ABOUT SPARC

WHAT IS SPARC?

The SPARC talent program is the Swiss Army’s pre-military training program in cybersecurity. It is available, free of charge, to all Swiss citizens from the age of 16 up to the start of recruit school. The entire SPARC program, platform and learning content are built and developed by Swiss private-sector companies.

The SPARC program was created to offer young people prospects in an exciting, forward-looking environment. Cybersecurity is more relevant than ever, and will continue to grow in importance in the future. That’s why young cyber talent is so highly sought after by the Swiss Army, the private sector and the public sector.

SPARC offers young Swiss men and women the chance to acquire solid cyber skills through pre-military training, giving them a head start in their careers within the Army, the Confederation and the cantons, as well as in the private sector.

IN SHORT

SPARC is funded by the Swiss Army
SPARC is developed and operated by Swiss companies
Participation is free of charge
Participants only have to bear the cost of travel to the SPARC Experience Days
SPARC opens up great prospects and opportunities in the cyber field for young cyber talent

HOW DOES SPARC WORK?

Are you wondering how SPARC works and what is expected of you? Then you’ve come to the right place!

SPARC is an e-learning platform developed by Swiss companies, offering a learning path made up of classic e-learning content, practical virtual laboratory scenarios and Experience Days. SPARC’s “blended learning” approach combines the autonomous acquisition of cyber knowledge and concepts through SPARC e-learning content, with the practical application and verification of knowledge acquired in lab scenarios and Experience Days. During Experience Days, our SPARC participants work together to master live labs and challenges.

SPARC places a strong emphasis on responsibility and autonomy. Participants can count on a total of 200 to 300 hours to complete the SPARC learning path. They work independently on the SPARC platform, course content and labs.

There are no classical in person lessons, and SPARC participants set their own objectives and manage their learning time autonomously. The only condition is that participants complete SPARC within two years.

All SPARC learning content and communication throughout the program is in English, as English is the language in which the global cybercommunity communicates and works together.

To achieve this, they work continuously on the SPARC Explorer, Defender and Operator phases using e-learning content and SPARC labs. Exams are organized on the online platform for the SPARC diploma.

To complete SPARC, it is compulsory for each participant to take part in at least one SPARC Experience Day. There are no prerequisites to register for an Experience Day. All SPARC participants can register and decide whether they wish to acquire basic cyber knowledge first or not.

THE ESSENTIALS IN A NUTSHELL

The SPARC program takes a blended learning approach, combining traditional e-learning, virtual lab scenarios and group events to deliver an exciting experience.
SPARC participants develop, learn and apply what they’ve learned online in an e-learning setting.
There are no on-site courses.
The SPARC learning path requires 200 to 300 hours of work, depending on prior knowledge.
There are no fixed dates or learning times for SPARC participation. Participants manage their own time.
Only the SPARC Experience Days are on-site and have fixed dates, as they bring together up to 75 participants to take on exciting challenges and successfully complete modules.
Participants must complete SPARC within 2 years
All SPARC learning content and communication in the SPARC program is in English
Participants require access to a PC, laptop or notebook

THE SPARC LEARNING JOURNEY

The SPARC training program covers the three phases “Explorer”, “Defender” and “Operator” and is designed to give everyone access to cyber capabilities and skills. The phases build on each other and enable SPARC participants to hone their skills and competencies throughout their learning journey.

SPARC requires its participants to be autonomous and responsible in their learning path in order to inform and train themselves beyond the content of the platform. All our learning content refers to external resources and tools that enable participants to succeed and complete SPARC.

As part of the SPARC learning path, participants face different exams at the end of certain phases, as well as tests and challenges as part of the courses.

Explorer

In the Explorer phase you learn the basics of computer science, which are relevant for the further training contents as well as the cyber course.

Defender

The Defender phase teaches the problem definition as well as the basic concepts of cyber security and provides insights into the technical skills of a defender.

Operator

In the Operator phase, you combine the knowledge from the Explorer and Defender phases and you delve into a specific role in cyber security.

SPARC COURSE STRUCTURE

Here you can find out more about the structure of the online courses on the SPARC platform.

Each SPARC course is made up of several modules, which divide the course into themes and skills.
Modules are divided into units that build on each other to achieve the module’s learning objective.
In many modules and units, we refer to external sources, tools and resources that SPARC participants can develop under their own responsibility.
Learning with this extensive external content is important and necessary to acquire the skills and abilities participants need to pass exams.
Depending on the course, the unit and/or module contains various tests and quizzes that assess the knowledge acquired.
Tests and quizzes are primarily intended for self-assessment: have I understood what I’ve learned and developed the knowledge and skills I need for subsequent exams?
Depending on the module, virtual LAB Challenges are also available. Here, you have to put into practice what you’ve learned.
Virtual LAB Challenges are divided into different challenges and tasks that have to be mastered in virtual scenarios and are verified in an automated way.
To complete a SPARC course, the student must complete all modules, units, tests, quizzes and LAB Challenges.

SPARC EXAMS

On the SPARC learning path, SPARC participants can expect to take various exams after completing certain phases. Here you will find an overview of the various skip tests and exams.

SPARC SKIP-TESTS

What are the skip tests? The skip tests are used in the “Explorer” phase and allow you to skip individual courses in the “Explorer” phase after successfully passing them.

