How MiDO trains the next generation of cyber talent with Infosec Institute

Before students can enter the workforce, they must be prepared to meet the demands of the broader digital economy. This requires a comprehensive and industry-relevant cybersecurity learning experience.  

MiDO selected Infosec to provide that experience through flexible learning opportunities that help students stay ahead of trends. We sat down with Shayna Achilles, an information security analyst and former MiDO Academy student, to learn more about how Infosec helped her enter the cybersecurity industry. 

Changing the narrative around digital skills 

Becoming a cybersecurity professional requires technical, soft and personal skills combined with industry-driven recruitment, placement and strategic funding opportunities. Given the current digital divide in Africa due to the lack of access to quality digital tools and youth upskilling, developing these skills is even more critical.  

For students in underserved communities, the best way to gain these skills isn’t necessarily by sitting in a classroom and taking a prescribed course. Instead, MiDO Academy focuses on customized training pathways to help students become well-rounded, industry-ready professionals. The program offers training that aligns with specific cybersecurity career goals so students can adapt to the field that interests them. 

After evaluating other platforms for upskilling and certification, MiDO determined that Infosec Skills would be the easiest way to provide on-demand cybersecurity training to students with varying degrees of confidence and technology familiarity. It was also the best way to build targeted support for students’ cybersecurity career development. 

For students like Shayna, access to programs like this can be life changing. “I was given services that would help me grow as an individual, mentally and physically, and not just technically for the cyber world,” she said. 

Collaboration builds hard and soft skills 

Infosec Skills provides unlimited access to an extensive library of on-demand cybersecurity training, covering every security role from beginner to advanced. It was especially helpful for students like Shayna, who previously had little experience in information and communications technology (ICT). 

“Before using Infosec, I didn’t have any knowledge about cybersecurity,” Shayna said. “I would search for particular topics if I needed to learn something, but I didn’t have comprehensive knowledge about anything.” 

With Infosec Skills, Shayna had access to a user-friendly, easy-to-navigate learning portal that incorporated self-paced training with guided, hands-on labs. She remembers using Infosec Skills learning paths, which made it easier to adjust training to specific career goals. 

After completing foundational Security+ content, the program utilized elective, specialized training in Infosec Skills to empower students to hone in on their specific interest areas and topics. During this 10-month program, students work together to reinforce their budding knowledge. 

“The other MiDO learners and I would watch the videos on Infosec Skills,” Shayna said. “We would also go to do labs, and if any of us struggled, we would help each other out. It was definitely outside my comfort zone, since I don’t like talking too much or doing presentations. But Infosec Skills really helped me grow a lot.” 

From the classroom to the cubicle 

Infosec Skills provides required certification training, practical skills and industry knowledge that enable students to get well-paying jobs in various roles and careers. For students like Shayna, this includes work as an information security analyst. 

“Infosec Skills helped me get familiar with the tools I’d need for work,” she said. “It also helped me understand what I was dealing with and laid a foundation for my degree so I could better understand the basics.” 

She attributes much of her success to the rigorous programming of MiDO and Infosec Skills. Each seven-hour day was specifically designed to boost the student’s confidence, skills and abilities in the field. They engaged in presentations, discussions and role play to gain a comprehensive understanding of what cybersecurity topics looked like in the real world. Existing cybersecurity professionals would also visit and share their knowledge with students. 

“It was awesome to take a look at what they were doing, how their business operated and how they got into cybersecurity. Learning more about what their role entailed helped me realize what I wanted to do,” Shayna said. 

A rising tide lifts all boats 

Today, MiDO has trained more than 50 young people in cybersecurity basics, and at least 30 are employed — a number they’re excited to expand. They believe their success is due in no small part to Infosec, which has given their students confidence in their cybersecurity knowledge. 

“For individuals looking to stay relevant in the rapidly evolving field of cybersecurity, or for students aspiring to enter this exciting industry, this partnership with Infosec provides access to industry-relevant skills paths, hands-on training and career-aligned resources,” said a MiDO representative. “The combination of MiDO’s holistic development approach and Infosec’s user-friendly platform ensures that learners gain both foundational knowledge and specialized skills to excel in their cybersecurity journeys.” 

For Shayna, Infosec Skills has made her fiercely competitive in her industry. As more students flow through the program and gain the skills they need to enter the digital workforce, it will not only help Africans bridge the digital divide but also give African students the digital skills necessary to thrive in our technologically driven world. 

“Infosec Skills really helped lay the foundation for getting a job in the cybersecurity industry,” Shayna said. “It helps people mentally prepare themselves and grow more confident, especially for those students who weren’t quite as confident, like me.”