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(TNS) In 2000, a 15-year-old Canadian hacker with the handle of "MafiaBoy" set off a series of distributed-denial-of-service attacks on the websites of several large companies, including Amazon, Dell, CNN, eBay, E*TRADE and Yahoo!.

The incident caused a minor blip in the global economy, but shone a light on the vulnerabilities of the Internet and led to the past two decades of increased online security and innovations.

That same year, the Center for Internet Security was born.

CIS has also ridden every wave of the ever-involving and light-speed changes in the online world of the 21st century.

Recognizing that keeping pace means "employees are increasingly expected to have a diverse and adaptable range of skills," and that those skills need to continually develop as new technologies and processes come and go, CIS has "prioritized the importance of creating a culture of learning" to meet the challenges.

In 2022, CIS established a new Learning and Development department to address organizational learning needs through "personalization, technology and various learning opportunities." It's part of the company's overall mission to support that learning culture and to provide impactful solutions.

One new innovation was the creation of CIS Learning Champions. These individuals hold various roles within the organization and "act as subject matter experts on technology, business trends and specialized skills needed for their respective organizations."

"At CIS, we believe that learning is a priority and a shared responsibility throughout the organization," said Jennifer Myers, senior director of learning and development. "Employees are empowered to drive their own development through formal and informal experiences. The Learning Champions are there to provide coaching and support."

Andrew Dannenberger, a product support specialist and learning champion, said, "All the companies I have previously worked for have not put this kind of priority on learning, so this is a first for me. It's a privilege to play such an important role in learning."

The impact of these educational opportunities is reflected in a workplace survey where CIS employees relayed what they loved most about their job and their company. One wrote, "They provide excellent resources for continued learning and encourage employees to take advantage of them."

Another said, "I can learn new things every day that would benefit the company as well as my career."

2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Center for Internet Security Fights Cyber Threats With Education - Government Technology