At Firehead, we’re extremely proud of the high caliber of the authors in our Training Centre. This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Ben Woelk, who’s offering classes in Introverts and Leadership and Cybersecurity for Technical Communicators.
Here’s a little bit about Ben
Ben Woelk, CISSP, CPTC, is Governance, Awareness, and Training Manager in the Information Security Office at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where he’s responsible for content strategy, security awareness, and program management. Ben teaches RIT courses in cybersecurity policy and law, technical writing, and introverts and leadership. His Hope for the Introvert Podcast shares conversations with and about introverted leaders, their strengths, and how they apply them in the workplace and other parts of life.
Ben was recently conferred the honour of Fellow by the Society for Technical Communication (STC). STC recognized Ben for his work in “serving the society at the board as well as the community level, educating and mentoring students and professionals, contributing to STC conferences and publications, and excelling in the career as a professional as well as an academic.”
Here’s a little bit about the Cybersecurity course
This course is for technical communicators at all stages of their career, especially for those in technology. It includes asynchronous readings and assignments and synchronous lectures and discussions with Ben.
The course is an introduction to information security and cybersecurity concepts, how they pertain to work practices in technical communication, and identifies possible career opportunities in cybersecurity.
Topics covered:
- Introduction to Information Security
- Developing a Security Mindset
- Identity and Access Management
- Data Handling
- Mobile devices and BYOD
- Career opportunities
After you complete this course, you will be able to:
- Develop baseline information for security fundamentals
- Create cybersecurity best practices for technical communicators
- Identify opportunities for technical communicators in information security
Don’t mind us if we brag a little about Ben’s reviews:
“The Cybersecurity Fundamentals course gave me a better understanding of cybersecurity. I can deliver messages that not only communicate security-related changes, but educate our audience on potential cyber threats.”
–Melissa Closser, former student’s review of Ben’s course
We interviewed Ben himself about the course too:
Why is this course important?
The need for cybersecurity practitioners and related roles is growing at an amazing pace, and estimates are that there are millions of jobs unfilled. Getting into cybersecurity requires an understanding of the basics, including vocabulary and how to manage risk. An understanding of how to communicate technical content to various audiences is key to ensuring that cybersecurity practices and safeguards are both understood and implemented. This course can provide the foundation for building a career as a technical communicator in cybersecurity.
How will this information help you two years from now?
Cybersecurity is a constantly evolving field and understanding the basics is critical. Your work and your audience will be impacted by cybersecurity events and incidents, whether you work directly in cybersecurity or not. This course will enable you to better understand the complexities and jargon inherent in cybersecurity and will help you determine appropriate paths and prerequisites for becoming a cybersecurity practitioner in a new role or as a technical communicator.
Download our free guide with fundamental knowledge you need to know about information security concepts and practices.
Curious to learn more? Download our free guide for technical communicators that guides you through the fundamental cyber hygiene tips to keep you (and your family and friends) safe from attacks.
