TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Hacker Halted conference brand is returning this October in Miami, FL with a slightly different approach this year. Longtime partners EC-Council, the global leader in cyber security training and education, and the inventor of Certified Ethical Hacker certification along with Miami Dade College (MDC), the nation’s most diverse higher learning institution and a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), will bring the training portion of the longtime conference event back to Miami from October 16 – 20, 2023. Three approved US Department of Defense (DoD) certification courses will make up the first four days of the event followed by a Capture the Flag competition, giving participants the opportunity to learn and then put their skills to the test immediately.
This year’s Hacker Halted Academy will offer three courses: Certified Network Defender (CND), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO). Following the 4 days of in-person and online training, class participants can opt to attempt their certification exam as well as compete in an on-campus Capture the Flag (CTF) competition. Enrolled students at MDC and local colleges and universities will be invited to register and compete in the CTF on Friday, October 20th for an opportunity to win a CEH certification scholarship.
The full conference event, complete with speakers, sponsors, interactive workshops, and more will return to the Miami area in 2024, marking the first time the event has been in Miami since 2012. According to Eric Lopez, Vice President of EC-Council and longtime director of Hacker Halted, “Miami was always a great venue for Hacker Halted and we are thrilled to be back, especially in collaboration with our amazing partners at Miami Dade College.”
An Intentional Approach to Government Approved Training and Standards Alignment
EC-Council received its first accreditation by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in 2008 with the induction of Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) into the DoD directive 8570. Several years after, Certified Network Defender (CND), Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator (CHFI), and Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO) were also added to the directive. With the recent release of the DoD 8140 directive, EC-Council certifications now map to 31 critical Cybersecurity roles essential to national security within the DoD Cyberspace Workforce Framework (DCWF). As a designated CAE-CD, awarded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Security Agency (NSA), MDC’s Cybersecurity program and focus is aligned to government standards and job roles in demand. The collaboration between EC-Council and Miami Dade College is focused on creating a broad talent pipeline to prepare students for successful careers in the field of cybersecurity.
Wesley Alvarez, Director of Academics, EC-Council, expresses his enthusiasm about the collaboration, “With Miami Dade College’s Wolfson campus located in the heart of Miami, the campus offers a unique collaboration of student hubs focusing on Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, Marketing, and Animation just a few steps away from each other. Their CAE-CD designation and active student community has positioned them to quickly produce work-ready graduates ready to enter the Cyber Security workforce.”
About Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College (MDC) is the most diverse institution in the nation, with 167 nations and 63 languages represented in its student body. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer over 300 distinct degree pathways, including associate and baccalaureate degrees, certifications, and apprenticeships. MDC is the recipient of many top national awards, including the prestigious Aspen Prize. The College changes lives through accessible, high-quality teaching and learning experiences. It is home to the Miami Culinary Institute, the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex, the Miami Fashion Institute, The Idea Center, the Cybersecurity Center of the Americas, two AI Centers, the Center for Learning, Innovation and Simulation at the Medical Campus, the Business Innovation & Technology Center, the School for Advanced Studies and New World School of the Arts, among others. MDC has been recognized among the nation’s “Great Colleges to Work For” since the program’s inception. The College serves as an economic, cultural, and civic leader for the advancement of our diverse global community. MDC alumni and employees contribute more than $3 billion annually to the local economy, and graduates occupy top leadership positions in every major industry. MDC’s renowned rich cultural programming includes the Miami Book Fair, Miami Film Festival, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, Koubek Center Mansion and Gardens, Live Arts Miami at MDC, the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives, and the Museum of Art and Design. MDC has admitted more than 2.5 million students and counting, since it opened its doors in 1960. Approximately 120,000 students are currently enrolled. For more information, visit www.mdc.edu.
About EC-Council
EC-Council invented the Certified Ethical Hacker. Founded in 2001 in response to 9/11, EC-Council's mission is to provide the training and certifications apprentice and experienced cyber security professionals need to keep corporations, government agencies, and others who employ them safe from attack.
Best known for its Certified Ethical Hacker program, EC-Council today offers 200 different training programs, certifications, and degrees in everything from Computer Forensic Investigation and Security Analysis to Threat Intelligence and Information Security. An ISO/IEC 17024 Accredited Organization recognized under the US Defense Department Directive 8140/8570 and many other authoritative cybersecurity bodies worldwide, the company has certified over 350,000 professionals across the globe. Trusted by seven of the Fortune 10, half of the Fortune 100, and the various agencies public and private across 140 nations, EC-Council is the gold standard in cybersecurity education and certification.
A truly global organization with a driving belief in bringing diversity, equity, and inclusion to the modern cybersecurity workforce, EC-Council maintains 11 offices in the U.S., the UK, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. The company can be reached online at https://www.eccouncil.org/
