Mastercard & Recorded Future – EU Cyber Skills Academy Pledge

Mastercard is committed to closing the cybersecurity skills and talent gap in the European Union. We pledge to deliver free, online and in-person, hands-on cybersecurity learning experiences, including masterclasses, training licences and expert-led workshops, to over 650 SME professionals, university students and faculty, in partnership with Recorded Future’s Education Programme, across the EU by the end of 2028. Additionally, we pledge to equip 100 European SMEs with cyber-hygiene training, across the EU by the end of 2028.

Our pledge

The cyber workforce is a shared resource for the public and private sectors, and the cyber talent gap is continuing to grow. We seek to build a cyber workforce fit for tomorrow.
Mastercard has joined forces with Recorded Future through its acquisition to enhance its services offerings with threat intelligence and AI-powered, actionable analytics. This collaboration reflects our commitment to strengthening cybersecurity across the ecosystem – empowering SME professionals with the practical skills to protect their businesses and preparing university students to become the next generation of cybersecurity talent through immersive, hands-on learning.

Our initiatives 

Cybersecurity masterclass for university students

Description: This immersive cybersecurity masterclass, launched as part of our pledge, is designed for university students enrolled in Computer Science and Cybersecurity curricula. It will build foundational and advanced knowledge in corporate cybersecurity, covering organisational security frameworks, incident response and crisis management, threat and vulnerability analysis, and risk mitigation strategies. The program includes interactive simulations and hands-on exercises in a controlled environment, fostering practical skills and
strategic thinking essential for navigating today’s cybersecurity challenges. We aim to partner with members of the Industry - Academia Network to tailor the course to their needs, providing maximum value for students. 

Target audience: 250 university students in Computer Science and Cybersecurity programs

Location: Mastercard office, Waterloo, Belgium, online 

Languages: English

Cost: Free

Link to the initiative:To be provided

Recorded Future training licences for SME professionals, university students and faculty

Description: Mastercard has joined forces with Recorded Future through its acquisition to enhance its services offerings with threat intelligence and AI-powered, actionable analytics. This collaboration reflects our commitment to strengthening cybersecurity across the ecosystem – empowering SME professionals with the practical skills to protect their businesses and preparing university students to become the next generation of cybersecurity talent through immersive, hands-on learning. With this initiative, 100 SME professionals in operational roles where cybersecurity knowledge is relevant to job responsibilities (e.g. cyber incident responder, cyber threat intelligence specialist, cybersecurity risk manager, digital forensics investigator) will receive temporary access to Recorded Future’s Intelligence Operations Platform for hands-on training, covering threat intelligence, phishing/malware defence, data protection, and incident response. In addition, 250 university students and faculty will receive training licenses providing access to platform modules and resources for academic use, including curriculum integration support, platform-based exercises, and access to expert resources. 

Target audience: 350 learners - 100 SME professionals; 250 university students and faculty

Location: Online; available from all Member States 

Languages: English

Cost: Free

Link to the initiative: To be provided

Expert-led workshops on advanced threat intelligence

Description: This new initiative, launched as part of our pledge, offers expert-led virtual workshops on advanced threat intelligence and practical cybersecurity applications for students and young professionals in partnership with Recorded Future. 

Target audience: 60 students and young professionals 

Location: Online; available from all Member States 

Languages: English 

Cost: Free 

Link to the initiative:To be provided. 

Securing SMEs: enhancing cybersecurity and cyber hygiene for SMEs 

Description: This new online initiative, launched as part of our pledge, will provide to 100 European SMEs practical, accessible training and tools to strengthen SME’s cybersecurity posture. Focused on system updates, strong password practices, phishing and malware prevention, secure data backup and recovery, and email protection, it will empower SMEs to build resilient digital practices and sustain secure operation. Our goal is to foster a culture of cyber hygiene that enables businesses to operate securely and confidently, even with limited resources. 

Target audience: 100 European SMEs

Location: Online; available from all EU Member States 

Languages: English, French 

Cost: Free 

Link to the initiative: To be provided

All initiatives are subject to applicable terms and conditions.

Mastercard and Recorded Future are dedicated to reviewing and updating the status of this pledge every six months.