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2014
NIIT and EC-Council enter into a strategic partnership to empower Digital India with a pool of Cyber Guardians

Unveil cutting-edge training program in Ethical Hacking to help combat rising cyber crime

New Delhi, September 17, 2014: NIIT, leading Global Talent Development Corporation and EC-Council (International Council of E-Commerce Consultants), one of the world's largest certification bodies for Information Security professionals, today entered into a strategic partnership to jointly address the cyber security concerns of a fast digitalising India. To this end, NIIT and EC-Council aim to introduce first-of-its-kind training program in ethical hacking to create a manpower pool of trained InfoSec professionals in the country. This was announced at a press conference held in the city today.

According to the recent McKinsey Digital Consumer survey, India's internet users are expected to go up to 370M in 2015. Seeking a deeper engagement in the 'Digital India' initiative, the Union Government of India has also approved the ambitious 'Digital India' programme, which aims to connect all gram panchayats through broadband Internet, promote e-governance and transform India into a connected knowledge economy. As consumption of IT grows in the space of e-governance and related areas, there is bound to be a corresponding increase in challenges to secure confidential data from hacks. Taking into account the requirement emerging for protection of information technology infrastructure in the country as well as to serve the export market, a demand for 4.7 lakh cyber security professionals has been estimated by the year 2015 by the Ministry of Communications and IT in the year 2012. This strategic partnership between NIIT and EC-Council aims to address this need.

According to a report India lost $8 bn in 2011 due to cybercrime and is ranked 5th in e-commerce breaches. The Govt of India has also recognized the need for building capability to fight against hackers and as a result also rolled out India's first cyber security policy in 2013. According to a Nasscom report, there are only 22,000 experts in India compared to 2.5 million in China. Forbes ranks Ethical Hacking as no 2 in highest paying jobs of the future.

Speaking on this significant partnership, Shivan Bhargava, Group President-Skills & Careers Group, NIIT Ltd. said, "While India has grown rapidly to deliver IT Services globally, skills in the area of Information Security have lagged behind. With IT services consumption growing in the domestic market, there is an urgent need to address this gap. NIIT's partnership with EC Council will give a much needed impetus to information security training and certification in India."

Jay Bavisi, President and co-Founder, EC-Council said, "EC Council is dedicated to strengthening cyber security in India, and to tackle the issue of the lack of skilled professionals on a backdrop of a growing nuisance of cyber crimes across industries in India.  To combat this menace, EC -Council has partnered with NIIT, a renowned name in I.T. education. NIIT has proven to be a leading organization in global talent development and we are glad to come together with NIIT to train individuals in cyber security so that they can skilfully protect India effectively from this epidemic."

Sean Lim, Global Vice President, EC-Council said, "With the amount of talent available, India is naturally a key market for EC - Council, which will provide a high number of quality, English speaking, multi talented cyber-security professionals to the world. This partnership between EC-Council and NIIT is a giant step towards the creation of global cyber security citizens."

With rapid increase in cybercrime, organizations are grappling with the challenge of embracing disruptive technologies and trends like cloud, mobile and social computing that significantly improve productivity, while at the same ensuring security for businesses conducted in the cyber space.

With the overall objective of the partnership to create a pool of cyber security professionals   in India, NIIT and EC-Council will develop skilled manpower for the rapidly growing InfoSec industry. On offer is a cutting-edge program in Ethical Hacking to help combat rising cyber crime in India to address the growing demand of cyber security professionals by corporate and Govt. organizations in the country.

About EC Council

EC-Council (International Council of E-Commerce Consultants) is one of the world's largest certification bodies for Information Security professionals. EC-Council is a member-based organization that certifies individuals in various information security and e-business skills. It has been certified by American National Standards Institute to meet its ANSI 17024 standard. It is the owner and creator of the world famous Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator (CHFI) and EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA)/License Penetration Tester (LPT) programs, and as well as many others programs. These programs are offered in over 92 countries and over have trained over 120,000 & certified more than 60,000 security professionals through a training network of over 500 training partners globally.

Individuals who have achieved EC-Council certifications include those from some of the finest organizations around the world such as the US Army, the FBI, Microsoft, IBM and the United Nations.

About NIIT

Established in 1981, NIIT Limited, a leading Global Talent Development Corporation, offers learning and knowledge solutions across 40 countries. Leading IT journal Dataquest has conferred upon NIIT the 'Top Training Company' award successively for the past 20 years, since the inception of this category.

NIIT's training solutions in IT, Banking, Finance and Insurance, Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), Business Process Management (BPM), Executive Management Education, Vocational Skills, School Learning Solutions and Communication and Professional Life Skills has impacted over 35 million learners since inception.

NIIT's Individual Learning Business offerings include industry-endorsed programs for students seeking careers in IT – GNIIT and Edgeineers for IT professionals. The company has introduced "India's first cloud campus", through its new-age GNIIT program. This offers students a higher mobility as they can access courseware using Netbooks to connect seamlessly to NIIT's Cloud Campus network.

NIIT's Corporate Learning Solutions offers Managed Training Services including integrated learning solutions (strategic consulting, learning design, content development, delivery, technology, assessment and learning management) to Fortune 500 companies, Universities, Technology companies, Training corporations and Publishing houses. NIIT Yuva Jyoti, a joint venture between NIIT and NSDC, offers vocational skills training programs to enhance employability of youth across India.

NIIT's School Learning Solutions division has provided computer-based learning to over 15, 000 Government and private schools. The futuristic NIIT nGuru range of learning solutions for schools comprises Interactive Classrooms, Math Lab, IT Wizard programs and Quick School (Education Resource Planning software). 

NIIT Imperia - Centre for Advanced Learning, offers Executive Learning Programs in association with leading Business schools in India, KPMG, Google India and Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), using the synchronous learning platform.

NIIT Institute of Finance Banking & Insurance (NIIT IFBI), formed by NIIT with equity participation from ICICI Bank, offers programs for individuals and corporates in Banking, Financial Services and Insurance. NIIT Institute of Process Excellence Limited, a NIIT-GENPACT venture (NIIT Uniqua), offers complete training outsourcing services to the Business Process, Knowledge and Technology Services industry to create business models that enhance productivity and lower costs.

In recognition of its people centric policies, which foster an environment of growth and career development, NIIT has been ranked as the 4th Best Company to work for in India 2013-14, by Great Place to Work Institute®.

From NIIT

Prateek Chatterjee

Vice President, Corporate Communications & Marketing, NIIT Limited

Ph: (Cell) +91 9910201085, (Dir) +91 124 4293041

Email: prateek.chatterjee@niit.com

Sumana Bhattacharya/Niharika Sneha

Candour Communications

Ph: (Cell) +91 9810597176/ 8800861353

Email: sumana@candour.co.in,

niharika@candour.co.in

Visit us at: www.niit.com

Follow us on: www.twitter.com/niitltd

From EC-Council

Akash Agarwal

Country Manager - India,

akash.agarwal@eccouncil.org

EC-Council 

Plot No: S1,

TIE Phase-1, Balanagar,

Hyderabad-500037

Web: http://www.eccouncil.org

India Office: +91.40.4994.9100

Cell:+91.996.333.5050

Twitter: @eccouncil