Singapore’s cybersecurity talent crunch is getting a fresh push from the classroom, with Check Point Software Technologies partnering Ngee Ann Polytechnic to fold industry-grade certification into a diploma programme, as specialised roles see demand climb by more than 250 per cent.

The partnership, formalised through a memorandum of understanding, integrates Check Point’s SecureAcademy curriculum into Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of InfoComm Technology. Starting from the April 2026 semester, around 100 students in the Diploma in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics will take an enhanced Network Security module built around the Check Point Certified System Administrator (CCSA) syllabus.

Singapore’s cybersecurity demand surge

The tie-up responds to a widening regional skills gap. Industry data cited in the announcement puts the Asia-Pacific cybersecurity talent shortfall at more than 3.4 million professionals. In Singapore specifically, cybersecurity job postings rose 57 per cent year-on-year — the sharpest increase in three years — with demand for specialised roles such as security architects and analysts up more than 250 per cent.

“Through strategic partnerships with global cybersecurity leaders like Check Point Software Technologies, we deliver an industry-aligned education that gives our students a distinctive edge,” said Dr Joel Yang, Director of the School of InfoComm Technology, Ngee Ann Polytechnic. “Today’s increasingly complex threat landscape calls for cybersecurity professionals to possess critical decision-making skills.”

What the grant covers

Under the SecureAcademy programme, Check Point is providing a grant valued at S$60,000. This includes access to CCSA-certified training materials and more than ten certification courses, enterprise-grade software licences for hands-on labs, an 85 per cent discount on exam fees (bringing the cost down from S$300 to S$45), instructor training led by Check Point experts, and student access to virtual cybersecurity events and community programmes.

Eugene Liew, Course Chair of the Diploma in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics, said the integrated approach mirrors how security teams actually operate. “Students in the diploma don’t just learn individual tools – they learn how cybersecurity systems work together. This integrated exposure across cloud, network, and endpoint environments helps them to develop practical skills in tackling real-world cybersecurity challenges.”

Building a pipeline into the industry

Rebecca Law, Country Manager in Singapore at Check Point Software Technologies, framed the partnership as part of a broader push to grow the ranks of certified cybersecurity professionals across Singapore and the wider Asia-Pacific region. “Cybersecurity threats are escalating at an unprecedented rate, creating a sustained demand for skilled professionals across the industry,” she said, adding that graduates would leave “fluent in the solutions used by enterprises globally” with recognised certifications in hand.

The collaboration adds to a growing list of academia-industry tie-ups aimed at addressing Singapore’s cyber-talent shortage, as employers increasingly look to polytechnics to produce job-ready graduates without a lag between classroom theory and workplace demands.