Algonquin, IL (PRWEB) May 23, 2014

Unfortunately, the threat of cyber attacks has become a routine part of doing business for many U.S. companies. In fact, about 90 percent of corporations surveyed by the Ponemon Institute in 2011 have had at least one data breach during the past year. But large companies are not the only ones vulnerable to attack; small businesses were victimized in 31 percent of all cyber attacks in 2012, according to cybersecurity firm Symantec. With companies large and small susceptible to ever more targeted and sophisticated attacks on a daily basis, courses in ethical hacking are becoming increasingly beneficial to information technology (IT) and security (IS) professionals, who can use the information they learn to better secure their employers networks, applications and other assets.

In an effort to help IT and IS professionals understand the mindset, methods and tools that hackers use to instigate cyber attacks, CEO Anthony Valente is pleased to announce Network Defense Solutions, Inc. is now offering online education courses on the Introduction to Ethical Hacking. These courses are being presented in a joint launch with Internet Tech Specialists, a full-service technology and training company.

“As security professionals, Anthony and I feel it’s imperative for others to understand how hackers and malware producers craft their exploits,” says Debbie Mahler, Internet Tech Specialists CEO, “By understanding how it’s done, security professionals can recognize new attack vectors as they appear as well as recognize how to close holes in their networks, devices and software that are making them vulnerable in the first place.”

While Valente and Mahler understand the importance of teaching ethical hacking principles to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students and security professionals seeking ongoing education, many colleges and universities do not offer ethical hacking courses in fear that the information taught will be used for malicious acts.

“Because schools won’t let us teach this kind of information,” Valente says, “Weve decided to deliver this content ourselves.

However, this is not a course to teach people how to hack in the malicious setting. Hacking is illegal, he adds. The course is designed to teach current and aspiring security professionals, as well as students involved or seeking to get involved with STEM who are 18 years and older, what they need to know in order to deliver the highest level of security in their professional capacity.”

Therefore, students should be aware that the classes are not designed to help them gain access to networks they do not have permission or legal documentation stipulating they may perform a network-penetration test or security audit.

Students can register for one-week or eight-week course sessions. Downloadable materials, video tutorials and virtual machines are included in course fees. Additionally, students have access to a discussion forum where they can engage with instructors and other students.

One-week Courses: