During the latter part of 2004, the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security awarded the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement
(NCRLE) with a Competitive Training Grant for the SENTINEL project.
SENTINEL, which stands for Security and
Network Training Initiative and National Education Laboratory,
will educate public safety personnel in cyberterrorism response and
prevention.
Cyber attacks against our nation’s critical
infrastructures increase in severity, frequency, and sophistication
at an alarming rate each year. These attacks can threaten our nation’s
public works, communication systems, and computer networks. Most first
responders do not possess or have access to the training necessary to
effectively prevent, respond to, or recover from cyber attacks. To fill
this need, NCRLE will use the grant to train public safety personnel
in critical need areas nationwide.
Through the SENTINEL project, NCRLE will provide free
cybersecurity training to 1,800 public safety personnel over a two-year
period. Using a mobile computer lab, NCRLE will bring the training directly
to centralized rural and metropolitan areas across the country. The
training focuses on enhancing the prevention, preparedness, and response
capabilities of local, state, tribal, and rural public safety jurisdictions.
NCRLE will partner with 12 key regional law enforcement
agencies to develop and promote the curriculum. Training will combine
lectures, classroom instruction, and real-world experience using hands-on
lab simulations. This training is designed for all experience levels
of users and technicians in the state and local public safety sector.
Two cybersecurity training classes will be provided.
One class emphasizes prevention, deterrence, and recovery, while the other primarily deals with incident handling and response.
Cybersecurity: Prevention, Deterrence, and Recovery is a 5-day class designed for students with an introductory to intermediate level of experience in the security field, and provides an intensive, detailed overview of core cybersecurity methodology and concepts. Cybersecurity: Incident Handling and Response is a 5-day class for students who have more experience working with secure networks, and provides more in-depth instruction on countering and responding to significant cyberattacks.
All classes are free of charge and focus on enhancing the prevention, preparedness, and response capabilities of agencies nationwide. Course materials
are provided in class and on a website repository for future use by
class participants. By using the resources provided during the classes
and online, those trained will be able to share their knowledge with
the technical staff in their own jurisdictions.
In association with class activities,
working meals will also be provided free to the students. Classes will
be held at easily accessible and centralized locations throughout the
country, so that participants will have to pay only marginal out-of-pocket
expenses for travel. NCRLE will pay for the student’s local mileage
costs to attend the courses.
Graduates of the SENTINEL cybersecurity training will
be certified by the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security, Office of Grants and Training.
For further information, including curriculum, course registration, and upcoming classes, visit SENTINEL online at www.sentinelproject.net, or write via email at sentinel@cji.edu.
