Learning from Home While School’s Out: Cybersecurity Education for Kids

Apr 30, 2020
4 minutes
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Parents all over the world are looking for ways to keep their kids learning while they’re not attending class in person. We have developed a set of free cybersecurity education resources to help kids learn about using digital resources safely – and have fun doing it. All you need to do to access these materials is to sign up below. 

School closings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have put many parents in the position of trying to homeschool children while juggling work, health and other obligations. Academic institutions across the United States and around the globe have done their best to support kids’ continuing education by helping to connect parents and students with online platforms and learning resources. Cybersecurity education can supplement that effort, helping kids learn important skills while teaching them how to stay safe as they spend more time online than ever.

Keeping students and schools safe in a digital world already mattered, but recent changes have increased the importance of cybersecurity education even more. The rush to digital sources of learning has introduced an array of new technologies and internet destinations, vastly increasing our digital footprint. The benefits and upside of these new tools are unmistakable, but added cyber risks must also be considered as a part rapid adoption. Insecure digital platforms or phishing campaigns based on themes related to the pandemic can have serious and lasting consequences for students or the institutions providing educational resources. 

As we spend more hours online while we work, learn or play at home during these uncertain times, encourage students to discover how to have safer online experiences. With education and awareness, we can mitigate the risks of our exploration into the tools and knowledge of the digital age, making each day safer and more secure than the one before. 

Palo Alto Networks is committed to ensuring secure experiences in the digital world for students and inspiring them to pursue careers in cybersecurity. Check out the free resources that Palo Alto Networks is providing to facilitate cybersecurity awareness and knowledge growth for students.

 

Cyber A.C.E.S. (Students 5-15 years of age)

The Cyber A.C.E.S. program works to demystify cybersecurity through interactive learning, equipping students 5-15 years of age with an understanding of how to protect their digital future. It provides the cybersecurity basics students need to have safer online experiences and become good digital citizens. Lessons are designed so they can be facilitated by anyone, regardless of knowledge level, with each module tailored to a specific age group.

Cybersecurity Foundations (Secondary and Post-Secondary)

Cybersecurity Foundation Self-paced Course (~ 15 hours)

Through cooperation with Moonami Learning Solutions, Palo Alto Networks has made this course freely available to all learners who are seeking to gain cybersecurity knowledge as well as career exploration in the cybersecurity industry.  

By working through the seven course modules, which include videos, games and quizzes, students will learn the fundamentals of cybersecurity and identify concepts required to recognize and potentially mitigate attacks against enterprise networks as well as mission-critical infrastructure.

After completing each of the seven module quizzes with an 80% or higher grade, students will receive a student certificate of completion signed by the CEO and Chairman of Palo Alto Networks.

Access to this course will expire on June 30, 2020.

ENROLL TODAY

Create a Moonami account (See link in top right corner).

Verify account when email confirmation is delivered.

Enroll in the Cybersecurity Foundation course (account required).

Enter password, 2020Foundation!

Access Expires on June 30, 2020.

Cybersecurity Survival Guide (Secondary and Post-Secondary)

Cybersecurity Survival Guide provides a valuable overview of today’s threat landscape and describes the tools and technology required to defend against today’s cyber attacks. This 250-page book contains three modules: 

  1. Cybersecurity Foundations (Corresponds to the Cybersecurity Foundation course).
  2. Cybersecurity Gateway (Introduction to Networking).
  3. Cybersecurity Essentials (Introduction to Network Security).

We hope you and your families are staying safe and healthy during this very difficult time.


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