Cisco said on the 29th that, in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and ICT, it will implement the "Cisco Virtual Internship Program 2026" for nurturing Korea's future cybersecurity talent from today through July 31.
Cisco Korea said it prepared this program in step with the government's national agenda to "train 100,000 cybersecurity professionals," aiming to provide practical learning opportunities based on real-world experience beyond theory-centered education. In particular, it said it will expand security internship opportunities, which had been concentrated in the capital region, to students at regional hub universities, providing internationally validated education and hands-on experience without constraints of time and place.
Marking its second year, "Cisco VIP 2026" targets 200 students participating in the Ministry of Science and ICT's information security professional training initiatives, including information security–focused universities and the K-Shield Junior program.
Participants who complete the entire course will receive an official certificate jointly authenticated by the Ministry of Science and ICT and Cisco. A "capture the flag (CTF)" competition will also be held to test participants' security capabilities based on what they learned during the internship.
Participants will complete a total of 75 hours of online training through "Cisco Networking Academy," Cisco's flagship social contribution education program. The curriculum consists of global security standard courses, including endpoint security, cyber threat management, and network defense. They will also design virtual network environments with Cisco Packet Tracer and conduct hands-on exercises related to defending against security vulnerabilities.
In addition, domestic and international security experts, including Cisco's global threat intelligence organization Talos and the customer experience team, will provide special lectures on the latest technology trends and career mentoring.
As of July last year, Cisco had produced more than 83,000 graduates in Korea through Cisco Networking Academy and has continued to contribute to nurturing future IT talent. Globally, the program has produced a cumulative 28.3 million graduates, and 97% of participants responded that it helped with credentialing or employment.
Choi Ji-hee, head of Cisco Korea, said, "Cisco has developed the proven Cisco VIP model from the global market to fit the Korean environment, supporting domestic students in gaining essential hands-on experience," and added, "Based on close collaboration with the Ministry of Science and ICT, we will cultivate the cybersecurity talent needed in the AI era and help Korea leap forward as a global cybersecurity powerhouse."