(MADISON) – According to a study by the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, by 2022, there will be a shortage of 1.8 million information security workers. It is critical that today’s students graduate ready to enter the workforce to fill the vast number of available cybersecurity positions.
“Cyber career fields are imbedded in our robust economy,” said Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, Wisconsin’s adjutant general and Homeland Security Advisor. “Students anticipating high demand occupations with excellent salary potential should consider cyber opportunities.” Dunbar added, “Every aspect of Wisconsin’s economy will need cyber professionals now and in the future.”
“Cybersecurity is already a huge problem, with lots of demand for professionals to try to keep ahead in the game,” said Guri Sohi, Chair of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Computer Science Department. “As our world become more digital, and more interconnected, with a burgeoning of networked devices and autonomous vehicles, the magnitude of the problem will only increase.”
More than a third of young people (34%) report that they are interested in jobs in which they think they could do well. How do they determine if cybersecurity might be a good fit? Here are some great resources:
- SANS Cyber Talent Aptitude Assessment: 30 questions focusing on Comprehension, Problem Solving Skills, and Knowledge Application. It measures each with a unique combination that assesses both common aptitude attributes and unique cybersecurity-specific attributes identified by SANS experts and aptitude researchers. Click here to get started. There’s also free online security courses available through the SANS Cyber Aces Online program: https://www.cyberaces.org/
- GenCyber: This program provides summer cybersecurity camp experiences for K-12 students and teachers. The program aims to help all students understand safe online behavior, grow diversity and interest in the cybersecurity field and careers in the nation’s cyber workforce and improve teaching methods for delivering cybersecurity content in K-12 computer science curricula. More at: https://www.gen-cyber.com
- CyberPatriot: This is a national youth cyber education program. There are three main programs within CyberPatriot: the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, AFA CyberCamps and the Elementary School Cyber Education Initiative. The Air Force Association developed CyberPatriot to inspire students toward careers in cybersecurity and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation’s future. More at: https://www.uscyberpatriot.org/
There is no single job title in cybersecurity. It is a fast-growing industry with numerous opportunities that require different educational backgrounds and skills. The good news is that there are there are a variety of jobs available and that young people have many exciting options from which to choose. The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies provides an easy-to-use framework – in simple language that addresses roles, actual positions and personal attributes – to help you get started. More at: https://niccs.us-cert.gov/
Many colleges and universities offer both two- and four-year degrees in cybersecurity. More than 200 top institutions of higher learning across 44 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are designated Centers for Academic Excellence (CAEs) for cyber-related degree programs. The federal government maintains a list of CAEs at https://niccs.us-cert.gov/formal-education/national-centers-academic-excellence-cae.
CyberCorps®: Scholarship for Service is a program designed to grow and strengthen the cadre of federal information assurance professionals who protect the government’s critical information infrastructure. The program provides scholarships and stipends to undergraduate and graduate students attending participating institutions. The scholarships are funded through grants awarded by the National Science Foundation. More at: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504991
College students who may be interested in filling those critical jobs are encouraged to attend the 5th Annual governor’s Cybersecurity Summit. The summit will be held Monday, Oct. 16 at the Gordon Dining and Event Center located on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. https://wigcot.eventsair.com/cybersecurity17/register/Site/Register
ReadyWisconsin will continue to share valuable tips and information to keep everyone in Wisconsin safe from cybercrime. Visit https://readywisconsin.wi.gov for more information. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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