The demand for skilled IT security professionals is growing everyday in both the private and public sector, and much of today's security training is dangerously out of step with current threats.

A recent Ponemon Cyber Attack study found that cyber crime was up 78% in 2013 vs. 2012, with resolution and recovery time more than doubling over the past year, costing organizations tens of millions of dollars annually.

Federal Computer Week has discovered a sudden demand for trained cyber security professionals that far outpaces supply, with 5,000 cybersecurity professionals being sought after by U.S. Cyber Command, the federal government needing 10,000 cybersecurity experts and the Department of Homeland Security demanding 600 new cybersecurity employees. The Cisco Annual Security Report, released last week, shows a shortage of more than a million security professionals across the globe in 2014.

To support the need for highly trained cybersecurity professionals, Cisco is releasing major updates to its industry leading CCNP Security Certification, as well as a new Cybersecurity Specialist Training and Certification program. The training offers hands on experience using multi-vendor products, and is based on real world data, teaching principles that can be used immediately in the workplace. Cisco is dedicated to providing network security engineers, analysts and product specialists with development opportunities to ensure on-the-job readiness to meet the future challenges of cyber defense.

Check out the video from CSO John N. Stewart about Cisco's commitment to tackling the cybersecurity skills shortage and learn more about the New Certifications and Training here: www.cisco.com/go/securitycertifications

Read more about the news here: http://newsroom.cisco.com/release/1312231