In an ongoing effort to expand cybersecurity education across industries while providing applied, real-world experience to BCIT students, the BCIT Centre for Digital Transformation (C4DT) collaborated with the BC RCMP’s Cyber Crime Unit to establish the Cyber Learning Resource Portal. This online learning portal provides frontline RCMP members with cybersecurity training materials, which BCIT student-interns helped to develop.
The RCMP envisioned building the Cyber Learning Resource Portal for years, to help advance their frontline members’ cyber knowledge skills, particularly related to cyber economic crime. The initiative brought together expertise from the BCIT Cyber Security Office, and student-interns from the Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity program.
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Sunny Jassal, Director, BCIT Cyber Security, says the project is a prime example of BCIT’s strength in partnering with industry and government to provide practical and relevant hands-on learning opportunities for students while supporting the demands on the workforce.
“BCIT is thrilled to establish a strong partnership with the BC RCMP (E Division) Cyber Crime Unit,” says Sunny. “In a time where there is a growing need for skilled cybersecurity professionals, a partnership such as this allows BCIT to work directly with industry in training for talent that supports tomorrow’s job market.”
Sunny, along with Maleena Singh, Cybercrime Coordinator with the BC RCMP (E Division), supervised the student-interns over the summer as they worked on various special project assignments related to cybercrime.
The Cyber Learning Resource Portal contains tailor-made law enforcement-centric training modules, allowing frontline members to become better equipped, and specialist investigators to investigate complex cyber investigations more quickly.
“To effectively combat cybercrime, law enforcement relies on strong relationships with our academic and other external partners, and this collaboration is indicative of that ethos. The exceptional effort made by the BCIT students has created the genesis of an Educational and Operational portal that will assist frontline investigators for years to come,” shares Maleena Singh.
The training material includes topics ranging from Cryptocurrency/Bitcoin/Blockchain, Ransomware, Malware, Phishing, IP location tracing, and more. As well, there are infographic videos, documents, and cybercrime investigative guides, along with templates and checklists, to provide a “one-stop-shop” learning and resource portal.
BCIT is preparing students for the future of cybersecurity in an increasingly digital world. Through collaborations with industry and government partners, BCIT continues to provide cutting-edge training to tackle cybersecurity, and this partnership with the RCMP is just one of the many initiatives helping the Institute achieve this goal.
Learn more about BCIT cybersecurity programs, from computing to forensics, helping to launch in-demand, dynamic, and future-proof careers.
(Note: The photo in this story was taken on August 13, 2021 when the Provincial Health Order did not require masks to be mandatory indoors.)
Photo caption: On behalf of the BC RCMP (E Division), Maleena Singh presented a token of appreciation to BCIT student-interns and staff.