ4 courses offered with two cohorts of students in consecutive semesters. 200 University students applied for the courses and submitted resumes. T-Mobile reviewed the resumes, screened the students, and boiled-down the 200 students to 10 for the first cohort and 12 for the second cohort. T-Mobile subject matter experts mentored the courses (2 teams of students assigned to mentors). Students worked on use cases and project challenges prepared by T-Mobile, including T-Mobile job descriptions, and prepared deliverables that were presented to the T-Mobile mentors for critique and assessment. Students acquired 350 hours of on-the-job training as a result of the knowledge, skills, and abilities they acquired by completing the iQ4 course.
Results
T-Mobile offered cybersecurity analyst jobs to 19 of the 22 students that participated in the 2 cohorts. 80%+ of the students were offered jobs.
iQ4 Overall Results Past 4 Years
62% of students obtained an internship
45% of students are women
25% of students have full-time cybersecurity jobs
The iQ4 Macro-Credential
Students that earn a Macro-Credential in Cybersecurity & Risk, are ready on day one for a job as a cybersecurity analyst, having acquired the knowledge, skills, and abilities for that occupation.
T-Mobile Return on Investment
For a small investment in money and time, approximately one hour per week, per mentor, for the 12-week courses, T-Mobile avoided the costs associated with student recruiting, interviewing, pipelining, and onboarding. Students acquired up to one year of work experience in 1/5 the time for 1/10 the cost to employers.