IT firm pledges $1M to cybersecurity education

TAMPA — ReliaQuest, a Tampa-based IT security firm, has committed to a $1 million gift, payable over five years, to the University of South Florida to fund the ReliaQuest Cybersecurity Labs at the USF Muma College of Business.

The new initiative, according to a press release, will equip students with the skills necessary to build careers in cybersecurity, ensuring they receive hands-on, real-world experiences using a secure operating center environment. 

The gift, the release states, underpins ReliaQuest’s commitment to the development of the future cybersecurity workforce. It also helps build upon USF’s national leadership in providing cybersecurity education that’s relevant and responsive to business needs.

For years, the demand for cybersecurity professionals has outpaced the supply of qualified candidates, according to the release, which states that the latest Global Information Security Workforce Study reveals a looming 1.8 million deficit in security professionals by 2022.  

“In the face of what the industry refers to as a talent shortage, we believe cybersecurity is suffering from a skills shortage,” ReliaQuest CEO Brian Murphy states in the release. “There are plenty of people eager to enter the cybersecurity field, but they need the skills to perform effectively in those positions. To overcome this challenge, ReliaQuest has chosen to invest both our expertise and financial resources to help solve one of the biggest challenges in the industry.” 

ReliaQuest’s new USF partnership consists of four-week immersive program — modeled on ReliaQuest University, the company’s internal training curriculum — that teaches fundamental cybersecurity skills.