In our digital era, organizations are relying increasingly on cybersecurity to protect themselves, enable trust, move faster, add value, and grow. As the volume and sophistication of cyberattacks rises, organizations are experiencing a significant shortage of IT professionals with cybersecurity skills.

To help close this security skills gap, Cisco is introducing the Global Cybersecurity Scholarship program. Cisco will invest $10 million in this program to increase the pool of talent with critical cybersecurity proficiency. Cisco also has enhanced its Security certification portfolio with a new CCNA Cyber Ops certification.

Through the scholarship program, Cisco will offer free training, mentoring, and testing designed to help you earn CCNA Cyber Ops certification and hone the skills needed for the job role of security operations center analyst. The new CCNA Cyber Ops certification has been designed to address the critical skills deficit, providing the job-ready knowledge needed to meet current and future challenges in network security.

The scholarship program will get underway with assessment of candidates in August 2016. The first scholarship awards will be available later in 2016.

Take the first step today toward a rewarding career in cybersecurity. Partner with Cisco and become one of the talented cybersecurity professionals now in high demand in nearly all industries.

Scholarship Award Details

The self-paced e-learning path for this certification includes three courses and two exams, representing a significant monetary investment in your career:
"Introduction to Cybersecurity," a Cisco Networking Academy course
"Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Fundamentals" (SECFND), first course in the CCNA Cyber Ops curriculum
"Implementing Cisco Cybersecurity Operations" (SECOPS), second course in the CCNA Cyber Ops curriculum
Two accompanying CCNA Cyber Ops exams (210-250 SECFND and 210-255 SECOPS)
Mentoring and coaching for all three of the above courses
Cisco will deliver the program in partnership with key Cisco Authorized Learning Partners, which will provide the mentoring and coaching.
The cost of all training, mentoring and coaching, and exam fees good toward completion of a CCNA Cyber Ops certification is included in the scholarship.

Qualifications

To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must meet these qualifications:

General:

Be at least 18 years old
Be proficient in English

Basic technical competency (possess one or more of the following):

Cisco certification (Cisco CCENT certification or higher)
Relevant industry certification [(ISC)2, CompTIA Security+, EC-Council, GIAC, ISACA]
Cisco Networking Academy letter of completion (CCNA 1 and CCNA 2)
At least three years of combined experience in approved U.S. military job roles
Windows expertise: Microsoft (Microsoft Specialist, MCSA, MCSE), CompTIA (A+, Network+, Server+)
Linux expertise: CompTIA (Linux+), Linux Professional Institute (LPI) certification, Linux Foundation (LFCS, LFCE), Red Hat (RHCSA, RHCE, RHCA), Oracle Linux (OCA, OCP)

Candidate acknowledgment:

Planning a career in IT cybersecurity
Prepared to complete training in three months
Willing to share a success story


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2iCDFfKce0

Sources: https://mkto.cisco.com/Security-Scholarship.html (Use this link to apply for the Cisco Global Cybersecurity Scholarships)
https://blogs.cisco.com/security/cisco-10-million-cybersecurity-scholarship

Nice. Thank You for the info

I've already applied but I'm unsure what the next step is. They keep talking about a mid August exam which I am unsure what it covers, and so far, I haven't prepared for that exam and I'm not sure where or how I will be writing the exam or the reading materials that I should use to prepare. Please if you have any detailed information that can help me to understand this scholarship and step/schedule of the program please let me know. You can message me on FB Messenger http://m.me/chumaumenze

I just got accepted to this too but I dont know how to prepare for the exam...what should I read? I want to write it on sunday.

updates guys.. any call up yet.. done with the assessment

i got a mail with the following response from cisco

Congratulations! You have passed the initial qualifications for the Cisco Global Cybersecurity Scholarship, and it is now time to take your skills assessment.


i havent checked my mail for abt a wik and the assessment was due 2 expire yesterday.. I took the test in a hurry.. got a abt 62 or 64 over hundred..cant remember my correct score cos i was very dizzy..