Members of the Information Security group (InfoSec) at Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE: BPI) will be supporting teams of aspiring young information technology (IT) enthusiasts in the 2013 San Diego Mayor’s Cyber Cup. The Cyber Cup, which runs through early March, exposes future IT professionals to the rapidly expanding business of information security and what it takes to keep organizations and their data safe on the web.
“Web and information security is a rapidly growing field that’s hungry for additional talent,” said Rick McElroy, Bridgepoint Education’s director of information security. “Our part in the Cyber Cup allows us introduce aspiring information security practitioners to the art of keeping data and systems safe, and guide them toward an underappreciated skill set that’s in high demand.”
Bridgepoint Education’s InfoSec specialists, part of the company’s Business Technology Services department, will support Cyber Cup teams as teachers and mentors. They will fill in knowledge gaps and guide young talent through the tricky business of web security and protecting organizational infrastructure from malicious online activity.
“Because of the importance of the educational content and student information we work with, data security is essential,” added McElroy. “The San Diego Mayor’s Cyber Cup allows our successes to be lessons for the information security professionals who will follow in our footsteps.”
Following a January practice round, two qualifying rounds that expose Cyber Cup teams to virtual data and operational threats to Microsoft and Unix-based systems are slated for February. The final rounds are on March 2 and will culminate in an awards banquet that evening. For more information about the Cyber Cup, visit http://www.saic.com/cybersecurity/cyber-challenge/san-diego.html.
About Bridgepoint Education
Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE:BPI) improves the way individuals learn. By harnessing creativity, knowledge and proprietary technologies, such as Constellation, Thuze and Waypoint Outcomes, Bridgepoint Education has re-engineered the modern student experience with innovative solutions that advance learning. Its accredited institutions – Ashford University and University of the Rockies – embody the contemporary college experience. Ashford University offers associate's, bachelor's and master's degree programs while University of the Rockies offers master’s and doctoral degree programs. Both provide progressive online platforms, as well as traditional campuses located in Clinton, Iowa (Ashford University), and Colorado Springs, Colorado (University of the Rockies). For more information about Bridgepoint Education, visit www.bridgepointeducation.com or call Shari Rodriguez, associate vice president of Public Relations, at 858.668.2580.