Skip tests are used in the “Explorer” phase and allow students to move on to the “Explorer” phase after successfully completing certain courses.
Skip tests are skills gap tests that enable students to assess their knowledge and skills in a particular course area.
They are time-limited and contain questions that increase in difficulty over time.
They are deliberately designed so that it is not necessarily possible to answer all the questions in the allotted time.
All SPARC participants can decide whether to do the skip-test or take the course.
Even if SPARC participants pass the skip-test, they are free to take the course.
The skip-test has no influence on subsequent exam results or the SPARC diploma.

SPARC MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAMS

There are two exams on the SPARC learning path: an intermediate exam after completion of the “Defender” phase and the final exam after completion of the “Operator” phase.

All participants have two attempts at each exam.
The content of the exam covers all the knowledge and skills acquired during the previous phase.
The exams take place online on the SPARC platform.
If SPARC participants fail an exam twice, they cannot obtain the SPARC diploma.

SPARC IS STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT

Check out our roadmap for the current status of the development and find out what content and exams are already available to you.

ZUR ROADMAP

PROSPECTS FOR SPARC GRADUATES

SPARC offers a training program that conceptually and practically provides cyber skills ranging from the basics to highly specific competencies, which are in demand in all areas of the private sector, the public sector and the Swiss Army.

Upon successful completion of the SPARC diploma, SPARC participants are offered exciting prospects and opportunities within the Swiss Army and for their future careers, thanks to the skills they have acquired.

PROSEPECTS WITHIN THE ARMY AND THE CYBER TRAINING COURSE

The Swiss Armed Forces must be able to protect their own information and communication systems and infrastructures against attack at all times, both on a day-to-day basis and in times of crisis.

That’s why the Swiss Army has been running the Cyber Training Course for militia members of the Swiss Army since 2018.

Thanks to this course, Swiss citizens fit for military service have the opportunity to perform their service in the Army’s demanding cyber field right from the start of recruit school. The militia supports professional organizations in the self-protection of military information systems and computer networks, guarantees the endurance capacity of personnel and supplements specific skills that are not, or not sufficiently, available.

Anyone wishing to qualify for the cyber training course is strongly advised to successfully complete SPARC before starting recruit school. SPARC optimally prepares its participants for the cyber training course by teaching the basics and skills needed to succeed.

Successful graduates also have the opportunity to skip cyber course selection 1 and take part directly in selection 2. It is important to understand that successful completion of SPARC does not guarantee a seat on the cyber training course but increases the chances of graduates.

Successful SPARC graduates who are accepted onto the cyber course and also successfully complete it have the exciting opportunity to complete their military service in one of the following 3 areas.

SPECIALIST COMPUTER NETWORK OPERATIONS (CNO)

Development of software tools
Analysis of cyber events and attacks;
Analysis of vulnerabilities.

SPECIALIST CYBER FUSION CENTER (CFC)

Analysis of cyber threats to the information systems of the DDPS and the armed forces
Technical investigation of systems, hardware components and mobile devices
Analysis in a Security Operation Center (SOC)

SPECIALIST CYBER DEFENCE (CYD)

Preparation of contributions to the cyber situation of the Swiss Armed Forces;
Support, advice and training in the area of cyber for members of other forces;
Preparation of intelligence contributions.

FURTHER PROSPECTS DURING THE CYBER TRAINING COURSE

In the civilian sector, graduates of the cyber course enjoy simplified admission to the “Cyber Security Specialist” professional examination with a federal certificate
The opportunity to benefit from various further training courses in Switzerland and abroad
The opportunity to participate in international exercises

CAREER PROSPECTS IN THE ARMY

With the establishment of Cyber Battalion 42, a military career in the cyber sector of the army is now also possible. This means that anyone who is interested in a cyber career in the Swiss Armed Forces now has the opportunity to join with exciting opportunities and career prospects

CAREER AND EDUCATIONAL PROSPECTS

With the successful completion of the SPARC program, participants have acquired cyber skills and competencies that are not only of practical benefit to them in their careers.

Successful SPARC graduates receive a SPARC certificate of completion with an extended diploma supplement, which bears the seal of approval of the Swiss Armed Forces and the Swiss Association for ICT Vocational Education and Training.

While the SPARC certificate of completion confirms the successful completion of the SPARC program, the SPARC diploma supplement provides detailed information on the SPARC participants’ achievements and the skills and competencies they have acquired.

The SPARC Certificate of Completion thus increases the chances of SPARC graduates in their careers, whether in the context of work, training or studies.

THE CYBER PROFESSIONAL FIELD

The prospects in the cyber sector are diverse and have little to do with the clichés from movies and television. Cyber job profiles range from management roles such as the CISO to technical job profiles such as the cyber security specialist. Whether close to technology, in analysis, consulting or management: there are domains and job profiles in all cyber areas.

Cyber skills are future-proof competencies in a dynamic professional field that is constantly evolving.

NOT CONVINCED YET?

In this article, you will learn first-hand about the career of a Cyber Defender from Switzerland who has already completed the cyber training course.

Registration for SPARC is possible at SPARC onboarding events in all regions of Switzerland. The exact dates and locations of these events will be published on this website.

At these events you will find out if SPARC is the right thing for you and you can then register directly on site.

REGISTER NOW

NAVIGATION