About the Cyber Center of Excellence
The Cyber Center of Excellence serves as a dynamic training and collaboration hub, fostering cooperation among state agencies and other public entities. Through cutting-edge simulations, hands-on exercises, and continuous innovation, the hub empowers cybersecurity professionals to fortify the state’s defenses, respond effectively to evolving threats, and advance the collective resilience of the state’s technology infrastructure.
Investing in Cybersecurity Talent
Training is the cornerstone of recruitment, retention, and growth in today’s cybersecurity landscape. By providing cutting-edge, hands-on training, we attract top talent, develop their skills, and foster a culture of continuous learning. This not only helps retain professionals by keeping them engaged and challenged, but also changes our cyberculture and ensures we grow our capabilities to meet the evolving security needs of our state and public sector.
Eligibility for Participation
Our training programs are open to state agencies, public school district staff, and city and county officials who are currently serving in technology or administrative roles. These sessions are designed to equip participants with the latest knowledge and skills required to excel in their respective positions. Whether you are working on the front lines of technology implementation or steering administrative strategies, our training will provide you with valuable insights and tools to enhance your effectiveness and impact.
Cyber Center of Excellence Annual Report
Arkansas’s Cyber Center of Excellence Mailing List
Stay connected with the latest cybersecurity training opportunities from the Arkansas Cyber Center of Excellence. The mailing list is the best way to register for upcoming courses, exercises, and events. Sign up to receive updates and be the first to know when new training sessions are released.
Strategic Training Plans for Cyber Roles
Building a strong cybersecurity workforce demands intentional, role-aligned development. These strategic training plans guide individuals and managers in mapping training opportunities available through the Arkansas Cyber Center of Excellence to the skills, certifications, and learning resources required for specific cyber roles. The CISA Cyber Career Pathways Tool is another resource to explore cyber roles and align skills to career pathways. Arkansas Cisco Networking Academy also provides clearly defined pathways, such as Network Technician and other foundational IT tracks, that help learners build the technical base needed to advance into cybersecurity careers. Together, they can serve as a model for creating a more customized approach. By aligning training with real-world responsibilities, we can strengthen the workforce, close skills gaps, and ensure Arkansas is prepared for the evolving cyber threat landscape.
Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Professional
Incident Response Professional
These strategic training plans are not meant to be followed in a strict sequence. Instead, they outline a general progression of knowledge and skills that typically support growth from foundational roles into more advanced cybersecurity responsibilities. Within each path, activities are arranged from top to bottom to reflect what is often most logical to learn first, but every learner brings different experiences, strengths, and goals. Individuals should feel free to adjust the order, skip items that don’t apply, or deepen focus in areas that best support their development and the needs of their organization.
Contact Us
Ray Girdler
IT Infrastructure Architect
[email protected]
(501)539-6510
OR
Arkansas State Cybersecurity Office
[email protected]
Cyber Center of Excellence | Online Self-Paced Training Opportunities | Arkansas Cisco Networking Academy