NxtWave, an upskilling platform for software careers, has announced a workshop on cybersecurity. Scheduled for 30th September and titled 'Ethical Hacking—Building India's Cyber Army', this workshop aims to build essential ethical hacking skills among students.

The central theme of this edition is building India's cyber army with a strong emphasis on developing customised Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) toolkits. It is the first step into ethical hacking and fosters an understanding various hacking techniques.

The workshop will incorporate several elements, including live hacking demonstrations, hands-on learning, in-depth case studies showcasing practical applications, and more. Participants will actively engage in constructing a custom toolkit from the ground up.

It will host esteemed industry experts who will share invaluable insights with participants. Additionally, it is expected that students from over 1000 colleges across India will participate in this workshop.

Rahul Attuluri, CEO of NxtWave, noted that India has the second-largest global active internet user base and has averaged 1.3 million cyberattacks yearly since 2020. With the cyber threats set only to rise, the country needs an army of cyber security professionals to secure its cyber space. However, this domain has a persistent skill gap, resulting in lucrative opportunities for skilled students. 

"Through this workshop, we aim to spark an interest among students towards cyber security and equip them with the essential ethical hacking skills. It is an exceptional opportunity for them to dive into the world of ethical hacking, acquire hands-on skills, and play a crucial role in safeguarding India's digital landscape," he stated. 

Participants will receive a certificate of completion and learn to create their customised toolkit. Real-world applications of ethical hacking will be explored, and industry experts will provide valuable insights into the moral hacking career landscape.

Founded by IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur and IIT Hyderabad alumni—Sashank Reddy Gujjula, Anupam Pedarla and Attuluri, NxtWave offers vernacular, asynchronous and online cohort-based training programmes in Industry 4.0 tech career tracks for college students, graduates and early professionals. The company claims that over 1,500 companies, from fast-growing startups to Fortune 500 giants, have hired several of its learners.

In February this year, the edtech raised $33 million (Rs 275 crore) in a funding round led by private equity firm Greater Pacific Capital with the participation of its existing venture investor Orios Venture Partners.