Cybersecurity education in a developing nation: the Ecuadorian environment

The ability to prevent successful cyber attacks against a nation’s critical infrastructure depends on the availability of a skilled cyber-literate workforce, and therefore, on an educational system that can build such capabilities. While it is possible to hire foreign nationals or to outsource many operations, this is not a sustainable solution and raises other concerns. The current literature provides strategic guidelines on developing a national cybersecurity workforce; however, there has been relatively little research on identifying the factors that are responsible for impeding the development of cybersecurity education in developing economies. Based on qualitative analysis of data from 28 semi-structured interviews with educational leaders from thirteen Ecuadorian institutions of higher education, this article explores challenges faced by the higher educational system of Ecuador in advancing cybersecurity education. On the basis of the insights gained, opportunities for enhancing the system are then identified and discussed. Today cybersecurity education is mostly elementary in Ecuador. Nationwide, interviewees at only four of the thirteen universities studied expressed some confidence in their institution’s ability to provide students with reasonable preparation. The challenges that domestic cybersecurity education faces include: cybersecurity skills, structural capabilities, social integration, economic resources, and governance capacity. To enhance current preparation, there is an urgent need for a national cybersecurity education strategy that bolsters multiple initiatives as well as a multi-stakeholder space in which government, industry, and academia can actively work together to address national cybersecurity educational requirements. Further initiatives should include strengthening educators’ training and cybersecurity academic programs, as well as advocating research (and development) capabilities and cybersecurity awareness. Recent revisions in Ecuador’s higher education system offer a timely opportunity to advocate for advancing academic cybersecurity competencies.