Improving Cybersecurity Awareness and Basics in Vocational Education and Training

Abstract

Vocational Education and Training (VET) are oriented to achieving skills and teaching of knowledge related to a specific occupation or vocation in which learner will participate. It is done at an educational institution, as part of secondary or tertiary education, or within initial training during employment, (as a combination of formal education and workplace learning). Digital transformation has introduced new business opportunities for companies, but at the same time also new risks. Cybersecurity is a big concern for companies, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are much more vulnerable, first of all from their organization, not having an internal IT department that also deals with security, on the other hand part of the lack of necessary skills, their staff and management not being used to face cyber risks and giving us attention to this sector. It is essential that SME management understands the need to put in place appropriate IT security policies and provide adequate staff training. It is known that technology as well as cyberattacks evolve rapidly more than people and organizations were aware of. Therefore also, within VET it is necessary that educators/trainers and students are equipped with cybersecurity awareness and have some cybersecurity basic knowledge about reasons why cyberattacks happen and tools to act against them. Results show that the education sector is leading when it comes to suffering cyberattacks (July 2022 to August 2022). It means that the education sector of a country needs more protection and knowledge in this context. This article is based on the experience of the authors within the Erasmus+ project “InCyT - Interdisciplinary Cyber Training.”