Kyndryl Foundation launches not-for-profit cyber resilience program at UTS

Aimed at individuals working in the NFP sector.

Kyndryl and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have officially launched their Cyber Resilience Program to train individuals in the not-for-profit sector (NFP).

Through Kyndryl’s philanthropic arm, Kyndryl Foundation, the IT infrastructure company completed its pilot that trained 397 learners.

With the program now open to the public, the company aims to educate 1,400 people working in the NFP sector over the next two years.

The program was developed in consultation with NFP organisations and industry experts, with the objective of advancing cybersecurity skills in the sector.

The program comprises four non-technical short courses spanning cybersecurity foundations, data privacy, secure data handling, and cybersecurity for Company Directors, and one technical micro-credential on threat detection and response.

Speaking at a panel to launch the program, E-Yang Tang, VP, security and resiliency at Kyndryl told attendees that cybersecurity skills are transferrable across departments.

“It's high in demand in any sector, it's a great foundation, and it's highly desirable for other sectors,” he said.

When it comes to imploring staff to be more cybersecure, Tang explained that it has been like an “ivory tower” where communication has been fragmented.

“But, if we were to create this culture and have a security champion in your team to enable each and every one and to have that perspective,” he said.

“The understanding will come from the grassroots, rather than the board telling us what to do. So that's more impactful.”

Erandhi Mendis, Social Impact Leader at Kyndryl ANZ said, “We are seeing a clear, strong demand for accessible cybersecurity education within the not-for-profit sector over the last year.

“Cyber resilience shouldn’t be a privilege. We’re excited to continue our partnership with UTS to support broader systemic improvements in Australia’s digital safety landscape, and a more inclusive cybersecurity workforce.”

Peta Wyeth, dean, faculty of engineering and IT, UTS said, “Through the generous support of the Kyndryl Foundation, we are addressing the growing demand for online and face-to-face cyber resilience training and cyber career pathway programs.

“UTS is proud to be providing a service that helps not-for-profit organisations and the communities they serve through training that addresses head-on the growth in cybercrime that is targeting small enterprises, which are vulnerable to cyber-attacks.”

Launched in 2023, the Kyndryl Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Kyndryl and supports the communities where Kyndryl does business by addressing critical societal issues through local grant funding, volunteerism and investments.