Since the Optimity Group of Companies – consisting of MS Tech Solutions, Purple Team, and A.I. Tix – was incorporated, it has been continuously superseding all expectations for what was considered possible for Jamaica in the global cyberspace.

One of Optimity’s companies, Purple Team – a cybersecurity company started in 2020, has been adamant in ensuring young, capable and enthusiastic Jamaicans are able to achieve nine industry standard certifications within a 12-month period.

The name ‘purple team’ represents both sides of cybersecurity; the blue team which defends systems against breaches and the red team for penetration services which test security defences for weaknesses to be addressed.

Individuals as young as 16 years old, in waves of 10-15 students per iteration of the programme, are trained in the hard skills needed for the international standard of cybersecurity, in addition to soft skills such as email writing, conflict resolution and communication.

“We’re driven to find the best talents in Jamaica and develop them here. We don’t just want the university graduates,” said Mario NR Sparkes, founder and CEO of Optimity.

“What we’ve actually found is that, among the students with degrees, and the sheer amount of training they would still require, there’s very little reason not to expand the criteria to include anyone interested in joining,” said Dwayne Battick, head of portfolio development and innovation.

“It’s not about your degree. What really matters to us is if you can deliver,” said Sparkes.

Sparks shared with Our Today that the group is aiming to become highly competitive on the global scale and seeking to heavily utilise locally and regionally trained talent.

The current internship programme was developed by visiting the land of the best cybersecurity infrastructure on the planet – Israel, and incorporating its systems and practices with the expertise of high quality local educators to bolster the limited framework that was already in Jamaica.

All analyst members of the red and blue teams are selected from locals who have completed the 12-month internship programme and passed two interviews, completed a technical exam and passed their credibility assessment.

The Purple Team takes great pride in its programme and the strides it has made so far. The company has already drawn attention to Jamaica for the age range and number of students achieving the certifications, the quick time frame the students are accomplishing it in and the high scores they are achieving.

Before the Purple Team, the average IT applicant for the certification programme would take approximately a year to complete one of the certifications due to other work and life obligations.

When asked about Optimity’s reason for making such a deep investment in developing locals into international competitors, Sparkes pointed to four of the group’s goals:

1. To create a niche space
2. To stem the brain drain, by creating more well earning job opportunities for people within Jamaica.
3. Develop the middleclass
4. To change the perception of how Caribbean talent is perceived across the world.

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