The MN Cyber Academy provides candidates with the skills, knowledge and credentials required to successfully begin or advance in a career in the fields of Information Technology and Cybersecurity.

There is a severe shortage of IT professionals with the skills, certifications, and problem solving abilities necessary to meet Minnesota’s cybersecurity needs as well as the nation’s cyber defense challenges. This shortage is expected to persist for years, and represents a tremendous career opportunity for motivated individuals with the right skills and certifications.

Here are the top qualifications sought by every organization, large or small:

  • Demonstrable technical skills in Systems Administration and Computer Networking
  • DoD 8570 Certifications
  • A recognized IT Industry Certification in systems or networking
  • Strong problem-solving abilities and communication skills
  • High level of professionalism and willingness to work hard

MN Cyber Academy programs prepare participants for employment with government agencies, government contractors, and commercial enterprises in the Midwest region. MN Cyber Academy programs are in response to the industry’s need for qualified employees with the right certifications and problem-solving skills to be effective in system support, computer network operations (CNO), and computer network defense (CND). While Cybersecurity is the primary focus, this program provides excellent preparation for work in any commercial or civilian IT organization.

Cybersecurity and protecting the nation’s network infrastructure are vital concerns.  MN Cyber, a collaboration between the Minnesota State Information Technology (IT) Center of Excellence and Metropolitan State University, provides industry-standard training and certification to help build the community of practicing cybersecurity professionals in the state, along with the MN Cyber Range which offers cutting-edge training and simulation to help cybersecurity professionals prepare for real-world situations.

Minnesota has a massive cybersecurity talent gap – in 2017 there were more than 5,000 cybersecurity jobs open in the Twin Cities region alone.  MN Cyber is actively seeking to fill this talent gap.  Whether you are new to the field, already working in IT or cyber, or are looking to prepare your workforce for the cyber mission, MN Cyber has the world-class cybersecurity training you need.